UWO

After celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, Easter Monday was a good day to officially welcome the Providence Sisters for Abandoned Children at Ikalaasa Parish. This was an event which had been awaited for, for a very long period. The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos officially opened the House for the Sisters and welcomed them not only to Ikalaasa Parish but to the Catholic Diocese of Machakos – Kenya. This convent was a dream come true for Fr. Francis Kunyusa. This dream of having a convent at Ikalaasa became a reality after 30 good years!

Bishop was very grateful to the Christians for their generous contribution towards making the dream of having a convent come true.

The Providence Sisters for Abandoned Children have their Mother house in Italy. Currently the Sisters are three in number. They will be involved in the following areas: - establishing a Health Centre and Pastoral work.

We are grateful to Sr. Carla their Superior General for accepting to have her Sisters work at Ikalaasa, not forgetting Sr. Letekidan, Elfinesh Debritu, Meheret, Alesandra, Askale and Nebiayat for gracing the occasion with their presence during the opening of the Convent.

By : The Communication team

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THE YEAR OF THE PRIESTS

Holy Thursday ( Ist of April) was a very remarkable day for all the priests all over the world. This is a day when the priests renew their Priestly Commitment.

In the Catholic Diocese of Machakos, the priests were not left behind. They all gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral to renew their Priestly commitment.

After the Homily, the renewal of the commitment began by the following questions and answers.

Bishop:- ( addressing the Priests) My brothers, today we celebrate the memory of the first Eucharist, at which our Lord Jesus Christ shared with His apostles and with us His call to the priestly service of His Church.

Now, in the presence of your Bishop and God’s holy people, are you ready to renew your own dedication to Christ as Priests of His new covenant?

Priests:- I am.

Bishop:- At your ordination you accepted the responsibilities of the Priesthood out of Love for the Lord Jesus and His Church. Are you resolved to unite yourself more closely to Christ and to try to become more like Him by joyfully sacrificing your own pleasure and ambition to bring His peace and love to your brothers and sisters?

Priests:- I am

Bishop:- Are you resolved to be faithful ministers of the mysteries of God, to celebrate the Eucharist and the other liturgical services with sincere devotion? Are you resolved to imitate Jesus Christ, the head and shepherd of the Church by teaching the Christian faith without thinking of your own profit, solely for the well – being of the people you were sent to serve?

Priest:- I am

Bishop;- (addressing the people) My dear brothers and sisters, pray for your priests. Ask the Lord to bless them with the fullness of His love, to help them be faithful ministers of Christ the High priest, so that they will be able to lead you to Him the fountain of your salvation. Lord hear us.

People:- Lord graciously hear us.

During the same mass the oil used for the anointing of the sick, oil for the catechumen and the Chrism oil was consecrated. Bishop strongly emphasized that this was the only official oil to be used in the church and cautioned the Christians to be aware of any oil sold out to them.

The oil was distributed among the priests.

We continue to pray for our priests during this year set aside for them.

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THE 44^TH WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY -16^TH MAY 2010

USING THE NEW MEDIA TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION

This years theme is a continuation of last year’s theme “New technologies, new relationships. “Promoting culture, dialogue and respect. In that it is not enough to embrace new media technology there must be a tangible outcome, respect, dialogue, friendship, oneness….

This time the Church wants us to go a step further and especially the priests:

How can they use this powerful tool to enhance evangelization in this innovative, more secular, more evangelical, more hedonistic society?

How do we exploit the gift of inventions in communications technologies to take the gospel further to the end of the world, which is becoming more virtual-based (in cyber-space) ?

Think of twenty years ago and the kind of communication technologies we had which included: landline telephones, great wall TVs, post office address notebooks, newspapers, news letters, black and white), A.M/M.W Radio stations, terrestrial TV stations: KBC and KTN, typewriters, telegrams, fax machines, offset duplicators Audio and video tapes as well as cassette players.

Ten years later more developments are seen since there are computers, photocopiers, Fm radio stations, cable TV, mobile phones, fax photocopiers-printers, floppy discs and CDs, flash discs, landline internet connections.

Social networks( Face Book, Twitter, My Space, yu tube} Digital-media( pod-casts, digital photography, digital radio/ TV, DVD players) internet ( optic fiber connection, wireless connections).

