KENYA: Bishop Oballa Tells Benedictine Ordinands To Be Apostles of Peace
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
A Prelate of Kenya’s Ngong Diocese reminded candidates for priestly and diaconate ordination from the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien on Saturday, February 21, to fully embrace their call and be ministers who preach and live peace.
In his homily during the Eucharistic celebration at Prince of Peace Benedictine Abbey, Tigoni, in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Bishop John Oballa Owaa told the Benedictine Monks to feel privileged that the Lord has called them to be his instruments that bring forth peace” especially these times that “seems to be a history of death, despair, violence, culture of abortion, drugs, suicide and discouragement.”
“The Lord makes you his apostles of peace, to preach peace and live peace,” Bishop Oballa told the candidates shortly before their ordination adding that the Monks need to be people “who bring peace to every sphere of life and apostolate.”
Appreciating the five Monks who were to be ordained – three to priesthood and two to the ministry of diaconate- Bishop Oballa who serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said, “Today our hearts are full of joy and gratitude to God for the gift of our brothers here who have received adequate formation for their vocation of seeking God in solitude, silence, constant prayer, willing penance and contemplation.”
Addressing the candidates for diaconate, he reminded them to remain faithful to the Gospel which they will preach as they take the new step in the hierarchy of the Holy Orders in the Church.
“Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach,” the Prelate said.
He explained further, “Commit yourself to living these words by preaching and witnessing to that same Gospel and knowing that preaching does not take place only in the pulpit but also in your lives and hearts.”
Focusing his homily on Jesus as the good Shepherd, the Local Ordinary of Ngong Diocese narrated that Jesus is the “genuine and real” shepherd who is always willing to fight whoever and whatever threatens his flock at the cost of his own life and does everything to defend his flock.
In this regard he told the candidates that they must show the same generosity as their Master, led by love and concern for others so that as one flock all may be under one shepherd.
“My dear sons who are about to be consecrated to God, the Lord calls you to draw even closer to him for the sake of his people. He calls you to share in the Holy priesthood of his son Jesus Christ and that you may have him alone before your eyes,” the Bishop said.
He continued, “We must progress from a maintenance Church that only takes care of those who are their own. By the Lord’s own invitation, you are to reach out to those who are outside and be a missionary Church, a Church that goes out to look for everyone and bringing back to the one flock.”
On his part speaking after the ordination, the Benedictine Abbot Rt. Rev John Baptist Oese Imai thanked the newly ordained priests and deacons urging them to be ministers of value in Christ’s vineyard.
“To our five brothers who have been ordained, we thank God who has enabled you reach this day. Know that what you have chosen is the right thing (and) we never go wrong with God,” the Abbot underscored.
Abbot John Baptist who hails from Kenya’s Bungoma Diocese quoted to the newly ordained monks the words of St. Benedict reminding them of their identity saying, “You must not forget that you are a monk lest you start developing some wings unnecessarily.”
“I pray for you to serve God’s people with all your heart and when you sincerely dedicate yourselves to serve, you will be a very happy man, a very happy priest in the vineyard of the Lord,” the Kenyan Abbot said.
