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| Catholic Bishops of Kenya |
EVANGELIZATION IN KENYA
Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops of Kenya |
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Easter, 2004
Introduction
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
We, the Catholic Bishops of Kenya meeting in St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Nairobi, from 20 to 23rd April 2004, would like to share with you some reflections on the “Good News” of the Gospel – news that is ever ancient and ever new. We wish to bring to your attention aspects of evangelization, which we consider important for the Church, and indeed for the people of Kenya at this time.
God, in his infinite love for us, has willed to send his Son, Jesus Christ, so that his Kingdom may be established among us: “a Kingdom of truth and life, a Kingdom of holiness and grace, a Kingdom of justice, love and peace.”
We, members of God’s family have not been left as orphans for we have been given the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is our Advocate, the giver of life and source of all consolation. The Spirit is our helper and guide into the way of peace.
Zephaniah the prophet had good news for Africa when he prophesied:
“For then I will change and purify the lips of the peoples, that they all may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one accord; From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and as far as the recesses of the North, they shall bring me offerings”
In our beloved land of Kenya we received the Good News of the Kingdom at different times and stages. In this region of Africa, the Gospel came at different times: St Francis Xavier in the 16th Century and the Augustinian Missionaries at Mombasa in the 17th Century. Recently the Holy Ghost Missionaries, the Consolata Missionaries and the Mill Hill Missionaries have celebrated the first Centenary since their arrival in Kenya. Numerous missionaries from different religious congregations of men and women and fidei donum priests have also spread the “Good News” to most parts of Kenya. The labours of the indigenous clergy, religious congregations and lay volunteers show clearly that the Church in Kenya is being moulded into God’s family. We are witnessing a tremendous growth in number and quality in our Catholic communities spread all over Kenya. We are grateful to the Lord of the harvest, who is granting us workers for his field.
At the same time, momentous changes have been taking place in the social, political and economic atmosphere of this country. For the first time in decades, the people of Kenya have begun to feel that there is hope. Wrong and evil acts that were carried out are now being investigated; people who have “ripped off” the wealth of this country are being brought to book; the poorest children are getting a chance to go to school and people can again talk freely without fear of reprisal.
On the other hand, there is still a long way to go in such areas as health care and employment. Further, there is rampant insecurity, aggression and violence throughout this land. The hope to which we have referred is under threat – due also to the greed and egotism of the very people to whom we look for guidance and example. The continuous bickering by “would-be” or “has been” leaders, for example, does nothing to increase trust or confidence.
There is also the growing influence of consumerism – fuelled by the mass media – and an increasing individualism, which is leading to a breakdown in moral standards and the ignoring of ethical values. That is why we wish to call the attention of all the Catholic faithful and people of goodwill in Kenya to halt this trend before it gets out of hand. What we need now in Kenya is a New Evangelization.
Jesus Christ – the Centre and Source of All Hope
The Catholic Church has for two thousand years pointed to Jesus Christ as “the way, the truth and the life.” In Jesus every human being is offered the opportunity to encounter God.
So, the first and the most radical step in this New Evangelization to which we refer as appropriate for Kenya is conversion to the Lord – a change of heart, of mind-set and in behaviour. It involves a deepening of our understanding of who Jesus is.
In him, life is given a new meaning, a new purpose and direction. He is the Son of God – the Great Teacher and Healer. He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus Christ is our Hope – a hope and trust that is based solidly on his resurrection from the dead. It is the resurrection of Jesus that guarantees our future – during this life and for eternity.
Conversion to the Lord then, calls for a rededication from each one of us to Jesus, and to all that he taught, lived and died for. It calls for a commitment on our part to “follow through” on all his teachings in our daily lives.
Jesus Is Alive in His Church
It is clear that Jesus wished his mission to continue. He did not simply come for the people of his own time. He came so that all human beings “may have life and have it more abundantly.” So, he left behind him a community that will remain until his reign is fulfilled and his Kingdom be achieved. He chose Peter to be the head of this community, with other Apostles as the foundation stones. And ever since that foundation, all people are called to belong to this “People of God” – this family that we call “the Church.” All are being invited to share in Christ’s mission and in everything that goes with it. Propelled by the Holy Spirit, the Church is “the visible plan of God’s love for all human beings… she is the seed, sign, instrument and dynamic force” in building unity and helping all people to walk in the truth.
