KENYA: Poverty and Traditional Practices Remain Major Challenges to the Pastoral Activities as Archdiocese of Kisumu Celebrates Silver Jubilee
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| Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth leading hundreds of Catholics from Kisumu in the Celebrations to mark Silver Jubilee of the Archdiocese |
The Catholic
Archdiocese of Kisumu on Monday 29th celebrated Silver Jubilee as an
Archdiocese and 47th anniversary of Episcopate of Most Rev Zacchaeus
Okoth, Archbishop of Kisumu; in a grand celebration that was attended by among
other dignitaries the President of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta and
former Prime Minister honorable Raila Odinga.
Archdiocese of Kisumu on Monday 29th celebrated Silver Jubilee as an
Archdiocese and 47th anniversary of Episcopate of Most Rev Zacchaeus
Okoth, Archbishop of Kisumu; in a grand celebration that was attended by among
other dignitaries the President of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta and
former Prime Minister honorable Raila Odinga.
The colorful
event was celebrated at the Uzima University College Grounds in Kisumu. The
Archdiocese, which has made tremendous contributions to the education, health
and community development, is wrestling with various challenges ranging from
dwindling vocations and poverty, which is prevalent in the region.
event was celebrated at the Uzima University College Grounds in Kisumu. The
Archdiocese, which has made tremendous contributions to the education, health
and community development, is wrestling with various challenges ranging from
dwindling vocations and poverty, which is prevalent in the region.
The Vicar
General of Kisumu, Fr. Moses Omolo told AMECEA
Online News that shortage of priests in the vast Archdiocese, which covers
two counties namely Kisumu and Siaya, is a major stumbling block to pastoral
work. “We have 47 parishes and hardly are there two priests in a Parish, which
usually covers vast distances,” he said adding that “the vocation to priesthood
is dwindling in the Archdiocese and they currently have at least three new
parishes without permanent Parish Priests.”
General of Kisumu, Fr. Moses Omolo told AMECEA
Online News that shortage of priests in the vast Archdiocese, which covers
two counties namely Kisumu and Siaya, is a major stumbling block to pastoral
work. “We have 47 parishes and hardly are there two priests in a Parish, which
usually covers vast distances,” he said adding that “the vocation to priesthood
is dwindling in the Archdiocese and they currently have at least three new
parishes without permanent Parish Priests.”
The
geographical distance of the Archdiocese, which is 6,419 Square Kilometers
(2,479 Square Miles), also poses a major challenge to its administration.
However, the Archdiocese has made some very commendable development in the
education, health and community empowerment.
geographical distance of the Archdiocese, which is 6,419 Square Kilometers
(2,479 Square Miles), also poses a major challenge to its administration.
However, the Archdiocese has made some very commendable development in the
education, health and community empowerment.
According to
Rev. Fr. Felix Atindah, the Personal Assistant to the Archbishop, although the
Archdiocese has made remarkable progress in evangelization mission, a lot more
need to be done to overcome the challenges of poverty, traditional practices and
others which remain to be major obstacles to pastoral activities of the
diocese.
Rev. Fr. Felix Atindah, the Personal Assistant to the Archbishop, although the
Archdiocese has made remarkable progress in evangelization mission, a lot more
need to be done to overcome the challenges of poverty, traditional practices and
others which remain to be major obstacles to pastoral activities of the
diocese.
Fr. Atindah
told AMECEA Online News that majority
of people from the Archdiocese are very poor and also the region is known to be
hardest hit by HIV and Aids which has left many orphans, a situation that is
adversely affecting pastoral work.
told AMECEA Online News that majority
of people from the Archdiocese are very poor and also the region is known to be
hardest hit by HIV and Aids which has left many orphans, a situation that is
adversely affecting pastoral work.
“Traditional
practices such as wife inheritance and polygamy are strongly practiced in some
areas. In addition obsession with politics especially in the rural area makes
it very hard for pastoral agents to preach the word of God in a balanced way,”
Fr. Atindah said.
practices such as wife inheritance and polygamy are strongly practiced in some
areas. In addition obsession with politics especially in the rural area makes
it very hard for pastoral agents to preach the word of God in a balanced way,”
Fr. Atindah said.
He however,
said that the Archdiocese has wrestled a lot with the issue of wife inheritance
and the battle is almost over. “The Archdiocese has a strong network and
solidarity group of St. Monica for the widows which is doing well to empower
widows economically, spiritually and psychologically and so far 65% of Catholic
widows have embraced the solidarity group.”
said that the Archdiocese has wrestled a lot with the issue of wife inheritance
and the battle is almost over. “The Archdiocese has a strong network and
solidarity group of St. Monica for the widows which is doing well to empower
widows economically, spiritually and psychologically and so far 65% of Catholic
widows have embraced the solidarity group.”
He said that
an apostolate to the family, especially in the lake region, still needs a lot
of work as marriages especially among couple aged between 20 and 50 years old
usually end up in separation before even celebrating fifth anniversary.
an apostolate to the family, especially in the lake region, still needs a lot
of work as marriages especially among couple aged between 20 and 50 years old
usually end up in separation before even celebrating fifth anniversary.
Kisumu
became a Diocese in 25th March 1953 and elevated Archdiocese in 21st
May, 1990 comprising of seven suffragan Dioceses of Homa-Bay, Kisii, Eldoret,
Kakamega, Bungoma, Kitale and Lodwar.
became a Diocese in 25th March 1953 and elevated Archdiocese in 21st
May, 1990 comprising of seven suffragan Dioceses of Homa-Bay, Kisii, Eldoret,
Kakamega, Bungoma, Kitale and Lodwar.
Source: Pamela Adinda, AMECEA
Online News
Online News
