KENYA: Ngong Diocese Launches Year of St. Joseph
Ngong diocese launches the year of St. Joseph. Credit Photo, Communications Office Ngong
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Nearly a month after Pope Francis issued a decree proclaiming a special year dedicated to Saint Joseph the spouse of the Virgin Mary and also to mark the 150th anniversary of the saint as patron of the Universal Church, Kenya’s Ngong Diocese has launched a year-long celebration for St. Joseph with monthly reflections for Christians to understand the role of the foster-father of Jesus the Christ in the Church.
“The year of St. Joseph is an opportune moment to make the role of St. Joseph visible and more pronounced,” The Local Ordinary of Ngong Diocese Bishop John Oballa Owaa said during the launch on Sunday, January 17 and disclosed, “There will be monthly reflections and prayers to assist Christians internalize the role of St. Joseph.”
The diocese which will have the year-long celebration from Sunday, January 17 until Saturday, December 4, when the diocese commemorates its family day, has commenced its first monthly reflection on St. Joseph as the “Most valiant protector of the Church.”
In the consecutive months until December, Christians in the diocese will have reflections and prayers on various aspects of St. Joseph life and character. During the Sunday launch, Rt. Rev. Oballa told the Christians that “St. Joseph was a righteous and dignified man who was called and chosen by God as the head of God’s household.” He reminded them that “Not a word is recorded from him directly, and yet he was a faithful husband, a caring father, and a faithful worker.”
Bishop Oballa who also serves as Vice-Chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) disclosed further that St. Joseph played a silent and yet an important role in the birth of Jesus, “No wonder he was chosen to be the Protector and Model of the Universal Church and Family.”
He added, “This year, by our monthly reflection on him, we should make him better known and loved.”
During the launch which took place at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral in Ngong, the Prelate similarly blessed the tools which parishes will use during the celebration including the Bible, the Cross, candles, and the Statue of St. Joseph.
Expounding the significance of celebrating St. Joseph in a note shared with AMECEA online, the Diocesan Catholic Men Association (CMA) Co-ordinator Mr. John Sonkori noted that it is an opportunity meant to strengthen the role of men in the Family, Church, and society.
“Saint Joseph is portrayed as the Father of the Church who walks and nurtures the Church,” he said and continued, “He is portrayed as a Father who walks with his children guiding, protecting, providing, and teaching them good morals and virtues.”
According to Pope Francis’ document Patris Corde, (With a Father’s Heart), St. Joseph played a key role in salvation history and he has always been venerated as a Father by Christians.
“This is shown by the countless churches dedicated to him worldwide, the numerous Religious institutes, confraternities and ecclesial groups inspired by his spirituality and bearing his name, and the many traditional expressions of piety in his honour,” reads in part the Pope’s Apostolic letter.
Parishes under Ngong Diocese will launch the year of St. Joseph on January 24, during the celebration of Sunday of the Word.
