KENYA: “Be a Pastor, a Father, Accessible to People,” Nuncio Advises Newly Consecrated Bishop of Homa Bay Diocese
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Newly ordained Bishop of Kenya’s Catholic diocese of Homa Bay Rt. Rev. Michael Otieno Odiwa has been encouraged to be available to the people and to act as a Father to the Christians in his new ministry as a Shepherd.
“Dear Monsignor Michael, be accessible, be open, be a Father and keep watch of the flock in which the Holy Spirit has place you as a Bishop,” the Nuncio in Kenya and South Sudan Archbishop Bert van Megen told the newly ordained Bishop during his consecration on Tuesday, February 9, at Homa Bay High School grounds.
Presiding the episcopal consecration, Archbishop van Megen reminded Rt. Rev. Odiwa that God’s ways are not our ways, that is why we have to be open to God.
“Why did God appoint you bishop? Maybe it is because of your life of prayer, your spiritual life and your service as a priest. It is not because of buying votes but because your life is inspired by the word of God,” he said to him adding, “God has chosen you not so much because of all your qualities. May it is because of your awareness of not being prepared, of not being worthy, of not having the necessary skills that you think you need.”
The Nuncio further said to Msg. Michael, “God has sent you out all the same; no purse, no bag no sandals but empty handed. May the people of God see in you the sign and presence of Christ.”
He then assured the new Bishop that the Lord will fill his empty hands through the Sacraments of the Church especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist and also through the guidance of God’s words and his people.
The Pope’s representative in Kenya referred to Prophet Jeremiah chapter 1 verses 4 to 9 that the Lord formed him in the womb, knew him, consecrated him before he was born and appointed him as a prophet to the nations, a sign that God normally “has a plan with us and many times we ourselves do not know about these plans.”
“Sometimes surprising things may happen in your life, things you had not foreseen (and) had never thought about. That is why as priests, Religious and lay faithful we need to be open to the will of God, because only in following Him shall will find true happiness.”
“If, however, we are looking for a career in the Church, if we want to use the office for our own purposes, we shall never be happy,” the Nuncio warned and explained further, “Leaders like that will keep on abusing their office, abusing the Church, abusing the people of God for their own gains and for their own selfish goals,” he said adding, “Evil does not give freedom but only chains you. In order to be a good Bishop, be a free man, available for God’s will.”
Addressing the Religious and clergy, the Nuncio reminded them to emulate the life of Christ that motivates others.
“God only accepts you into his kingdom when you pray and preach, when your personal life is inspired and incarnated in the word of God, when the word of God becomes truly flesh in you and when people are able to see something of Christ in you,” he said.
Archbishop Megen further reflected on the episcopal ring as a symbol of matrimonial bond between a Bishop and the Church and said to him, “Be faithful to your calling; no other woman should come in between you and the Church; offer your prayers for the Church, more especially during the Eucharist.”
On the same note, Archbishop van Megen reminded the new Bishop that his success shall depend on God saying, “Often times we think that the solutions to the problems of our Church will be found in the synods, strategic plans and meetings. All these are important but limited. Instead, it is the Lord who, in spite all our weaknesses and scandals, the Church finds the solutions to her problems and has existed for the last 2,000 years.”
He advised Msg. Michael to emulate some lay faithful who are dedicated in their Christian way of life and who live the faith “to great expense and great sacrifice.”
“They give their life not only as husbands and wives, not only to their children, not only for their families but they find time and energy for their Church,” the Nuncio said referring to the lay faithful who are committed to their Christian calling.
The Nuncio further said, ““Bishop Michael’s tribe is the family of God; forget your tribe because you are bishop of the family of God. Be their father; be close to them; be their pastor.”
He then encouraged the newly consecrated Bishop praying for him that God who has chosen him to lead the people of Homa Bay may fulfilment the good work He has begun in him.
The newly ordained Bishop who was once a Vicar General of Homa Bay Diocese was appointed by Pope Francis on November 29, 2020. The diocese has been under the leadership of Archbishop Philip Arnold Anyolo as the Apostolic Administrator following his appointment in November 2018 as the Archbishop of Kisumu Archdiocese.