Jesus promised to remain with and in his Church until the end of time – and he does so, particularly through the Eucharist and the other Sacraments. His Spirit continues to benefit all people with his gifts.
He has told us that where two or three are gathered in his name, he is there in the midst of them. We know too that is he who inspires people to acts of love and service to their fellow human beings. Yes, the Church is alive through the presence and power of Jesus Christ.
The Mission of the Church
“Christ is the light of humanity... the Church, in Christ, is a sign and instrument… of communion with God and all men, for the benefit of the faithful and of the whole world.” Its vocation involves an outreach that is unconditional and unlimited in time and space, and as regards meeting human needs. The Catholic Church wishes to “bring all humanity the light of Christ” and to absorb “the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people… nothing that is genuinely human fails to find an echo in our hearts.” There is an ardent desire in our Church to reach out to the ends of the earth, to become immersed in a difficult world and to transform it. There is a clear understanding among believers that the Church’s theology must be “contextualized” and that all culture must be purified by the Gospel.
It is also important to realize that when we are talking about “the Church,” we are referring to all its members. Each individual – the layperson, the priest, the religious, the bishop and the Pope – all share a responsibility for this mission of outreach. This sharing of responsibility is neither an option, a luxury nor a concession. It is an imperative of a true understanding of the Church as “a family” and a “communion” of people.
In practice, the mission of the Church will involve the proclamation of the Word of God, education to the faith (catechesis) and giving a strong witness to this in one’s own life. Love of one’s neighbour will also involve helping one another on the pilgrimage through life and reaching beyond the frontiers of one’s own kin and race – particularly to the abandoned and to the marginalized.
It will mean feeding the hungry and taking care of the sick. Mission will mean challenging unjust structures in society, safeguarding human rights, rooting out all violence and helping to bring about justice and reconciliation among peoples.
The mission of the Church is about dialogue with people of different religions and no religion. In a word, “mission” is a “way of life” for all Catholics in the world. It is something that will absorb all our talents and energies – but it is also a great privilege to be involved in continuing the work of Christ.
Deepening Our Faith
We thank the Lord for the faith he has given us. It is his gift; it is our pride. But we also know that we need to deepen our faith if we want to be true and faithful witnesses to it. Further, all of us are called to holiness – nothing less! “This is the will of God, your holiness.” Concern has been expressed that
“in Africa today formation in the faith too often stops at the elementary stage, and the sects easily profit from this ignorance. A serious deepening of the faith is thus urgently needed, because the rapid evolution of society has given rise to new challenges linked to the phenomena notably of family uprooting, urbanization, unemployment, materialistic seductions of all kinds, a certain secularization and an intellectual upheaval caused by the avalanche of insufficiently critical ideas spread by the media.”
We want to encourage the deepening of our faith, that it may be rooted in our culture and in the African way of life. We wish to encourage our Catholic community to re-discover the value of being the Family of God’s people; we want to witness to the Gospel values in our land.
Ten years after the beginning of the Special Synod of Bishops for Africa (“the African Synod”), we think that it is an opportune time to reflect again on two of its major themes. We as your shepherds, invite you to reflect on, discuss and share in your communities on:
1) The Church as a Family of God;
2) “You Shall Be My Mitnesses.”
Church – Family of God
The Church, as a community of God’s people, looks at the Trinity as the full expression of love between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The family is the central structure of human life. Jesus was born in a human family; with his incarnation, Jesus became a member of a human family.
As members of a human family we are different and have different roles, the Church has different ministries and gifts. We make unity in diversity. This is the richness of the Church.
