Issue No. 80: March, 2010.
The Truth: Machakos Link Newsletter
An organ of
communication of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos
THAT ALL MAY BE ONE
THE LONG AWAITED PILGRIMAGE
ATTRACTS THOUSANDS!
A VOICE FROM THE AFRICAN SHEPHERDS
- CONTINUED FROM ISSUE NO.79 FEBRUARY (AFRICAN SYNOD)
FEAST OF THE MONTH—THE
ANNUNCIATION
THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN SHEPHERDS
–AFRICAN SYNOD IN KIKAMBA - CONTINUED FROM ISSUE NO: 79
INTERNATIONATIONAL
DAY FOR THE SICK—11TH FEBRUARY, CONTINUED FROM ISSUE NO: 79
SUNDAY COMMENTARIES - MARCH 2010
APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NEWLY
ORDAINED PRIESTS
Thousands gathered at Komarock
shrine on the 6th of February 2010. This was the long awaited day
when the nine deacons from the Catholic Diocese of Machakos were to be
ordained. It is also the day when the Diocese makes a journey to Komarock for
pilgrimage. In his opening speech, Bishop Martin welcomed the visiting bishops,
(Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of
In His opening speech Bishop
Martin announced that this year 2010 was a special day to end the Year of the
Youth and launch the Year of the Priests. The Vocations Director Fr. Bernard
called those who were to be ordained and requested the Bishop to give them the
Order of Priesthood. The Bishop accepted and the Christians responded – Thanks be to God!
In his homily Bishop Martin
was happy to say that the day was very special in the Catholic Diocese of
Machakos. He reminded all present about the last years prayers for rain which
God had answered. He went on to say that the day was meant for uniting our prayers
for our country
The reason for the Pilgrimage
was to remind ourselves that we are pilgrims in this world. He informed all
present that the late Emeritus Bishop Urbanus Kioko set Komarock aside for pilgrimage. The teaching of
the church about pilgrimage is that when one goes for pilgrimage God gives
special blessings that enable one to move forward. He went on to say that the
fact that it rained was a good sign of God’s blessings to us. “He therefore has
called us to be His witnesses”, he said. Their main work is to bring people
closer to God. He turned to the priests and told them of how important they
were to the Church. He asked all to pray for them, requesting each person
present to pick a priest for spiritual motherhood to be praying for them each
single day. To all Christians he gave the Synod message that “we are chosen -
we are witnesses.”
He concluded his homily by
thanking all who came – denying themselves sleep, money and their own time to
give it to God, begging all to be faithful to their Christian calling and
especially by checking the things that are pulling us behind like tribalism,
selfishness, etc to pray that we may be able to overcome them.
As the day came to a close,
the Year of the Youth was closed in a special way. Fr. Dominic, the Youth
Chaplain led the youth in singing the hymn “Bwana unifanye
Chombo cha amani”(God make me an instrument of your peace) as they closed
their year officially.
The
Year of the Priests was launched with a prayer for Priests and a blessing from
Bishop Martin Kivuva. Fr. Pius Kyule the Chairman of
the Diocesan priests in Machakos welcomed the newly ordained priests telling
them to feel one with the others and thanked the Christians for their support
especially in prayer.
He
requested them to continue praying and supporting them. When he was given an
opportunity to greet the Christians, Bishop David Kamau
informed them that Komarock was not only visited by the Machakos people but
also people from other places like
By:
Communication team
This Synod, with the Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI, seriously warns that the problem cannot be overcome
by the distribution of prophylactics. We appeal to all who are genuinely
interested in attesting the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS to recognize the
success already obtained by programs that propose abstinence among those not
yet married, and fidelity among the married. Such a course of action not only
offers the best protection against the spread of this disease but is also in
harmony with Christian morality.
We address ourselves
particularly to you, the youth. Let no one deceive you into thinking that you
cannot control yourselves. Yes you can, with the grace of God. To the great
powers of this world, we plead: treat
To be continued in the next month.