In terms of the new media, we have the websites, blogs e.t.c The message of World Communications Day has this to say, that “the accessibility of mobile telephones and computers, combined with the global reach and penetration of the internet, has opened up a large range of means of communication that permit the almost instantaneous communication of words and images across enormous distances and to some of the most isolated corners of the world; something that would have been unthinkable for previous generations” Pope Benedict XVI WCD 2010.

But still there is a warning that, “If the new technologies are to serve the good of individuals and of society, all users will avoid the sharing of words and images that are degrading to human beings, that promote hatred and intolerance, that debase the goodness and intimacy of human sexuality or that exploit the weak and vulnerable”. (Pope Benedict XVI WCD 2010.)

In terms of the pastoral ministry and media, it is evident that media has been instrumental in the growth of Christianity right from the beginning. Jesus himself was a great communicator who used the oral medium to drive his message home. St Paul used both the oral and print to communicate to the people.

Even more, the growth of Christianity was enhanced with the invention of the printing press by Guttenberg in the 14^th century. The first item to be printed was the Bible. Since then, the Church has continued using modern media to enhance evangelization.

To date, the Bible is the most printed book in history of humankind. Today we have Christian media houses which have sprung and where it is not possible, the Church has always partnered with available media houses to develop Radio and TV programmes e.g. Catholic Church in Kenya and KBC to air the Way of the Cross live from Vatican on Good Friday. However one trend remains common that, communication technologies are becoming cheaper, easily available and more convenient to use for evangelization and it is a trend that is changing daily.

As a result, new life styles have emerged, new challenges have faced the church: Stormy theologies that threaten to sway the faithful, evangelicals that target converts, secularism, fear (terrorism), adventure, hedonism, materialism etc. This has created the so—called digital generation.

Therefore we need to adopt the new media just as the prophet Isaiah envisioned a house of prayer for all peoples (cf Is 56:7) Can we not see the web as also offering a space like “the court of the gentiles” of the temple of Jerusalem for those who have not yet come to know God’’ (Pope Benedict WCD 2010.)

New media as has been witnessed, is the modern avenue to reach and evangelize the digital generation. Most people nowadays don’t need to go and buy a Bible, when they can sent an SMS and receive Bible quotes on their phones.

Millions of Christian’s websites have been established to continue shepherding flocks all over the world, while attempting to reach the un-evangelized.

The ‘what’ in the media, the success of the new media is not measured by how fanciful it is or how easily accessible it can be, but how effective it delivers the content. A good website is not the one that looks cool, but the one that keeps various audiences well informed with necessary information to make informed decisions. A good digital camera is not the one that has bigger memory space or higher mega pixels but what kind of picture can it take to change people’s lives. In other words, new media becomes a water pipe through, which water must pass with emphasis being the water and not the pipe. The new technologies must be at the service of humanity. In the pastoral ministry priests are essential in this, given their vocational duty. In this case the Holy father has this to say to the priests that, “All priests have as their primary duty of the proclamation of Jesus Christ ,the incarnate word of God and the communication of his saving grace in the sacraments. Using new communication technologies, the priests can introduce people to the life of the church and help our contemporaries to discover the face of Christ .They will best achieve this aim if they learn, from the time of their formation, how to use these technologies in a competent and appropriate way, shaped by sound theological insights and reflecting a strong priestly spirituality grounded in constant dialogue with the Lord” Pope Benedict XVI, WCD Message 2010

From: The office of communication.

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THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST– 16th MAY 2010

Forty Days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Acts of the Apostles records Jesus' ascension into heaven. The ascension is an important Christian feast attesting and celebrating the reality of the God-Man Jesus Christ's returning to the Father, to return again in the future.

The Ascension is the final component of the paschal mystery, which consists also of Jesus' Passion, Crucifixion, Death, Burial, Descent among the Dead, and Resurrection. Along with the resurrection, the ascension functioned as a proof of Jesus' claim that he was the Messiah.

The Ascension is also the event whereby humanity was taken into heaven. Finally, the ascension was also the "final blow" so-to-speak against Satan's power, and thus the lion (Jesus) conquering the dragon (Satan) is a symbol of the ascension. Early Christian art and iconography portrayed the ascension frequently, showing its importance to the early Church. The Catholic Catechism summarizes three important theological aspects (with which most Christian churches agree) of the Ascension concisely: Christ's Ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus' humanity into God's heavenly domain, whence he will come again (cf. Acts 1:11); this humanity in the meantime hides him from the eyes of men

(cf. Col 3:3).
Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father's glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his Body, may live in the hope of one day being with him for ever.
Jesus Christ, having entered the sanctuary of heaven once and for

all, intercedes constantly for us as the mediator who assures us of the permanent outpouring of the Holy Spirit .