In the Old Testament and in many African cultures, brotherhood and sisterhood was based on blood relationship. In the light of the New Testament, the new Family of God is not an association of clans or ethnic groups but a brotherhood and sisterhood beyond the frontiers of blood relationship, clan, ethnic group, or race. For Christians, “brothers and sisters” are those reborn with water and the Spirit in Baptism. These are the disciples of Jesus who hear the Word of God and keep it: “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
By Baptism we enter into God’s family. We receive God’s life and Spirit. We are no longer slaves. We are God’s children, and we can call God “Abba, Father.” Being members of God’s family, we are heirs; and as we share Christ sufferings, we share also his glory.
Those who are particularly in need are considered as “brothers” and “sisters” regardless of their religion, race, status: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Jesus, by becoming a member of the human family, becomes the “firstborn among many brothers.” Jesus, the Son of God, “is not ashamed to call us brothers” and he has become like his brothers in every way except sin, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest.
In this family of God, St Paul exhorts:
“Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold onto what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honour. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.”
Christian Family as a Model of God’s Family
Once we discover that we, with Baptism, have been born again in a new family, the consequences are beautiful and challenging. They demand commitment.
1) Our Christian families are built on the reciprocal love and respect of the two spouses, of the love and respect given to and received by children. They are the nucleus of a power of love, dedication and service that will in its turn become the model and inspiration for the larger family that is the Church, the Family of God.
2) Special care must be taken that Christian families are assisted in their formation and consolidation by pastors and lay leaders. We praise and encourage pre-marriage courses for engaged couples, courses for young couples and couples in difficulty, which take place in different parts of the country. We assure you that if we build good families, we build a good Nation.
3) Good families form a good nation indeed. Our efforts to form good Christian families go along with efforts to build a good healthy nation, where the Church, the family of God, is present to encourage, advise, warn and indicate possible corrections, as the members of any human family do to each other.
Church as God’s Family
1) As for St Paul there is no more distinction between Jews and Greek, so for us in God’s family. We must overcome the barriers of clan, tribe, and ethnic group, to be one single family – the Family of God.
2) Solidarity that normally is characteristic of the family becomes our style of life – even with those who are different from us, members of another race or nationality. We do not work for our own selfish interests or the interests of a restricted group. We work, live and act for the COMMON GOOD, the good of all God’s creatures.
3) Each and every life in a family is sacred. We uphold the sacred dignity and rights of every human person, from the moment of conception to natural end.
4) Service in a family is a matter of fact. We “wash one another’s feet.” We are at the service of each other.
5) We witness this reality of communion and service to others, because a family is never closed. It is open to others, to the nation, to the world.
You Will Be My Witnesses
Having witnessed the Kingdom of God to his disciples, with his preaching, miracles, prayer, suffering death and resurrection, our Lord Jesus gathered the disciples and sent them to the whole world to be themselves witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Following the command of our Lord, we give witness to our faith in him with our love and life. We proclaim our faith with our own lips, but we have also to believe with our own hearts. St Paul makes a strong point that our faith cannot be only lip service; it must be an expression of what is in our hearts, that is our lives.
Isaiah decried the situation of those who worshipped with their lips but in their hearts, they are far from God.
Once the barriers are pulled down, we feel free to share the Good News. Going out to the ends of the world calls us to establish dialogue with every person. The journey promoting Christian Unity (ecumenism) is “an organic part” of the life of the Catholic Church. With our Christian brothers and sisters of other churches, we need to witness together more and more to the life-giving message of the Gospel. Dialogue with members of other religions, (e.g., Islam, Hindus, African Traditional Religions) will not be seen as “something extra.” It is a duty. We must share with all human beings our values – what we believe. We are called to become witnesses of our faith.
We, your bishops and brothers in faith, want to encourage you and we offer guidance in this difficult and noble task.
A New Evangelization
1) A new evangelization implies a new impetus in sharing our faith with others, those who have never heard of it or who have not paid it sufficient attention.
2) It often means to re-evangelize large areas of our cities and our countryside, which have lost their faith, (the practice of it), or have never understood the impact which it must have in their lives.
3) New evangelization also means giving new content to our faith. Though our faith is two thousand years old, we keep discovering many wonderful aspects of Jesus’ teaching through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The new millennium needs new insights in the understanding and proclamation of the Gospel.