The feast of the Annunciation
of the Lord celebrates the Angel Gabriel’s appearance to the Blessed Virgin (Lk
1: 26 – 38), his annunciation that the Blessed Virgin Mary had been chosen to
be the Mother of Our Lord, Mary’s fiat (Yes) and her willing acceptance of
God’s plan. Originally, it was a feast of Our Lord, but now it is celebrated as
a Marian feast. The feast of the annunciation dates back at least to the fifth
century and the date of the feast, which is determined by the date of Christmas
was set at March 25th by the seventh century. When the Angel Gabriel
was sent to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he said, Hail full of grace, the Lord is
with you, what joy could surpass this, O Virgin Mother? What grace can excel
that which God has granted to you alone? Before the miracle we witness in you,
all the grace you have been given. All else, even what is more desirable, must
take second place and enjoy a lesser importance. The Lord is with you. Who
would dare challenge you? You are God’s Mother; who would not immediately defer
to you and be glad to accord you a greater primacy and honor? For this reason,
when I look upon the privilege you have above all creatures, I extol you with
the highest praise. Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you also granted to
the powers of heaven.
Truly,
you are blessed among women. For you have changed Eve’s curse into a blessing,
and Adam, who hitherto lay under a curse, has been blessed because of you.
Truly, you are blessed among women. Through you the Father’s blessing has shone
forth on mankind, setting them free of their ancient curse. Truly you are
blessed among women, because through you your forebears have found salvation, for
you were to give birth to the Saviour, who was to win them salvation.
Truly,
you are blessed among women, for without seed you have borne, as your fruit,
him who bestows blessings on the whole world and redeems it from that curse
that made it sprout thorns.
Truly,
you are blessed among women, because, though a woman by nature, you will
become, in reality, God’s mother. If he whom you are to bear is truly, God made
flesh, and then rightly do we call you God’s mother, for you have truly given
birth to God. Enclosed within your womb is God Himself. He like a bridegroom,
winning joy for all and bestowing God’s light on all. You, O virgin, are like,
a clear and shining sky, in which God has set his tent. From you he comes forth
like a bridegroom leaving his chamber. Like a giant running his course, he will
run the course of his life which will bring salvation for all who will ever
live, and extending from the highest heavens to the end of them, it will fill
all things with Divine warmth and with life – giving brightness.
By:
Fr. Alfonse Muema - Communication Secretary
|
|
This
was the theme for the Year of the Youth. The Year of the Youth was officially
opened on February 2009. The young people of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos
had something to be proud of, being the focus of everybody in the Diocese.
Thanks to His Lordship for this wonderful opportunity. Youth chaplains in
different parishes marked the year in different ways, the most common being,
Spiritual walks, seminars, sports, festivals, retreats, Mass and visitations.
Some
of the activities took place up to Diocese and even National level. We are
grateful for having passed this message through God - given talents. We managed
to take 6 teams of Junior youth to
This
year 2010, the Holy Father is calling us to reflect on the theme, “Good master,
what can I do to gain eternal life?” Let’s reflect together on this wonderful
theme. The Year of the Youth closed on the 6th of February 2010 with
the ordination of nine priests.
By: Fr. Dominic Musau -
Diocesan Youth Chaplain
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KILUNGU
KYA KATATU: KANISA YONTHE IULU WA NTHI
Wumbano uu wa maasikavu
wineenea muno muno iulu wa
nthi ya Afrika
na ngwatanio ya yo. Twimutungia
muvea muno Asa mutheu Benedict XVI kwa kwithiwa
aimatwiika muno andu ma nthi ya
Afrika maunduni moo na kwithiwa e munyanyae
wa Afrika na wa andu
ma Afrika. Momanyisyo me kivathukany’o ma ma Asa mutheu maitu
iulu wa mwikalile
wa andu, na maundu ma utongoi
nimethiitwe me ma vata nthini wa kumantha
mosungio ma mathina ala makwataa nthi ya Afrika. Kwa
kuelewa mbeange, twikulya Aklisto maitu na muno muno atongoi
ma kanisa masome ivuku yii, “The Compendium of the
Social Doctrine of the Church.”
10.
Rome niyiyumitye kutetheesya
kuete maendeeo na moseo kwa
nthi ya Afrika,
kwa nzia syikivathukany’o ta:- “ The John Paul II Sahel
Foundation” ula ni muvango wambiiw’e wa kumina isio
sya Afrika ila ite na
kiw’u na itameaa miti.- Wia ula utethaw’a
ni ala matumitwe ni Asa Mutheu
vandu vake nikana mathukume kanisani situ, ta kwithiwa na Nuncios miongo itano (50) kati wa nthi
miongo itano na itatu sya
Afrika. Twitunga muvea kwoondu wa utethyo usu munene kwa
kanisa ya Afrika.
