KENYA: Lodwar Diocese Starts Experiencesing the Fruits of Cross-Border Evangelization Initiative
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| Bishop Dominic Kimengich |
The diocese
of Lodwar has started experiencing the impact of Inter-Diocesan Peace and
Cross-Border Evangelization, an initiative of seven dioceses that aimed at enhancing
the Gospel way of promoting peace, co-existence and integral human development
among the people in the Turkana and Karamajong region.
of Lodwar has started experiencing the impact of Inter-Diocesan Peace and
Cross-Border Evangelization, an initiative of seven dioceses that aimed at enhancing
the Gospel way of promoting peace, co-existence and integral human development
among the people in the Turkana and Karamajong region.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News this week, Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Lodwar said
that so far, the impact of the initiative, though coming in a small way is
being felt and appreciated by the local communities. “Even the people who are
not Christians or Catholics are appreciating the Church for being proactive in
mediating for peace and doing something that has been lacking for so many years,”
he said.
that so far, the impact of the initiative, though coming in a small way is
being felt and appreciated by the local communities. “Even the people who are
not Christians or Catholics are appreciating the Church for being proactive in
mediating for peace and doing something that has been lacking for so many years,”
he said.
The seven
dioceses involved in the Inter-Diocesan Peace and Cross-Border Evangelization, include
Kitale, Nakuru, Lodwar (Kenya), Kotido, Moroto (Uganda), Torit (South Sudan)
and Jimma-Bonga (Ethiopia) border each other geographically and; despite the
fact that the inhabitants share a lot in common in terms of culture, they have
not lived in peace with each other.
dioceses involved in the Inter-Diocesan Peace and Cross-Border Evangelization, include
Kitale, Nakuru, Lodwar (Kenya), Kotido, Moroto (Uganda), Torit (South Sudan)
and Jimma-Bonga (Ethiopia) border each other geographically and; despite the
fact that the inhabitants share a lot in common in terms of culture, they have
not lived in peace with each other.
“These are
tribes that have lived together for many years and have experienced lots of
tribal animosities and conflicts which have been there for many years,” the
bishop said adding that “From Ethiopia, the Merile tribe occasionally crossed over
and attack the Turkana community in Kenya, which also in a spirit of
retaliation, would cross over to revenge and the results were massive loss of
lives and living in constant fear of attacks.
tribes that have lived together for many years and have experienced lots of
tribal animosities and conflicts which have been there for many years,” the
bishop said adding that “From Ethiopia, the Merile tribe occasionally crossed over
and attack the Turkana community in Kenya, which also in a spirit of
retaliation, would cross over to revenge and the results were massive loss of
lives and living in constant fear of attacks.
“The issue
of peace is very important and as a diocese we felt that we could no longer
just sit and watch as people kill each other; we needed to do something and
that is where the idea of Inter-Diocesan Peace and Cross Border Evangelizations
was initiated,” Bishop explained.
of peace is very important and as a diocese we felt that we could no longer
just sit and watch as people kill each other; we needed to do something and
that is where the idea of Inter-Diocesan Peace and Cross Border Evangelizations
was initiated,” Bishop explained.
The diocese
of Lodwar took the initiative to invite the neighboring dioceses from across
the borders so that they could sit together and see how together they can bring
peace in their region.
of Lodwar took the initiative to invite the neighboring dioceses from across
the borders so that they could sit together and see how together they can bring
peace in their region.
“Right at
the moment we have a department in the diocese of Lodwar dedicated to the
issues of peace promotion and we are trying as much as possible to reach out to
the neighboring parishes and dioceses to see how we can work together because,
without peace there is no evangelization,” he said.
the moment we have a department in the diocese of Lodwar dedicated to the
issues of peace promotion and we are trying as much as possible to reach out to
the neighboring parishes and dioceses to see how we can work together because,
without peace there is no evangelization,” he said.
Bishop
Kimengich said that so far a lot of positive things are happening. “First it is
the contacts that we have established with the people from neighboring dioceses
through which we are able to interact, to share and to visit one another and we
encourage this among Christians from across the borders,” he said.
Kimengich said that so far a lot of positive things are happening. “First it is
the contacts that we have established with the people from neighboring dioceses
through which we are able to interact, to share and to visit one another and we
encourage this among Christians from across the borders,” he said.
He praised
the Bishop of Eldoret Rt. Rev. Cornelius Korir for doing a great job in
mediating the warring communities of Pokot and Turkana whom from time to time
engaged in cattle rustling and fighting. “Since the whole of last year he has
been very active trying to bring the two communities together; something that
was not there before,” he said.
the Bishop of Eldoret Rt. Rev. Cornelius Korir for doing a great job in
mediating the warring communities of Pokot and Turkana whom from time to time
engaged in cattle rustling and fighting. “Since the whole of last year he has
been very active trying to bring the two communities together; something that
was not there before,” he said.
Bishop
Kimengich who is also the chairman of Inter-Diocesan Peace and Cross-Border
Evangelization added that the Church seems to be the only institution the
communities are putting their trust on; “This is because they know we are not there
to gain anything, we are not there for politics but for the good of the
community by ensuring that people are leaving at peace and harmony with each
other as brothers and sisters,” he said.
Kimengich who is also the chairman of Inter-Diocesan Peace and Cross-Border
Evangelization added that the Church seems to be the only institution the
communities are putting their trust on; “This is because they know we are not there
to gain anything, we are not there for politics but for the good of the
community by ensuring that people are leaving at peace and harmony with each
other as brothers and sisters,” he said.
He said that
through their established networks they are now able to know at times if an
attack has been planned and therefore they are able to liaise with the relevant
authorities who in turn take necessary measures to prevent the attacks.
through their established networks they are now able to know at times if an
attack has been planned and therefore they are able to liaise with the relevant
authorities who in turn take necessary measures to prevent the attacks.
The bishop
said that the kind of harmony that is being witnessed in Lodwar is also being
experienced in other dioceses from neighboring countries of Uganda, Ethiopia
and South Sudan.
said that the kind of harmony that is being witnessed in Lodwar is also being
experienced in other dioceses from neighboring countries of Uganda, Ethiopia
and South Sudan.
SOURCE: Pamela Adinda; AMECEA
Social Communications Office, Nairobi
Social Communications Office, Nairobi
