KENYA: Prelate Calls for Gratitude and Selflessness at a Diocesan Diamond Jubilee
Archbishop Anthony Muheria
By Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
At the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kenya’s Marsabit Diocese on Saturday, November 23, at Our Lady of Consolata Cathedral, Archbishop Anthony Muheria called upon the congregation to lift their hearts in praise and gratitude to God for the many blessings bestowed upon the diocese and its faithful.
“Let us all come to draw water from this well—the well of salvation, the well of joy, the well of God’s strength, the well of authentic humanity. Let us join hands and hearts to offer praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God,” he said.
The Local Ordinary of Nyeri Archdiocese emphasized that gratitude is not merely an act of words but a way of life, and a call to reflect on the gifts of life, health, and faith.
“This event we celebrate today is not for our pride but for God’s glory. It’s about exalting His name, humbling ourselves before Him, and seeking His blessings.”, he continued, as we mark 60 years of the Diocese of Marsabit we celebrate our maturity in faith. Now is the time to think about bearing fruit, giving, and self-sacrifice,” the Archbishop narrated.
He adds, “We must grow beyond being mere recipients, standing tall, raising the next generation, protecting our Church, and advancing without fear because we are no longer children. We seek blessings and courage to stand firm in the call God has given us”.
Sharing a personal story of volunteering at a Missionaries of Charity Center, he described how moments of service to the marginalized, children with severe deformities, and abandoned elderly bring a deeper understanding of God’s grace.
“Gratitude is about recognizing what we’ve received. If we fail to acknowledge the cost of what we’ve been given, our gratitude becomes shallow,” The Vice Chairman for the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) pointed out and continued, “In my youth, I volunteered at a Missionaries of Charity home run by Mother Teresa’s sisters. I witnessed their deep care for the elderly, disabled, and abandoned children, especially those with severe deformities. These sisters treated these children with utmost dignity, showing them as God’s precious gifts. It was then that I learned to appreciate my blessings—hands, feet, a sound mind, and good health”.
He reflected on the work of the early missionaries and pointed out that celebrating 60 years is not just a time for festivity but a call to selflessness and generosity, a call to giving not only financially but in time, service, and love just as the missionaries sacrificed so much to bring faith in Marsabit.
He asked the faithful to embrace the challenges of their time with courage, likening their mission to the expansive heart of an elephant, capable of accommodating all.
“Let our hearts grow large, like the heart of an elephant—big enough to accommodate everyone, just as Christ on the cross stretched His arms wide for all of humanity”
He also urged the faithful to open their hearts and homes to others, to forgive past hurts, and to build a church rooted in compassion, inclusivity, and service.
“Jubilee is a time of mercy, reconciliation, and embracing one another without division. It is a time to forget past grievances, to open our hearts and homes, and to show love and joy,” he noted.
In conclusion, Archbishop Muheria said, “As we celebrate this jubilee, we pray for our diocese, our priests, our religious, our families, and our young people. May God call forth more vocations and strengthen us to continue serving His Church. May the intercession of St. Joseph Allamano, the Consolata Missionaries, and Our Lady Consolata inspire us to live in gratitude and love”.
