H.E. John Cardinal Njue has asked the youth to refrain from being influenced by politicians who mislead them to disrupt peace and later distance themselves from the outcome, leaving them to take responsibility for their actions.Cardinal Njue was speaking during Holy Mass to mark the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the National Youth Centre (Mji wa Furaha) in Nairobi on Sunday 8th March 2015, on which he urged them to always embrace peace and unity and above all pray for the Country and its leaders to unite the country for peace to prevail.
He called on the youth to avoid taking short-cuts to happiness which are being propagated by people who misuse them for their selfish gain. Instead, he urged them to remain firm and capable of making responsible decisions, while remaining close to God. “Always be united with God and follow ways that are in line with the Ten Commandments,” said Cardinal Njue.
He called on the youth to cultivate a spirit of acceptance of one another and value one another irrespective of which part of the Country they came from. “You must be a manifestation and witness of God’s presence. With humility, do what it takes to always remain with the grace of God to be able to receive God in the moment that he comes,” he said.
“Open your ears and hearts and allow the words to germinate and grow in your hearts, remain close to God and always be united with him,” said the Cardinal
Speaking at the same function, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, His Excellency Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo said, “Being young is not an age but a way of thinking. Youth is a spirit of mind.”
He called on the youth to have hope so as to make a difference. “Build up the community, build up the family, build up the country and build up your own life,” the Nuncio said adding that “Never lose your hope, somehow you can always do good and make a difference.”
The Nuncio reiterated Pope Francis’ message which conforms to the 2015 theme “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God” calling on the youth to be pure in heart knowing that they are made in the image of God and to focus on service to God. “God made us to know him, to love him, to serve him in this life and to be with him in joy in the next,” he told the youth quoting from the catechism of the Catholic Church.
He said that they are the future and present of the Church and urged them not to wait any further but get into action immediately. “You do not have to wait to do something, instead you can start now. You can always serve God, do good, be a source of joy, live in joy and have hope that you can always make a difference,” said the Nuncio.
The holy mass was also concelebrated by the Chairman of the Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate, Rt. Rev. James Maria Wainaina, Bishop of Muranga Diocese. The celebration was attended by more than 7,000 youth drawn from all over the Country and representing all the 26 Catholic Dioceses in Kenya.
By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications KCCB