KENYA: “Don’t Fall for the Lure of Power”, Kenya’s Apostolic Nuncio to Newly Ordained Coadjutor Bishop
Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
“Dear Monsignor Jackson don’t fall for the temptation to become like some of us focusing on financial gain, prestige or increase of power. Think of the gospel of temptations which we read just two weeks ago then. The devil lifted him up to a high place and showed him in an instant, all the kingdoms of the earth and said, ‘I will give you authority over all these kingdoms and that glory, and he said so if you worship me, it will be all yours.’ Don’t fall for the lure of power and possession, don’t fall for the lure of the devil”, says the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya at the ordination of Jackson Muragara as the Coadjutor bishop of Meru Diocese, Kenya on 19th, March 2025.
In his homily during the ordination, Archbishop Van Megan connected the call of Monsignor Maragara’s to that of the disciples who left their nets to follow Christ. “Today, Jackson will be connected, so to say to that facial of Galilee, he’s called out of the boat. He has to leave his nets behind to become Fisher of men, Jackson will be part of that chain of men of old going back all the way to the 12 apostles, going back to Christ himself when he said you are Peter on this rock, I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it”
The representative of Pope to Kenya cautioned against the pitfalls of power, prestige, and material ambition, and reminded the new bishop that the essence of the Church is not in building cathedrals or financial wealth but in salvation of souls.
“You know some of our priests feel the need to get involved in big projects. The school here and clinic there a new parish house and new church, even a university or a new cathedral. They feel that by doing so, they will be relevant to the world. They can leave, so to say, a legacy. You dear Jackson take it from me, that you do not need to impose a housing levy to build a new house for the Lord, it is more about souls than about stones indeed”.
He further reminded the newly ordained Coadjutor bishop that he does not need to put new foundation in the Church since Christ Himself has already put the foundation and the contours of the Church, and stressed that “his duty is only to watch over the process to make sure that God’s spirit can work freely in humanity at large”.
He also noted that the fruits of the work of bishops or religious priests are not always immediately visible as Jesus taught His disciples that the Kingdom of God is like a farmer whose scatters his seed on the ground at night but does not know how it grows, and added that the Church they called to serve as bishops exist only for one reason of saving God’s people from sin.
“The legacy of a priest and a hard work of a bishop is not always visible. It is not about what he has built or what he has achieved and material terms. It’s more about souls than about stones indeed. The church you are called to serve and to lead as a bishop exists only for one reason. And we heard it in the Gospel of today. His name will be Jesus for he will save his people from their sins, So the forgiveness of sins is the first and foremost vocation of the church and there is no other. All the other activities of the church from flow from this one reconciliation with God. It’s so to say the calling of the church to weave a web of reconciliation with God and one another”.
He also called upon the Coadjutor bishop to follow in the footsteps of St. Joseph and give Christ ample space in the diocese.
“St Joseph whose feast we celebrate today, our beloved Saint and father was tasked with the care for the Holy Family. St Joseph was asked as a foster father to accompany Jesus into that growth to full maturity as a man of God, as the son of God. Dear Jackson, it will be there for your task to follow in those footsteps of St. Joseph to give Christ ample space in the diocese, he continued and expressed that “It is not about our work. It is not about your work, but it is about his work, about the work of Christ, that his presence may take root in the world”.
A Coadjutor Bishop is a Bishop who learns, practices, and offers support until the resignation or retirement or upon the death of the current bishop.
