Kenyans have been called upon to strive to make Kenya a peaceful, prosperous and a stable Country by promoting dialogue, reconciliation and forgiveness during this jubilee year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis.
In his homily during the Launch of 2016 National Lenten Campaign on 7th, February, 2016 at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral Ngong Diocese, The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) – Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Chairman Rt. Rev. Cornelius Korir said, Kenya is a blessed Country and her people beginning with the leaders need to shun corruption, negative ethnicity and radicalization that tears the Country apart and embrace oneness, tolerance of one another and creation of job opportunities for the youth.
Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penance before Easter. In the Christian tradition, this is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday (Sundown). This annual commemoration prepares the faithful through prayer, repentance, giving alms and self-denial, for the events linked to the Passion of Christ and the celebration of his resurrection.
Referring to Pope Francis’ Lenten message, Bishop Korir reiterated that “the season of Lent in this jubilee year be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience God’s mercy.” He called on Kenyans to forget their past experiences and to forgive and love one another as the country moves towards the general election 2017.
He added that “in the season of Lent, the Catholic Church calls her faithful to be in fellowship and solidary with their brothers and sisters who are less fortunate and support the church through prayers, self-denial and alms giving.”
Leading by example, KCCB steered by CJPC National Executive Secretary Beatrice Odera donated clothes and foodstuff to more than four thousand households in Mathare slums in Ngong Town after the Launch of the Lenten campaign.
In the same spiritual mood of lent, Kenyans have been called upon to reflect and advocate for change in problems affecting the society on selected topics for reflection for five weeks: Responsible citizenry, care environment, family values, insecurity and corruption respectively.
The Launch that was preceded by a walk through Ngong Town to the Cathedral was attended by Ngong Bishop Rt. Rev. John Oballa Owaa, representatives from The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) Countries, KCCB, CJPC diocesan coordinators, the faithful and Government officials who were also issued with Lenten Campaign booklets.
By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications; Photos by Daniel Kipngetich of Ngong Diocese