KENYA: AMECEA Participates in the Re-Launching of Bible Animation Apostolate in the country
The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences
in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) participated in
in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) participated in
the re-launching of the Bible
Animation Apostolate Program organized by Daughters of St Paul through Paulines Publications
at St. Peter Claver’s Catholic Parish in the Archdiocese of Nairobi on 5th and 6th April 2014.
The event which ran under the theme: “The Word of God in the Family,” attracted
about eight five (85) men, women and youth of St. Peter Claver Parish. The
event was preceded by various preparatory meetings between the Daughters of St.
Paul, the Parish Priest, Fr. Stephen Karingu, the Parish Team and the Parish
Council.
about eight five (85) men, women and youth of St. Peter Claver Parish. The
event was preceded by various preparatory meetings between the Daughters of St.
Paul, the Parish Priest, Fr. Stephen Karingu, the Parish Team and the Parish
Council.
In the introductory remarks, the organizer, Sr.
Olga Massango FSP, said that the Biblical Animation Apostolate is inspired by
the spirit and charism of Blessed James Alberione, the founder of the Daughters
of St. Paul. Blessed Alberione encouraged families to make the Bible as
everyone’s book that would inspire and penetrate people’s lives. Bible Animation Apostolate is,
therefore, a way of bringing the Bible closer to the people, help them to appreciate the centrality of the Word of God in their lives and of being able to give
witness to it by proclaiming it to others.
Olga Massango FSP, said that the Biblical Animation Apostolate is inspired by
the spirit and charism of Blessed James Alberione, the founder of the Daughters
of St. Paul. Blessed Alberione encouraged families to make the Bible as
everyone’s book that would inspire and penetrate people’s lives. Bible Animation Apostolate is,
therefore, a way of bringing the Bible closer to the people, help them to appreciate the centrality of the Word of God in their lives and of being able to give
witness to it by proclaiming it to others.
During the same event, Fr. Charles Kyato,
Chaplain of Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), made a presentation
on the centrality of the Word of God in the Family and the Life of Faith. He emphasized
that adherence to the Word of God can build, strengthen and unite families so
that they are indeed the true image of the Family of God. The second
presentation was made by the AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator, Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga, under the theme: “I and My
Family, we choose to serve the Lord” (Josh
24:15). He stressed that, “like in the time of Joshua, the Word of God continues
to challenge and inspire us to constantly renew our covenantal love relationship
and commitment to God. In this way, our life will be guided by the values of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then together, we shall build a civilization of love,
reconciliation, solidarity, tolerance and mutual respect in our family and the
society in which we live.”
Chaplain of Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), made a presentation
on the centrality of the Word of God in the Family and the Life of Faith. He emphasized
that adherence to the Word of God can build, strengthen and unite families so
that they are indeed the true image of the Family of God. The second
presentation was made by the AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator, Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga, under the theme: “I and My
Family, we choose to serve the Lord” (Josh
24:15). He stressed that, “like in the time of Joshua, the Word of God continues
to challenge and inspire us to constantly renew our covenantal love relationship
and commitment to God. In this way, our life will be guided by the values of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then together, we shall build a civilization of love,
reconciliation, solidarity, tolerance and mutual respect in our family and the
society in which we live.”
The event was concluded on Sunday 6th April with
the celebration of the Eucharist, where each participant of the Bible Animation
was called by name and given the certificate by the main celebrant Fr. Jude Waweru, who is the AMECEA Justice and Peace
Coordinator. To conclude the program, the congregation pledged and made a commitment to enthrone the Bible at home and to be a witness by allowing the Word of God to be the real guide and source of one’s own life.
the celebration of the Eucharist, where each participant of the Bible Animation
was called by name and given the certificate by the main celebrant Fr. Jude Waweru, who is the AMECEA Justice and Peace
Coordinator. To conclude the program, the congregation pledged and made a commitment to enthrone the Bible at home and to be a witness by allowing the Word of God to be the real guide and source of one’s own life.
During these two days, Bibles were displayed and
sold at a subsidized price by the Paulines
sold at a subsidized price by the Paulines
Publications Africa in order to
fulfill the intuition of Blessed James Alberione to let the Gospel enter in
every family.
Speaking with AMECEA Online News Sr. Olga Massango, FSP, the event organizer said
Bible Animation Apostolate activities had been carried out, especially by Sr.
Maria Rosa Ballini, in the late 90’s in Kenya and Tanzania. Sr Ballini stopped the
apostolate due to her health problems which led to her death.
Bible Animation Apostolate activities had been carried out, especially by Sr.
Maria Rosa Ballini, in the late 90’s in Kenya and Tanzania. Sr Ballini stopped the
apostolate due to her health problems which led to her death.
She said that the aim of Bible Animation Apostolate
is to help people to familiarize themselves with the Word of God which is alive
and active, touches us and transforms us in our everyday life. In the Bible there is life for us today and we can appropriate it in order to become our own. In this
way it becomes a real living encounter with the Jesus, Word of God made flesh. Bible
Animation creates a lot of interest in the Word of God so that people
understand it better, deepen it, and do the enthronement of the Bible in the
Churches, in families and homes.
is to help people to familiarize themselves with the Word of God which is alive
and active, touches us and transforms us in our everyday life. In the Bible there is life for us today and we can appropriate it in order to become our own. In this
way it becomes a real living encounter with the Jesus, Word of God made flesh. Bible
Animation creates a lot of interest in the Word of God so that people
understand it better, deepen it, and do the enthronement of the Bible in the
Churches, in families and homes.
“We are happy that this apostolic initiative of
Bible Animation made us to be in communion with the Holy Father Pope Francis,
who on 6th April offered the Gospel to all the people in St. Peter’s Square in
Rome and we feel encouraged to make the Biblical Animation Apostolate evermore
real for our people in Africa,” she said.
Bible Animation made us to be in communion with the Holy Father Pope Francis,
who on 6th April offered the Gospel to all the people in St. Peter’s Square in
Rome and we feel encouraged to make the Biblical Animation Apostolate evermore
real for our people in Africa,” she said.
The Biblical Apostolate lies under the spirit of
the founder of the Daughters of St. Paul Blessed James Alberione, who, very
often encouraged the first generations of the Pauline Family, “to make the
Gospel penetrate in the masses… “The
Bible is everyone’s book. Let it become our daily bread”. His constant
concern was: “How can we bring the Bible closer to the people? How can we help
our people understand the centrality of the Word of God in their life?” From 1920 onwards, Bible Days, Week of the
Gospel, Gospel Festivals and all biblical initiatives related to the Word of
God were celebrated so as to take the Gospel to every family and let it be the
centre and inspirer of their life.
the founder of the Daughters of St. Paul Blessed James Alberione, who, very
often encouraged the first generations of the Pauline Family, “to make the
Gospel penetrate in the masses… “The
Bible is everyone’s book. Let it become our daily bread”. His constant
concern was: “How can we bring the Bible closer to the people? How can we help
our people understand the centrality of the Word of God in their life?” From 1920 onwards, Bible Days, Week of the
Gospel, Gospel Festivals and all biblical initiatives related to the Word of
God were celebrated so as to take the Gospel to every family and let it be the
centre and inspirer of their life.
SOURCE:
AMECEA Social Communications and Paulines Publications
AMECEA Social Communications and Paulines Publications
