KENYA: Catholic Bishops Pray for Christians, Nation During Ad Limina Visit in Rome
Members of KCCB in Rome
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) who travelled to Rome Saturday, August 24, to pay a visit to the Holy Father have during their pilgrimage prayed for the nation and Christians both in Rome and in Kenya.
Besides having a conversation with the Holy Father in person and through the offices that represent him in Rome, the week-long visit is also a period for the Bishops to visit the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul and other Major Basilicas within the Vatican.
On Wednesday, August 28, the Bishops had a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri Archdiocese and the Vice President of KCCB at St. Paul’s Basilica Outside the Walls with the Kenyan Community in Rome including the priests, religious, and lay faithful.
In a video clip shared on social media, the bishops while at the tomb of St. Paul the Apostle recited the Creed and prayed for the people of God in Kenya and the nation.
“We pray here where St. Paul was buried for the Christians who are here and for the apostolic work for the entire nation and all the Christians back at home in Kenya,” Archbishop Muheria prayed as the other prelates stretched their hands blessing the people. tomb of St. Paul the Apostle.
During this pilgrimage, Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa Archdiocese, presided over Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on Tuesday, August 27, Thursday’s Mass was led by Archbishop Phillip Subira Anyolo of Nairobi Archdiocese at the Basilica of Mary Major and the Friday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica by Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Kisumu Archdiocese and the Chairman of KCCB.
Prior to the Rome visit, Archbishop Muhatia clarified to media practitioners in Kenya that the Ad Limina visit normally takes place every five years but due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the health situation of the Holy Father, the bishops from Kenya are visiting Pope Francis after nine years.
The KCCB chair narrated that the bishops will share with the Holy Father the developments and challenges facing the Church in Kenya since the last Ad Limina visit which was in 2015.
“I think since we were in Rome about nine years ago, there have been major developments in the Catholic Church in Kenya, especially positive ones,” Archbishop Muhatia shared with media practitioners during an interview before the bishops traveled and explained, “There is a clear growth of the faith. Most importantly, the Church in Kenya is very vibrant and the role played by the Catholic Church in felt more society,”
He added that there is increased growth, especially in priestly and religious vocation, and emphasized that “All major seminaries in Kenya are full and there is no space to take candidates who have qualified. This is a good sign of the growth of the Church in Kenya.”
