Issue No. 77: December, 2009
The Truth:
Machakos Link Newsletter
An organ of
communication of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos
BISHOPS’ DIARY
“Glory to God In The Highest and on earth
Peace to Those on Whom His favor rests” Luke
2:14
DECORATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS
My dear Uw’o reader,
A new liturgical Period of ADVENT is here which
also marks the moving from liturgical year B to liturgical year C. This is a period of 4 weeks of deep
reflection of the great mystery of salvation. A period of preparation for the
second coming of Christ and in particular a memorial of his birth over 2,000
years ago. Christ becoming one like us. His birth during the most festive
season of Christmas is a moment of grace for the family and the bigger
community of believers.
We already notice in big towns and cities,
business people placing advertisements and decorations for the season! We too as
Christians have the opportunity through the Advent period to make the
preparations necessary to welcome Christ in our lives and in our communities.
The words of the prophet Isaiah 40.31 strengthen our hope as the year comes to
an end, “They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength…will run and not
grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” In this case therefore, the four weeks of
Advent before the Christmas Day are to help us to prepare spiritually for the
coming of the savior to be born in our hearts.
Let us clean our spiritual houses and decorate
them through the reception of the sacraments to make them better places for the
savior to live.
Finally I take this
opportunity to invite you all, together to thank the lord for his blessings
upon us and pray with hope for a prosperous new year 2010.
May God Bless You All.
Merry Christmas
And Happy New Year.
+ Martin Kivuva
Musonde
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MACHAKOS.
TOWARDS SELF RELIANCE
Luke 6:38
38 “Give, and you
will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken
together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The
amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
There was once a
King who had a very large and prosperous kingdom. The people loved him because
he had so many treasures in his kingdom and they were always looking for ways
to be blessed. A famine soon hit the land and soon enough animals and people
began to suffer because water was hard to find.
The King decided
to hold a great bouquet for his subjects and so the announcement was made
throughout the land that all who could come were invited to the bouquet. There
was only one condition that each individual had to fulfil in order to be
allowed in. You had to come with water. The King did not specify the amount of
water one had to bring.
The day came and
lots of people showed up for the bouquet, each with a container of water. The
containers were in all sorts of shapes and sizes but most of them were small. Actually some of them were smaller than a tea
cup. But there were those few who came with very large containers of water
because they loved their king and they wanted him to have the best. The bouquet
was very good and at the end, the King made a speech and thanked his people for
their generosity. He said that he would also like to show generosity to his
people by sharing some of his treasures. The people were directed through the
treasury on their way out, and each individual was asked to carry all that the
container they had brought water with, could carry. Some people went home very
disappointed while some were very happy.
This story is so
relevant to what happened on the 7th of November 2009. The Catholic
Diocese of Machakos was having their big day of Diocesan Collection. Parishes
turned up in big numbers together with their parishioners. Those who
contributed a large amount of money went home with either a car or a motor bike
or a set of mass vestments for each season of the Church Calendar.
The Parishes had
been divided into four categories. Group A, B C, and D. The number ones in each
group were given a reward of a car. In group A, Machakos Cathedral emerged the
winner of a beautiful white saloon car KBJ 634Y ! In group B Kiongwani Parish went home with a car KBJ
203V!. In group C Mlolongo won the stiff battle and went home with a car KBJ
465Q. In group D. St. Camillus Chaplaincy could not hide their smile after they
emerged the winner of a grey car KBJ 645T! The Number 2’s and 3’s in each group
went back to their parishes with a Motorbike 150cc. These Parishes were:- Tala,
The Bishop, Rt.
Rev. Martin Kivuva Musonde gave the reason for the Diocesan Collection as
follows: - To educate our Seminarians, Insure our priests and support them as
they carry out their apostolate. Help our needy Christians. He added that a certain percentage goes to
By: The
communication team
TERRES DES HOMMES NETHERLANDS
MACHAKOS CATHEDRAL CHILDREN PROGRAMME.
COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH CARE (C. B. H. C)
Did you know
that the Catholic Diocese of Machakos has a project that cares, supports and
promotes children’s rights for orphans, vulnerable Children in order to enjoy
life like other children? Imagine it does! Terres des Hommes
Terres des
Hommes Netherlands is guided by the UN convention on the rights of the child
and works with civil society organizations and other partners who provide
increased access to and improve quality services for the children in need (
within their own environment).
Terres des
Hommes Netherlands East Africa started its office in 1994 and is registered in
To be continued next month
SUNDAY COMMENTARIES
2nd Sunday of
Advent
Bar 5:1-9; Phil 1:3-6, 8-11;
Luke 3:1-6
The theme of
preparation sets a background for these readings. In the first reading, the cry
of God’s people has reached him and He wants to liberate them, a new Exodus is
coming. In the Gospel reading Luke sets a hostile moment for the people of
Our situation may be
different from that of the Israelites but we are slaves and victims of our own
selfishness, stubbornness and a confrontation with a compromised Christ.
4th Sunday
of Advent
Micah 5:1-4; Heb 10:5-10; Luke
1:39-44
The Lord has chosen a
weak object to liberate his people. The least of the cities of
The Spirit directs
Mary to
True worship is the
giving of one's life over to God in fidelity and obedience (psalm 40). This is
the time to say, “Come Lord Jesus and live in our hearts”. Maranatha!
The Holy Family
1 Sam 1:20-28;1 John 3:1-2,
21-24;Luke 2: 41-52
After the liturgy of the Nativity of Our Lord,
the church gives us an opportunity to reflect on the family of Joseph, Mary and
Jesus. It’s not only an ordinary family in
If they are not transformed into
adult-to-adult relationships, as a family grows, these family ties can become a
bondage that inhibits personal development. Neither Mary nor Joseph poses
blame to the other. How often do we find in our families endless blames when
things go wrong? Joseph does not blame Mary as a careless mother; Mary does not
blame Joseph as an irresponsible father. They all unite in looking for their
son. This is a true reflection of family love. The answer that Jesus gives to
her mother suffices for the time. He is doing the will of His father. The
author does not want to present us with a naughty lad but a focused one amidst
loving parents.
By: Fr. Francis Maundu
FEAST OF THE MONTH
We celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time of His birth, Ceasar Augustus was the Emperor of Rome. The story of
the birth of Jesus, tells exactly that this birth is not a fiction but a real
event.
The words of the Angel, “………..A Savior has been
born to you…..” emphasizes the Kingship of Christ. The shepherds received the
good news of the birth of Christ. These were the people who were considered to
be of low class. Jesus has chosen to be among the lowest and least in the
Society.
Let us recognize Christ and welcome Him in our
lives to lead us all in life.
By: Fr. Alfonse Muema
ANNOUNCEMENT
Christmas Break: - The Secretariat offices
will close for Christmas break as from 22nd December and re-open on 6th January
2009.
BISHOPS’ DIARY
DECEMBER
1st Youth Day Matuu
2nd Youth Mass -Cathedral
10th Caritas Executive Meeting
13th Kyale
Silver Jubilee
18th Kambu
Confirmation
JANUARY
Ist Komarock
6th Office
Re-opens
9th Youth
Mwala Deanery
13th Metropolitan meeting
16th-17th Kola
23rd Mutituni
30th Kathonzweni
Final profession.
P.O. Box - 344 -90100 Machakos
Tel. +254-44-20484; Fax. +254-44-21308
Office
E-mail: bishopsomks@wananchi.com