4) New evangelization demands dialogue between faith and cultures. All cultures need to be purified by the Gospel. Inculturation and all forms of adaptation are never an attempt to water down our faith to make it more palatable to our audience. The Gospel has always challenged cultures with radical choices never known before. On the other hand, cultures must always be respected because we have to respect the dignity of all human beings in their own context. Faith not only gives this due respect to every human being in his or her context and culture, but also enhances the good human values that the Spirit of God has bestowed abundantly in all cultures of the world. Kenya is no exception. It has wonderful traditions; and, while we do not want to produce an “archaeological” concoction of old customs, we are convinced that the Kenyan church can do more to fully and authentically inculturate the Gospel message in our society. We look to our higher institutes of learning and to the catechetical centres for stimulation in this regard.
5) New evangelization is also starting afresh and clearly looking at today’s challenges because it is in today’s world that we live and witness our faith.
6) A new evangelization means also new methods of proclaiming the Good News, so that we may communicate effectively to the world of today and be relevant to our audience.
Means of New Evangelization
1) The process of Christian Initiation (with its catechesis and rites) is where evangelization starts. We advise pastors and catechists to make full use of the Rite of Christian Initiation. This will enable not only catechumens but also the baptized who accompany them to live each year a renewal of faith.
2) Liturgy, from the catechumenate to the celebration of Sacraments, Divine Office, funerals and other celebrations, are privileged places for evangelization. The Celebration itself teaches when it is well prepared and well conducted. Homilies that are well prepared and spoken from the heart, touch a cord in many listeners who are then led to conversion. Liturgies which are well celebrated, with participation and deep conviction of what we do, touch the souls of the participants and put them directly in communion with God.
3) We, your bishops, have just embarked on a project of producing a catechism and guidelines for evangelization in Kenya. Our hope is to provide clear and comprehensive texts for all the faithful. This in no way diminishes the value of the many excellent texts already available.
4) Books are written words. Nothing can ever replace the spoken word of catechists and evangelizers who tirelessly share the faith in towns and villages, in rural areas and among the nomads. Ongoing formation of catechists – spiritual, human, moral and methodological – is essential for the success of a new evangelization.
5) Small Christian Communities meet regularly all over Kenya, to share the Word of God, pray with it and implement it in practical ways. Every effort made to form Small Christian Community leaders will benefit all our faithful – to the remotest parts of the country. This is an irreplaceable means of New Evangelization.
6) The media play an important role in communication. Group media are suitable and very effective for small groups; the mass media are there for the large community.
Posters on the Bible, catechetical posters, tapes, videos and DVD (where such technology is available) will certainly be useful instruments for communicating the faith. The Catholic Church in Kenya has recently started Waumini Radio, C.I.S.A. (Catholic Information Service for Africa, via Internet) and many magazines and publications to spread the Good News of Jesus and the deep conviction that universal human values exist and must be adopted by all. We also need to form Catholic Journalists and experts in mass and group media. We must have many dedicated Kenyans trained in communications, so that all means are used to spread the Gospel.
7) Schools have their specific time given to Religious Education and Programme of Pastoral Instruction. Catholic schools and colleges contribute greatly to the work of evangelization.
8) So many holy people have preceded us with good example and courage. Many here in Kenya have even suffered loss of life for their faith. We propose them as an example and inspiration.
9) The role of parents in transmitting the faith to their children is irreplaceable.
10) Bible study groups are increasing in our communities. They have to be guided and encouraged.
11) Pilgrimages to shrines (and we have several of them in Kenya) are often a wonder means of evangelization.
12) Our seminaries and formation houses will continue to need disciplined, prayerful, trained and dedicated formators to prepare the young for priesthood and religious life.
Content of New Evangelization
Having made some suggestions regarding the means of evangelization, we now wish to draw attention to three aspects of the content of evangelization, which we consider to be of particular importance in Kenya today.
We invite all Christian communities and people of goodwill to reflect on these points:
1) Honesty
A foundational principle of all Christian virtues is honesty. Love, mercy, solidarity, compassion, faith, hope, prudence, fortitude are not possible without a clear and deep foundation in honesty.
