KENYA: Bishop Oballa Calls on Clergy and Religious to Embrace a Culture of Dialogue

Daniel Ngetich

Forty (40) days after the Nativity of the Lord, the Catholic diocese of Ngong celebrated the Feast of Presentation of the Lord in the Temple which is also a day for Consecrated life on the Church’s liturgical calendar.

While blessing the candles to be used during the celebration and throughout the year, Bishop John Oballa who is the Local Ordinary of the diocese said that, the luminous object will be used not only in Churches and in Chapels but also at homes in times of prayers to remind Christians of Gods’ presence in our midst.

“The candle symbolize Christ. When the family gathers around the lit candle, they are reminded of their unity and their relationship with Christ. That the light is also for the world, and we are commissioned to carry that light into the world. At baptism, we were given the candle to keep it burning, a light of faith; we were reminded to walk as people of light, keeping that flame alive every single day,” said Bishop Oballa.

In his homily Bishop Oballa said, “Jesus is the light that God has sent into the world to illuminate the path of everyone to know and come to the Father. Jesus is that light that Prophet Malachi says cleanses, purifies and exposes.

The Prelate mentioned that the Covid-19 pandemic had ushered in a new moment for the clergy and Religious to evangelize.

He said that, Covid-19 is a Paschal occasion to evangelize and witness with creativity adding, “We have realized we need one another; we have realized the need for prayer.”

Bishop Oballa appealed to the Consecrated persons not to give in to any temptation of compassion fatigue.

“Let it be said of us as people did Blessed Irene Nyaatha, ‘Love killed her,’ he said.

During Covid-19 pandemic the Church together with Religious communities has been involved in charity activities in support of families that have been adversely affected by the pandemic.

Rt. Rev. Oballa echoed Pope Francis’ call in his Encyclical Fratelli Tutti which talks about fraternity and social friendship and appealed to all consecrated people to recognize one another as travelling companions as did the Good Samaritan.

“This is a call to spread the light of universal fraternity, the birth of a new world where all of us truly live with the conviction that we are truly brothers and sisters.”

The Bishop asked them to adopt a culture of dialogue, of mutual cooperation and reciprocal understanding.

He called the consecrated person’s to start consciously by being present to one another in their communities.

“Let there be true dialogue between the young and old members, true listening and caring for one another and make this light of Christ spread daily to the human society where all are truly brothers and sisters.

The celebration took place at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral in Ngong on 2nd February 2021.