11. Ngethi situ nivikie kanisa yonthe iulu
wa nthi
nundu ithyonthe vamwe twi ma musyi
umwe wa Ngai.
Kwithiwa kwa
amwe wumbanoni uu kuma nthi
ila ingi ni wonany’o wa
uumwe witu ta Kanisa imwe.
Twitungia muvea kanisa ila
ithyululukite Afrika kwa utethyo woo wa kithayuni na
wa syindu ila manengete kanisa
ya Afrika. Twiia wikwatyo witu atongoini ma kanisa ila
syi nthi nthwii na syi
utonyi, nikana wiw’ano, uwo na
muuo syonekane kuu kwitu Afrika.
Ngwatanio ila
yithiitwe vo kati wa Afrika
na Ulaya, kati wa maasikavu
maitu ma Afrika na maulaya, niyikwenda
kululumiilw’a.
To be continued in
the next issue
Listening
requires attention to the feeling level!
We are all more human than otherwise.
Being sure you know how another feels is an
hallucination. Listening on a feeling
level requires your vulnerability. We
are all God’s children. Make your
responses intentional, Verbal and non-verbal.
Notice changes. Take time.
Know
how you will know when you are done (tired).
Notice when the visit is done.
Note outcomes. Be thankful. After the visit, reflect with your self, thoughts, notes, journals, movement and spiritual
resources. Remember you are a member of a health care team with a
responsibility to communicate with the other members for the well - being of
the patient/family. We have a
responsibility to be able to communicate our activities and effectiveness to
the systems in terms which meet the rest of the system where they are in
understandings and values, as well as call them forward in their understandings
of the dimensions. We represent.
Support: Remember you are affected too.
Perspective: Values for you from their related
experiences. Speak it out to another
care - giver before your next visit. By the first 10 minutes you will have
known the needs/hopes/resources from the patient or family.
Needs: What are the obvious needs and
hidden needs of this person based on his or her life, illness, and situation?
Hopes: What gives this person energy,
will, direction, motivation to keep going?
Resources: Who and what has helped this
person come through the joys and the difficulties in his/her life.
PROFILE
Concept
of the Holy!
How does she/he name the Holy?
How does the Holy function in his/her life?
What kind of outcome tends to flow from his/her
awareness of the Holy in activity in his/her life?
MEANING
How does
she/he understand her/his value, importance in the world/creation? How does this illness affect his/her
understanding?
HOPE
Hope:
Intermediate and ultimate. Engaged intermediate hope is potentially attainable,
depends on the course of illness or treatment. e.g. a
patient may hope to go to a cousins wedding even though the cancer threatens to
take her life shortly. Ultimate Hope is bound to happen despite whatever
happens now. e.g. a patient believes that even if she
dies due to this illness she will go to heaven. Engaged: Hopes can serve the
patients ability to cope and live a meaningful, changed life. Knowledge of which sort of hope is serving
this patient allows the priest to engage it in helpful ways of her well being.
PLAN
Plan
for this visit! What is your plan? What did you go in intending to accomplish?
Based on the desired contributing outcomes? How Examples includes: assess,
establish rapport, calm, define request for priest/sacrament comfort and
facilitate grief, explore what other meanings for life can there be,
patient/family able to re-integrate into lifestyle and utilize spiritual values
for support, patient/loves ones can identify hope(s) as he/she faces diagnosis,
explore new approaches to their ways of relating in the community, family
roles, faith tradition and with self….and more…..Based on the assessment
recorded above and other information you have about this patient and the health
challenges he/she faces, what desired contributing outcomes do you intend to
work towards with this patient/family?
INTERVENTION
What of your plan for this visit did you actually
do and How?
What of your plan for ongoing care did you
implement and How?
EVALUATION
(MEASUREMENT)
What changed from what you actually did?
What contributing outcome or progress towards an
outcome was accomplished?
What is the evidence?
What was effective? How?
How do you know?
What was not effective?
How do you know?
What next?
Rev. Fr.
Joseph Mutuku - Kola Parish
3rd
Sunday of Lent: Exodus 3:1-8;
1Cor
10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9
The
first reading from Exodus marks the beginning of God’s mission to save the
Israelites from the Egyptian oppression. By defining Himself as Yahweh, the God
who is, He wanted to make the difference between Himself and other gods. He is
a God who converses with his people; the other gods do not speak or reveal
themselves to their worshippers. Such is our God. With the challenges of the
present age, God sees the suffering of his people and surely he will act. As
the Gospel states, he gives us time to repent and come back to him. During the
Lenten season, we are invited to reflect about our commitment and see whether
we have any worthy fruit.. We should never try the
patience of God. The time to repent is now. How many years has the Lord given
us? How many Lenten seasons have we celebrated and how ready are we to
celebrate the heavenly banquet?
