By Francis Njuguna
A colorful Mass was held at John Baptist Catholic church, Riruta-Nairobi on Sunday, March 6, 2020 for the South Sudanese Catholics/refugees, residing in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The Over 100 refugees/Catholics were drawn from various parts of Nairobi, where the refugees are residing and under different Small Christian Communities (SCCs).
The Mass was organized, under these SCCs with aims to pray for peace in their country, South Sudan.
South Sudan, is the Africa’s newest nation which has witnessed several conflicts in the past, before and even after attaining its independence in 2011. This phenomenon has led many of its people to flee the country as refugees.
It is notable that various efforts to bring peace in this Eastern African region have not been successful yet. However, the Church has continued to accompany the South Sudanese people in their quest for peace.
A colorful Mass was concelebrated by reverend fathers Dr. Emmanuel Jada, Jacob Nhial and Joseph Healey.
Dr Jada, who was the main celebrant, stressed the centrality of peace, not only in the country, but within families and society in general.
“While we pray for peace in our country, we must also pray for the same within our families and the society in general,” he emphasized.
He commended the congregation for thinking of coming together to pray for peace in the country.
“Our political leaders must lead the way towards peace building in the country. We have mandated them to undertake this mission,” he added.
Father Healey, commonly known as “Mwanajumuiya”, a Kiswahili word for a member of SCC, also emphasized the centrality of peace in any given society including South Sudan.
“Our leaders should help us bring and work for peace in South Sudan”, he underscored, while stressing that it was not within God’s plan that the human being should continue to suffer.
The Mass brought together refugees from five spread out SCCs, namely: Saint Joseph, Kasarani; Saint John of God, Umoja; Saint Daniel Comboni, Riruta; Saint Peter and Paul, Umoja and the Hekima Family, Ngong Road.
Two catechists (Simon Reat and Sammy Kume) participated fully in the animation of the Mass.