In the Bible “honesty” is often called: justice, uprightness, righteousness. But above all, it is described as purity of heart. Honesty comes from a heart and a mind that are pure, clean, without deception and are sincere.
How can I tell my brother: I love you, if I have cheated him?
How can I tell my sister: I want to help you, if I have deprived her of her property or her dignity?
How can I tell a child: I want to teach you, if my ways are devious and deceitful?
How can I tell the elders: I care for you, if I have robbed them of their health, dignity or authority?
Psalm 141 is a sincere prayer. The psalmist is aware of the danger that his lips – his mouth – may say empty words. So, he asks the Lord to direct his heart that it may not be inclined to sin. The psalmist knows that the source of good and evil deeds is the heart.
“Set a guard, Lord, before my mouth, a gatekeeper at my lips.
Do not let my heart incline to evil or yield to any sin.”
When the Israelites were ready to return to the Holy Land, Ezekiel envisaged a purification of their hearts and lives. God says through the Prophet:
“I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts.”
A heart of stone is deaf. It can speak but cannot hear. A heart of flesh is human; it can listen to God’s word and put it into practice.
St Ignatius of Antioch wrote to his audience at Ephesus:
“As a tree is known by its fruits, so they who claim to belong to Christ are known by their actions; for this work of ours does not consist in just making professions, but in faith that is both practical and lasting. Indeed it is better to keep quiet and be, than to make fluent professions and not be.”
2) Peace and Social Responsibility
In a world where conflicts are a sad reality, the Catholic Church – together with all people of goodwill – wishes to build PEACE. In his message at the beginning of this year 2004, Pope John Paul II reiterated his appeal: “to reach peace, teach peace... If peace is possible it is also a duty.”
As we plan for a new evangelization of Kenya and a deepening of our faith, we must be educated practically to the great value of peace – a peace based on solid principles.
1) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
2) Truth, Justice, Love and Freedom are the four pillars on which Peace is built.
3) To build peace we must first of all respect the Dignity of the Human Person. We witness constant harassments. Often the poor and ignorant are victims of blatant injustices. It is our Christian duty to show respect for all: (a simple person boarding a matatu, a patient in hospital, or an “ordinary” citizen requesting a service in a public office) without distinction of social class, religion, race, sex or age. Those who have professions must act in accordance with the ethics and spirit of that profession. The poor, the weak, the sick will always need special attention, as they cannot defend themselves.
4) The first aspect of respect for a human person is shown by Respect for Life. In Kenya, as in many parts of the world, we witness a continuous slaughtering of human lives to which we strongly protest and call for action:
• Abortions kill innumerable defenceless children. When mothers are called by vocation to protect life, fathers are equally responsible for the welfare of the unborn child. Abortion is a crime that human nature abhors.
• HIV/AIDS is rampant. Yet, there are still those who prefer “to keep their heads in the sand” and wish that it will go away as mysteriously as it arrived. We repeat once more that behavioural change, abstinence and fidelity to one’s married partner are the only effective ways of stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. For those who have already contracted the disease, essential health care services (e.g., anti-retroviral drugs) must be made available to them as a matter of urgency. Here the government must take the lead. Of course, there must be no rejection or stigma attached to those who have HIV/AIDS. Our parishes, Small Christian Communities and individual Christians must support in whatever way we can, those living with HIV/AIDS and care for the “Aids orphans.”
• Our Roads, though somewhat safer since new measures have been taken, are still the source of the cruel loss of precious lives. Safety on the roads must be achieved with the co-operation of all citizens and residents.
• Our public hospitals and dispensaries are often a miserable spectacle of neglect, corruption and bribery. While we praise the dedicated doctors and nurses who save lives – often in difficult conditions and with insufficient means – we denounce the practice of those who steal essential drugs and medical equipment, of those who refer to their private clinics patients who have the right to be treated in the public hospitals and dispensaries.
• We are aware that violent crime is increasing. While we all cry for more security, we also invite research and study on the causes of crime so that we may address with more knowledge the situation that often seems to be getting out of hand.