4th
Sunday of Lent:
Joshua
5:9-12; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32
The
readings of this Sunday call us to reflect on reconciliation. The world today
is bleeding from the wounds of revenge and retaliation. Families have been
broken friendships and partnerships have been broken, communities are bitter
against each other, not to mention the sad situation of ethnic differences. The
way to reconciliation is not easy as we can note from the story of the merciful
father towards his wayward last born. We notice the steps the son takes to go
back to the father.
He
acknowledges his failures, making a painful resolution to go back home and yet
not sure of the welcome. The forgiving father’s action is the climax of
reconciliation. He does not count the sins of the son but is moved with
affection to receive him back. Paul says that we have been made ambassadors of
Christ, meaning that we should be kind to those who repent.
How
often do we wish to be pardoned and yet we are not ready to pardon? How often
do we act the first born and are sad when we see sinners repenting? How often
do we sow a seed of enmity? The Lord tells us that this is the right moment to
return to him and help others built the broken bridges of reconciliation.
5th
Sunday of Lent:
Isaiah
43:16-21; Phil 3:8-14;
John
8:1-11
The
narrative of the unfortunate adulterous woman today reminds us of human
attitude towards sinners. We would like to see sinners punished. As the story
unfolds, each of us is invited to identify himself/herself with God's
compassionate ways. Perhaps, our complacency, like that of the accusers of the
woman, makes us blind to our hidden selfishness. Sometimes we forget our own
sins and see the sins of others because they have become public. Jesus reminds
us that we have a God who does not only expect external perfection but complete
perfection as Paul explains.
The
final words of Jesus to the woman remind us that God loves the sinner but hates
sin. The woman is invited to go her way and not sin again. Whenever we go to
celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation, God speaks the same words to us.
Paul reminds us that Knowing" Christ, is sharing his very life, “having a
place in him”. Thus we share Christ's sufferings and the pattern of his
death when we help others to repent instead of condemning them.
Passion
Sunday:
Isaiah
50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Luke 22:14 – 23:56
The liturgy of this Sunday
introduces us to the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. The readings and the
feasts that follow concentrate on God’s salvific
action. The first and second readings give a meaning to the passion narrative
according to Luke. The passion and crucifixion of Jesus summarizes his humility
and obedience to His Father. Jesus was actually God, Word Incarnate, yet did
not count all this as something to be proud off. His self emptying and
obedience to the will of God the Father gives him eternal glory and praise to
all whom he has saved.
The words of
MARCH 2010
07th Opening of
new Parish – Kavatini in Kambu
Parish
10th Deans
meeting
12TH PMS
TEAMS
Metropolitan
13th –14th Mbumbuni Parish Confirmation
18th Ukweli Board
20th Ndonyo Sabuk - Harambee
27th Subukia
APRIL 2010
1st Holy
Thursday
Chrism mass
5th Easter
Monday - Welcoming Ikalaasa Sisters
7th Mbuvo Parish
Silver
Jubilee Fr. Vitale
13th –16th KEC
Plenary
29th Caritas Executive Meeting
30th Diocesan
Youth Leaders
1.
Fr. Vincent Munyao
-
2.
Fr. Bernard M. Nzau
- Cathedral Parish
3.
Fr. Francis Kunga - Katangi Parish
4.
Fr. Augustine Musyoki
- Kavatini Parish
5.
Fr. Michael Kyalo
- Kilungu Parish
6.
Fr. Peter Wambua
- Kithangaini Parish
7.
Fr. Bernard Nyele
- Mbitini Parish
8.
Fr. Ambrose M. Mutisya
- Yathui Parish
9.
Fr. Richard Nyamai
- Mtito Andei Parish
During
the pilgrimage/ordination in Komarock, many Christians arrived very early to
have their prayers which they began by having the way of the cross in turns.
Bishop
Martin leads the faithful in the Way of The Cross.
P.O. Box - 344 -90100 Machakos
Tel. +254-44-20484; Fax. +254-44-21308
Office
E-mail: bishopsomks@wananchi.com