KENYA: “Nothing of the Church Belongs to a Bishop,” Nuncio Warns at the Installation of New Archbishop
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
At the installation of the new Archbishop of Kenya’s Kisumu Archdiocese on Saturday, March 19, the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya warns Church leaders that they are called to a life of service and what belongs to the Church is not their personal property.
In his homily, Pope’s representative in Kenya and South Sudan Archbishop Hubertus van Megen said, “Nothing of the Church belongs to the Bishop, on the contrary the Bishop belongs entirely to the Church.”
He adds, “The leader needs to be aware that he is at the service of the Church (and) since the body of Christ is guided by the Holy Spirit, the Bishop is called to discern those movements of the Spirit and to accompany the Church accordingly.”
Archbishop van Megen while addressing the Prelates in his homily, noted that “It is a beautiful sign of humility and brotherhood when a former bishop remains in the background and only comes in (to help) when explicitly requested by the new Bishop.”
“The outgoing Bishop should refrain from any comment or God forbid, directly intervening in the government of the new Bishop,” The Dutch Prelate cautioned highlighting that whenever there is a new Bishop for a Diocese, “God starts a new chapter” with the new person.
In his reflection in relation to King David’s story in the scriptures, the Nuncio reminded Church leaders including superiors and clerics never to despair even in darkest moments when they haven’t succeeded in Church project, for “God knows how to kindle light and plant seed of goodness.”
“David was not allowed to build the temple of the Lord,” he said and shared with the Church leaders, “May be you have been working in your parish, Diocese or congregation for many years but some aspects of your pastoral work never developed, it just never worked… and that can be a source of frustration if not depression.”
“After a while you are transferred but when your successor comes, immediately things turn for the better, they blossom and your successor seem to have another approach and the projects that had been dead for years suddenly gain life again while you were convinced that certain things would never work,” the Nuncio expressed advising the leaders, “It is therefore important that the outgoing bishop, priest, superior or any leader gives room for the new leader who comes in.”
He further underscored that any leader in God’s Church is called to contribute to the Kingdom of God “as his/her only responsibility” and not to fulfil personal interest.
“You have to step away from your clan, your family, your tribe or personal interest,” the Pope’s representative who has served in Kenya since 2019 told the leaders adding that, “a leader in Church whether a Christian faithful, or in any congregation, or a priest or a Bishop is not called to represent his tribe or his family (but) he/she has a new family of God where he belongs and is therefore a citizen of the Kingdom of God.”
While addressing the new Local Ordinary of Kisumu Archdiocese, the Pope’s representative who doubles as the Permanent Observer to United Nations Environment Program and Human Settlements Program since 2019 told Archbishop Muhatia that he is an agent of the Church.
“The new Archbishop is like St. Joseph, he is like foster parent and steward in the Church,” The Nuncio said during the March 19 event on the Solemnity of St. Joseph the Spouse of Mary reminding Archbishop Muhatia who has served in Nakuru Catholic Diocese for over a decade that, “the Church which is the body of Christ needs to be cherished and accompanied as St. Joseph did with the child Jesus.”
“Dear Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba may St. Joseph be your intercessor and your example, may he intercede for you in your delicate task of leading the Archdiocese of Kisumu to an ever greater service to the Lord and may you give your life to the Church and be entirely at its service,” the Nuncio said and continued, “May you be supported by the great Christians here and the clergy of this great Metropolitan See which you are called to serve.”
