The Catholic Diocese of Damongo is comprised of 13 Parishes
and has a number of institutions which the diocese takes care of. I am assigned
to work at the Diocesan Secretariat as a Finance and Administrative Assistant.
As a lay missionary for the Diocese,
I contribute whatever skills I have specially in helping the Diocese
achieve all or part of the Diocesan Strategic Plan for 2021 – 2026 specially in
the area of transparency and accountability.
It has been a special moment for me to know, listen to the people I work with, ask, encourage, motivate, and mentor them in ways to ensure proper accounting practices that will help improve systems for the Diocese.
Again, fulfilling one’s life mission on earth is an essential
part of living for God’s glory. This is where the mission called, it is where
it is necessary to stay as a missionary and give our life. So, beside my
official duties in the accounts office I took time out to visit some parishes
to experience their worship and parish activities and sometimes to unofficially
offer some advice on parish finance management.
Spending time in the villages and listening to the local
people share their experiences made me realize how wounded our world is today
and the need for us to be missionaries of hope even in our frailty. In as much
as there are great positives, there are also negatives in this time of mission,
something disappointing is the issue of parishes not having proper resources to
work with (Computers, proper accounting set ups) records for parish finance
management, the parish staff and finance committee’s inadequate knowledge of EXCEL
among others. which would have made for a more efficient and effective
financial management of the parishes/institutions.
Nevertheless, the financial audit of the parishes and
diocesan institutions unearthed some of these inadequacies and appropriate
recommendation given has brought changes to some degree and I hope to see more
changes in the not far future. I think it is not impossible to achieve this and
with my hand in heart, I tell you we can find alternative ways to resolve this
situation.
As I have experienced so far, life mission is both shared and
specific, one part of it is a responsibility you share with every other
Christian and the other part is an assignment that is unique to you. As a lay missionary of the Lay Mission
Helpers, I am very grateful for this missionary experience. The joy on people’s
faces will remain indelible in my heart.
