Sr. Anne Henriette Owino, FSSA
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| Most Rev. Philip Arnold Anyolo, with the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya Most Rev. Van Megen; Pic courtesy |
“In following Christ, there is a lot to leave behind… the good Shepherd has called you out once again; follow his voice,” Archbishop Bert Van Megen said in his homily during the installation of the new Archbishop of Nairobi on Saturday, November 20, at St. Mary’s Msongari grounds.
Most Rev. van Megen urged the new Archbishop, “Take no purse with you, no haversack, no sandals.”
“When yesterday you were renewing your profession of faith and the oath of fidelity to the Holy Father, I was thinking of these words of the Gospel of Luke. You are not to trust in your own capacities, in your own possibilities. You are called to take the yoke of Christ on your shoulders. That yoke of Christ, can at times become burdensome and can turn into a heavy cross. But the Church doesn’t leave you alone in this new adventure. She hands you the Creed, our faith in Christ, the tradition. Archbishop Philip, I know you as a profoundly religious person. You, Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo, are a patient man, as your name seems to indicate.
Archbishop Megen who is also the Pope’s Representative for South Sudan noted that Christians of Nairobi Archdiocese need a good shepherd who is recognized by his sheep and a shepherd that will lead the people of God to green pastures.
“A good shepherd does not need qualities and skills but the approach of Christ. It is not so much about what I have to say but what I have to teach. Not about my intellectual luggage but my capacities, not so much about what I say, but how I say, not so much about the words I utter; it is much more about my inner attitude,” the Nuncio continued, “Instead, a Good Shepherd is one whom the sheep hear his voice.”
The Apostolic Nuncio further advised Archbishop Anyolo, “The good shepherd has a personal interest in people (He) doesn’t think in structures, his rule is not oppressive, and he doesn’t surrender to the digitalization of the human being.
Addressing the congregants, Archbishop van Megen reminded the clergy, Religious, lay faithful and politicians that Christ knows each one of them by name and they are not just a number that the society has reduced them to saying, “In our human society we have reduced people to numbers, You are not a number for him, you have a name, and he calls you by your name.”
He also warned the priests and Religious to keep off from power, desire and money since they are the reason why the sheep run away from the good shepherd.
“A thief or a robber always puts his bets on the following horses: power, desire and Money. Every crime comes down to these three things: power, desire, and money. These three horses are a bit like the horses from the book of Revelation, they unleash evil into the world and that is also why the sheep run away from them. The sheep run away from the thief and the robber. The sheep of the Good shepherd run away from power, desire and money,” the Nuncio expressed.
The Apostolic Nuncio expressed gratitude to the predecessor of Archbishop Anyolo, Cardinal John Njue who retired in January, for his dedication to the people of God, for working tirelessly and leading the Archdiocese of Nairobi to new heights, “We thank God for his life, for his grace, for his love and dedication to the flock of Christ, he was an untiring shepherd who led the Archdiocese of Nairobi to greater heights.”