KENYA: Catholics Thrum for Reconciliation, Chastity, and Charity as Lenten Season Begins
Elizabeth Asasha
Catholics faithful in Kenya have thrummed the drum of reconciliation, self-denial, and compassion in the country while encouraging believers to reach out to the poor and vulnerable persons in the society through acts of piety and charity.
The believers made the plea, which seeks to amplify this year’s Lenten Campaign theme of “Reconciliation for an Inclusive Nation,” during preparations for Ash Wednesday, a day of reflection on which Catholics all over the world wear a cross made of ash on their foreheads to signify the start of 40 days of fasting, prayer, penance, and almsgiving.
“This is a time when we give alms to the poor, repent our sins, and offer our prayers to the Lord as we implore the Holy Spirit to guide us to remaining steadfast in the faith,” posited Joseph Okumu, a parishioner of Nairobi Archdiocese’s St. Michael Catholic Church, Lang’ata.
The faithful expressed concerns over the difficult economic times the nation is wallowing in with a bloated foreign debt and high cost of living while appealing for strict adherence to the four Lenten pillars during this season.
“We have to sacrifice to give to the poor because the church recognizes the needy and upholds the social responsibility of taking care of those who are suffering with love knowing that all we have comes from God.” Stated Ngong Diocese’s pastoral coordinator, Fr. Boniface Mukwe.
“We all need to pray more for our country Kenya, as individuals, groups, even in families,” said Fr. Francis Mwangi, a priest at St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Ngong Diocese, encouraging Catholics to purify themselves and pursue divine solutions for the issues that are currently plaguing the nation.
Irene King’ori, who hails from the Nyeri archdiocese’s Kigogo-ini parish, urged all Kenyan Catholics to engage in more acts of mercy, saying, “Let us commit more this year because we see the situation in Kenya right now. Let us deny ourselves some essentials, not to keep but to give to the needy so that they can also lead decent lives.”
“As a catholic congregation, we sacrifice something we enjoy eating and at the end of lent, we use the savings to help those in need, visit the sick and elderly, plant trees or clean up towns and cities.” Explained Sr. Patricia Maina, a Franciscan Missionary Sister of Assisi.
Fr Mukwe, a Kenyan liturgist challenged Christians to embrace True Fasting with a divine motive that brings results in a holistic spiritual change in individuals and communities.
“We have to confess our sins and be converted for the change we need in our families and wherever we are,” He further warned believers against the unfair prejudiced treatment of the many different groups of people, noting that, “As children of God may there be no one who despises the poor, the suffering, and such vulnerable people in the society.”
John Kyule, a catechism teacher, adjured Catholics to exercise genuine penitence by quoting the ancient Hebrew practice of donning sackcloth and ashes during Lent to symbolize humility before God. “The ashes and the clothes in sacks are the iniquities we have committed, and we seek God’s absolution through prayer and shunning evil,” Said Kyule, a well-known catechist.
The Catholic faith mentor underscored the need for parents and teachers to make sure that children recognize the sanctity of this season of the year and actively participate in liturgical events.
“Let’s talk to the teachers and decide on the best time to celebrate mass with our children and emphasize the significance of lent as Catholics, because they are baptized and some of them are excellent altar servers, others offertory dancers and singers.” He noted.
Dorothy Wahome echoed the Catechist’s sentiments saying, “As parents, we cannot leave our children out; we have to ensure that children and grandchildren understand the significance of this season as the mark of the sacred journey of our Lord because if Jesus had not died then Christianity would not exist.”
The believers also called for a collective effort from people, groups, and institutions to protect the society’s most vulnerable citizens as they emphasized their readiness for this important liturgical commemoration in the Roman Catholic church.
“This is a time for families to gather together to deepen our faith because you cannot be a Christian alone, you have to bring others on board because we believe in communion,” remarked Dorothy adding that, “at the end of our lives we all only die a physical death and rise just like Christ did.
“This year I am completely prepared as a mother to give wholeheartedly, we also have family targets even in our small Christian communities,” explained Irene King’ori, “There are strategies we have put in place for this Lent period to ensure that we effectively meet our slated goals at the end of this critical forty-day season.”
In accord with Irene, Joseph Okumu observed, “We are representatives of Jesus Christ and so we need to show that we are faithful in following what Jesus Christ expects of us so that others can learn and emulate our good deeds to people and nature.”
The clergy advised Catholics to make a commitment to praying the way of the cross and to travel to holy locations during Lent to reflect on their life, pray, and deepen their relationship with God.
“I encourage all believers to make pilgrimages to holy places; we are fortunate to have the National Marian Shrine Subukia, Resurrection Garden, Komarock Shrine, and Chumvi Shrine; the two Shrines in Machakos, even in our diocese of Ngong we are soon coming up with two.” Said Fr. Mukwe.
Fr Mwangi heartened believers to endure life billows while focusing on the ultimate reward of a faithful servant of God, “As we begin this Lenten season, we will face many difficulties, but just as Christ overcame temptation, suffered death by torture, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven,” he continued, “Let us commit fully and earnestly these forty days to humble ourselves, repent, pray, and help the poor as we wait to triumph on Easter.”
On Friday, February 17, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) launched the Lenten Campaign at St. Peter’s Mukumu Minor Seminary of Kakamega Diocese to encourage Christians and others of goodwill to join them in advocating for change and raising awareness of the issues affecting people, as it is a tradition every.
