KENYA: Be Agents of Christian Marriage, Bishop Muhatia Challenges
Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba, AMECEA Board Member and Bishop of Nakuru Diocese
Cognisant of the dynamics of the contemporary society with regards to marriage and family, Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba, a Member of the AMECEA Executive Board and Bishop of Nakuru Diocese, Kenya, has challenged participants of John Paul II Institute of Marriage and Family to be agents of God’s intention for marriage from beginning of humanity.
In his homily during the Eucharistic Celebration to mark the end of a three-week formation program on Marriage and Family Pastoral Ministry held in Nairobi, Kenya, between May 20 and June 10, Bishop Muhatia lamented that “some Constitutions have given a nod to versions of ‘funny’ marriages.”
Archdiocese of Nairobi receiving his
certificate from Bishop Muhatia
He mentioned that for instance in Kenya a man can marry two or more women and it is legal in the Constitution. “How is it possible that a man can marry two women and say it is legal?” queried Bishop Muhatia.
he Bishop further reminded the participants that the formation they
have been undertaking about Christian Marriage and family might not be the most popular program in the world, because the world prefers to talk about marriage in forms other than what the Bible teaches but they (the participants) should always think about marriage as God intended it right form creation.
“You are the agents of what God intended from the beginning, agents of the true teaching of the Church on marriage and on family. Do not be afraid of the many voices of the society but rather become more zealous in proclaiming the sanctity of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and the importance of the Christian family as taught by sacred scriptures and by the Church’s Magisterium,” Bishop Muhatia urged the participants.
Speaking at the same function Rev. Fr. Saviour Saka from the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya who was a participant in the program told his colleagues that the only way to show appreciation for the opportunity given to them to participate in the program is by commit themselves to helping families live according to the will of God in order to find amongst themselves authentic joy, love and happiness that every man and woman desires to have in life; and that through their ministry, families will become a true reflection of what the Church stands for and teaches.
Department Coordinator
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo, the AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator who was also present during the function indicated that AMECEA Bishops value the Sacrament of Marriage, therefore any Institute that offers courses aimed at strengthening the welfare of marriage is definitely supported.
He too urged the participants who have benefited from the program to go out and become ambassadors of John Paul II Institute of Marriage and Family Sciences. “The best way of marketing the Institute, is not just by mere words, but by being exemplary in your family life right on the ground.”
∽End∽
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