• Violence never solves problems. “You have heard that it was said, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you offer no resistance to the one who is evil.” We must learn non-violent attitudes. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
5) Respect for law must be upheld whether in international dealings or within our country. It is important and necessary that law be respected for the Common Good. We witness every day flagrant breaches of the law on our roads, in our public offices, in our places of work. If law is not taken seriously for the benefit of all, our society will continue to suffer and we may fall into the trap of appealing to the law of force rather than to the force of law.
6) Reconciliation and forgiveness are not an option. For us they are a duty. “If you bring a gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
7) “The principle of solidarity is a direct demand of human and Christian brotherhood.” Peace and Common Good demand great attention to the total development of human beings. “Evangelization would not be complete if it did not take into account the unceasing interplay of the Gospel and of man’s concrete life, both personal and social.” We received from God the gift of wisdom and intelligence, and the command to be stewards over all created things.43 With this we become partakers of God’s creating activity. It is our duty and responsibility to develop this world in accordance with the principles of creation, and with care and respect for our environment. We must try to make our world a more pleasant place to live in for all human beings. Respect for creation and a more equitable sharing of the world’s resources are essential to true development.
3) Love
With a sure foundation of honesty and a true desire for peace, we can talk about love.
Love would be impossible without honesty or justice, without a desire for peace or social responsibility and reconciliation, without forgiveness and mercy.
St Paul gives us an admirable summary of the characteristics of love:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Our mission to the world is to proclaim these values loud and clear when we speak, when we write but most of all, through the witness of our life. We have received the consolation of faith. Through love, we give others the same consolation.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.”
A Message to Priests
You have been entrusted with the service of leadership in our Christian community.
You share in our ministry as pastors. We encourage you to live and act as true shepherds, true servants in your communities.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders (together with the Sacrament of Marriage) is described as a Sacrament at “the Service of Communion.” It is clear that
“Holy Orders and Matrimony, are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God.”
Be true leaders; be an example to your communities. Because of the power conferred by Holy Orders and the leadership position given to you in the Christian community, a lot is expected from you. For this reason, you must conform your own lives and all your activities to Jesus Christ. There is no room for compromise on this. The advice that St Paul gave to Timothy is always pertinent:
“Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate. Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone. Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”
Be accountable to your superiors and to the people entrusted to your pastoral care.
We have been entrusted with responsibilities. We must account for what we have been entrusted – both spiritual and material.
Be Men of God. This is what our people expect of you. Find in prayer, in union with God, the strength that great men of old found when entrusted with leadership.
Moses was hesitant in accepting his role. Through prayer he overcame all his doubts and fears, and became the great leader of God’s people. History shows us that all the saints have found strength in prayer.
A Message to Consecrated Men and Women
Kenya has been blessed with a variety of religious congregations of men and women, who have a diversity of charisms and gifts. As already stated, the church is missionary by its nature. So it follows that mission must form a vital part of consecrated life. It is the challenge for all religious in Kenya today – to arrive at what Pope John Paul II calls,
“a radical and vital synthesis of consecration and mission…. Your Founders knew how to incarnate the evangelical message in their time with courage and holiness. Their spiritual children, faithful to the breath of the Spirit must carry forward this witness in time, imitating their creativity, with a mature fidelity to the charism of the origins, in constant listening to the needs of the present moment.”
Like most parts of the world, Kenya is undergoing vast socio-cultural changes. It needs the prophetic witness, the holiness, the evangelizing activity and the service of its men and women religious. We request that you build on the achievements and the powerful witness of the past and on the obvious goodwill of the present.
A Message to the Laity
Lay people are, after all, the vast majority of the members of the Church. Your place in sharing and spreading the word, in the service of humanity and in witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus provides other people (and society at large) with answers to the meaning of life. Lay people are full sharers in the mission of the Church in the world. It is especially your privilege to bring the Gospel values to family life, education, politics, the economy, culture, ecology and international affairs. It is the laity that can lead the fight against the deadly HIV/AIDS virus. It is the laity who, as the Pope points out,
“are called to have a faith capable of critically confronting contemporary culture and resisting its enticements… of demonstrating that the fellowship between Catholics and other Christians is more powerful than any ethnic bond; of joyfully passing on the faith to new generations; and of building a Christian culture ready to evangelize the larger culture in which we live.”
