KENYA: Catholic Church Commemorates 3rd Anniversary of Sunday of the Word of God.
Sr. Anne Henriette Owino, FSSA
January, 23rd, 2022 marked the third anniversary of the Sunday, of the word of God which was established by Pope Francis on September 30, 2019 in order to promote a closer relationship with the Holy Scripture and its dissemination in the world.
Fr. Bonaventure Luchido, director of the PMC, Sr. Millicent Omondi a member of Pauline’s Sisters and editor at the Pauline’s Publication Africa and Mr. Maurice Owinyo, a lecture at Catholic University of Eastern Africa shared with the viewers of Capuchin TV the meaning of the phrase “the word of God” and the importance of celebrating the word of God during the Round Table discussion.
According to Fr. Bonavature the word of God is Jesus Christ himself, the vehicle through which man understands what God wants for them and reveals Himself through the word. The Sunday of the Word of God is for celebration, dissemination and study of the Sacred Scriptures, Sr. Millicent added.
The three cited that the major problem with reading the Bible is picking verses from different books that suit what one wants while to safeguard a better understanding of the Word is only through reading the Bible text in a given context.
According to the panel, some people believe that they already know everything in the Bible while others think that Bible is for children yet Bible is for all of us, regardless of age.
To make the Sunday of the word of God more fruitful, Christians are encouraged to engage in different activities like Bible week in preparation for this particular day, so that it is celebrated with devotion, empowering the lay faithful to study the Word of God since it is not for the few privileged and having Biblical commission at the national level to give guideline to the people Sr. Millicent explains.
Fr. Bonaventure added that the Sunday of the Word of God is unique occasion as Pope Francis urges each Parish to enthrone the Word of God and not to make it a one-day event but an everyday event.
