KENYA: Peace Messages Dominate Archdiocese of Nairobi Family Day Celebrations
Archbishop Anyolo
Elizabeth Asasha
Messages of peace and unity reverberated through this year’s Family Day Celebrations of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
Archbishop of Nairobi, Most Rev. Philip Subira Anyolo, led thousands of the faithful to champion unity and peace during and after the August 9 polls in Kenya.
In his homily, the Archbishop urged Kenyans to uphold the theme of this year’s Archdiocese of Nairobi Family Day, which is an excerpt of Mathew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God”
“As we gather here to celebrate this day as sons and daughters of one God in the large family of Nairobi Archdiocese, may we get along and agree to live together as a family that is built on the foundation of faith, unity, peace and fraternity,” he said as he started the sermon.
“Today we joyfully celebrate the Archdiocese Family Day recognizing that we also belong to a special family, the family of God; the family of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We handle matters from the family levels and also discuss national issues with families because they reflect the conflicts experienced at the family level,” he added.
Archbishop Anyolo stressed the need to overcome any existing demographic differences that could be precursors of hatred, hostility, and divisions as he encouraged the faithful to enrich each other as God’s children.
“As a family, we are one in Christ since the same life of grace flows through our spiritual arteries and veins, overcoming human divisions where there is no Jew or Greek; where there is neither Luo nor Kikuyu; where there is neither Luhya nor Kalenjin; neither slave nor master; neither male nor female, we all belong to God.”
In a separate interview, the Archbishop urged Kenyans to turn up in large numbers to exercise their democratic right as he emphasized the role of the Catholic Church in fostering free, credible, and peaceful elections.
“The Church is very active in dealing with issues and bringing people together. Since February, the Catholic church has been sensitizing the public for peaceful elections starting with the Lenten Campaign. Now that the elections are almost here, we ask people to go and vote because it is their right to vote in a God-fearing leader who will unite them,” said Most Rev. Anyolo.
While reiterating his message of maintaining social cohesion regardless of the outcome of the elections, Archbishop Anyolo urged all citizens to be tolerant to people of the opposing viewpoints.
“Let’s conduct ourselves in a civilized manner and acknowledge that there will be victors and losers, but regardless of the outcome, we will always be Kenyans. It is our duty to look after our nation. And winners, strive to fulfill the promises you made to Kenyans during campaigns,” he cautioned.
More than 17,000 Catholic worshipers from the 114 parishes and 14 deaneries that make up the Nairobi Archdiocese congregated at St. Mary’s Msongari grounds in Westlands, Nairobi, spoke the same language of peace and harmony, with one accord.
Different communities and groups who attended the celebrations reaffirmed the day’s theme by urging Kenyans to be instruments of peace and refrain from violent behavior that would disturb the peaceful coexistence of the country’s many different ethnic groupings.
“I would like to echo the words of St. Francis of Assisi: Lord, Make me an Instrument of your peace! We still need one another even after the elections, therefore let no one attack a neighbor over election outcomes,” appealed Fr. Peter Ken Njonge, a Chaplain at St. Andrew Parish in Rironi-Limuru.
“I want to urge everyone to exercise good judgment when casting their ballots and to uphold the established order after the results are announced,” said Wancy Lumosi who heads the Commercial Unit at Pacis Insurance Company.
Caroline Shisia Were, a member of the Catholic Women Association (CWA) at St. Joseph & Mary Shauri Moyo Parish, opined that women are an embodiment of peace as she exhorted Catholic youths to shun and rebuke any form of electoral malpractice, bigotry, and chaos.
“As women, we are the epitome of peace. Let us, therefore, vote peacefully and wait for the results,” she said and added, “We should also be prepared to accept and cooperate with whoever wins. because Kenya is one and we are all one, created by God.”
Echoing Caroline’s sentiments, Henry Kairu, a representative of the Catholic Men’s Association (CMA), warned young people about the inevitable consequences of violence.
“It’s important for young people to keep in mind that their actions today will have an impact on their future and could cost them a job or a business opportunity. Be a good influence to your peers rather than letting them encourage you to do wrong,” cautioned Kairu.
The Nairobi Archdiocese Family Day, which is customarily held in August, was planned earlier to thrum for free, peaceful, and credible elections while joining other peace ambassadors in praying for the country.
Hundreds of clergymen and nuns from various parishes were in attendance, including the Apostolic Administrator of Nakuru Diocese Rt. Rev. David Kamau, and the Bishop of Garissa Rt. Rev. George Muthaka.