We also look to you, the laity, to encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life, while to those of you who are “Lay Missionaries” we say, Have courage; continue your excellent work! In a word, our dear people, all of you can be the builders of tomorrow’s Kenya, where the country’s undoubted resources will be shared, and where all people can live in safety, good health, peace and justice.
A Message to All People of Goodwill
We, in the Catholic Church, are convinced that an increased sense of self-awareness is fundamental to the development of human society. In Kenya we are just beginning to face up to some of our negative realities (e.g., corruption, greed, ethnicity). We are also becoming aware of our positive aspects and are legislating to safeguard human freedoms. There is still much to be done.
But we in the Catholic Church also believe that an increased sense of God is also fundamental to the development of human society. Without openness to the transcendent, society will be like dry bones with no flesh. The Commandments of God and the values of the Gospel are there to help us lay a solid foundation for society by defending and promoting the dignity of the human person, by ensuring that the poor are not thrown aside as worthless, by promoting a culture of life through the formation of consciences and by urging all to follow the path of love. Here too there is much to be done.
We appeal to all people of goodwill to join hands in making a concerted effort to bring about “a new Kenya” where peace, unity, integrity and prosperity will become a reality in our time.
Finally, for us who are Christians, Easter is a time of joy and hope. It is a time when our desire to share the liberating news that Jesus Christ has overcome sin, death and the powers of evil by his resurrection is reinforced. Like St Paul, we feel that we have no right to keep the “Good News” to ourselves. We must evangelize and be evangelized. In doing this, we know that we can count on the support of one another and on the saving power of Christ. He has assured us that he will be with us until the end of time (cf. Mt 28:20), and with Mary, the Mother of Jesus and of Africa, watching over us and interceding for us with her Son, we can face the future with serenity and confidence.
Signed:
1. Rt. Rev. Cornelius K. Arap Korir -Bishop of Eldoret, Chairman, K.E.C
2. Rt. Rev. Peter Kairo -Bishop of Nakuru, Vice Chairman, KEC
3. Most Rev. R. S. Ndingi Mwana á Nzeki -Archbishop of Nairobi
4. Most Rev. John Njenga -Archbishop of Mombasa
5. Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth -Archbishop of Kisumu
6. Most Rev. Nicodemus Kirima -Archbishop of Nyeri
7. Most Rev. John Njue -Co-adjutor Archbishop of Nyeri
8. Rt. Rev. Philip Sulumeti -Bishop of Kakamega
9. Rt. Rev. Ambrose Ravasi -Bishop of Marsabit
10. Rt. Rev. Paul Darmanin -Bishop of Garissa
11. Rt. Rev. Joseph Mairura Okemwa -Bishop of Kisii
12. Rt. Rev. Boniface Lele -Bishop of Kitui
13. Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo -Bishop of Homa Bay
14. Rt. Rev. Luigi Locati -Bishop of Isiolo Vicariate
15. Rt. Rev. Alfred Rotich -Bishop of Military Ordinariate
16. Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley -Bishop of Kitale
17. Rt. Rev. Norman King’oo Wambua -Bishop of Bungoma
18. Rt. Rev. Peter Kihara Kariuki, IMC -Bishop of Murang’a
19. Rt. Rev. David Kamau Ng’ang’a -Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi
20. Rt. Rev. Anthony Mukobo, IMC -Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi
21. Rt. Rev. Patrick Harrington -Bishop of Lodwar
22. Rt. Rev. Francis Baldacchino -Bishop of Malindi
23. Rt. Rev. Virgilio Pante, IMC -Bishop of Maralal
24. Rt. Rev. Salesius Mugambi -Bishop of Meru
25. Rt. Rev. Cornelius Schilder -Bishop of Ngong
26. Rt. Rev. Luigi Paiaro -Bishop of Nyahururu
27. Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Okombo -Bishop of Kericho
28. Rt. Rev. Martin Kivuva Musonde -Bishop of Machakos
29. Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria -Bishop of Embu
Easter 2004 |
| Catholic Bishops of Kenya (2004-07-22) |
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