The Paschal Candle (lighted at the Easter Vigil) which symbolizes the risen lord as the Light of the World, was extinguished on Ascension Day.

In many Catholic dioceses, the Ascension is celebrated on the 7th Sunday of Easter, which is the Sunday following the traditional date. Likely, this is done to make it easier for the faithful to fulfill their obligation to attend Mass on this day.

By Rev. Fr. Benedict Mwavu.

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AFRICAN SYNOD CONTINUED FROM ISSUE NO. 81 APRIL 2010

AFRICA RISE UP

The Synod happily congratulates the few countries in Africa which have started on the route of genuine democracy. They are already witnessing the good dividends of doing things well. Some have emerged from many years of wars and conflict and are gradually building up their shattered nations. We hope that their good example will challenge others to change their bad habits. The Synod is sad to note that the situation in many countries is a great shame. We think in particular about the sad situation in Somalia,

engulfed in a virulent conflict for almost two decades, which is already affecting neighboring countries. We do not forget the tragic plight of millions of people in the Great Lakes Region, and the still lingering crisis in Northern Uganda, Southern Sudan, Darfur, Guinea and other places. Those who control the affairs of those nations must take full responsibility for their woeful performance. In most cases, we are dealing with greed for power and wealth at the expense of the people and nation. Whatever may be the responsibility of foreign interests, there is always the shameful and tragic collusion of the local leaders: politicians who betray and sell out their nations, dirty business people who collude with rapacious multi-nationals, African arms dealers and traffickers who thrive on small arms that cause great havoc on human lives, and local agents of some international organizations who get paid for peddling toxic ideologies that they don’t believe in. The negative consequence of all this is there before the whole world: poverty, misery and disease; refugees within and outside the country and overseas the search for greener pastures which leads to brain drain, clandestine migration and human trafficking, wars and blood shed, often by proxy the atrocity of child soldiers and unspeakable violence against women. How can anybody be proud of “presiding” over such chaos? What has happened to our traditional African sense of shame? This Synod proclaims it loud and clear: It is time to change habits, for the sake of present and future generations.

JOINING OUR SPIRITUAL FORCES

We wish to recall again what Pope Benedict XVI said in his Homily at the inaugural Mass of this Synod: that Africa is the “spiritual lung” of the humanity of today. This is a precious resource, more valuable than our minerals and oil. But he warned us that this lung runs the risk of materialism and religious fanaticism. In its determination to preserve our spiritual patrimony against all attacks and infections, the Synod calls for ever greater Ecumenical collaboration with our brothers and sisters of other Christian traditions. We also look forward to more dialogue and cooperation with Muslims, the adherents of African Traditional Religion (ATR) and people of other faiths.

Religious fanaticism is spreading all over the world. It is causing havoc in many parts of Africa. From our traditional religious culture, Africans have imbibed a deep sense of God, the Creator.

They have brought this into their conversion to Christianity and Islam. When this religious fervor is misdirected by fanatics or manipulated by politicians, conflicts are provoked that tend to engulf everyone. But under proper direction and leadership, religions are strong powers for good especially for peace and reconciliation. They have brought this into their conversion to Christianity and Islam. The Synod heard the testimony of many Synod Fathers who have successfully walked the road of dialogue with Muslims. They have given witness to the fact that dialogue works and collaboration is possible and often effective. The issues of reconciliation, justice and peace generally are concerns for entire communities, irrespective of creed. Working on the many shared values between the two faiths, Christians and Muslims can contribute greatly towards restoring peace and reconciliation in our nations. This has already happened in many cases. The Synod commends these efforts and recommends them for others.

Dialogue and collaboration will thrive when there is mutual respect. We Catholic Bishops have clear guidelines for dialogue, holding firm to our faith but leaving others to choose freely. The Synod received good news of Islamic communities which allow the Church freedom of worship.

To be continued next month June issue No. 83

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AFRICAN SYNOD IN KIKAMBA CONTINUED FROM ISSUE NO. 81 APRIL 2010

KILUNGU KYA KANA. KANISA YA AFRIKA

Kila Asikavu no nginya aendee na wia kutetheesya andu kualyula iliko na mesilya moo na kualyula ngoo syoo kwisila momanyisyoni ma muikiio witu.

Kwoou momanyisyo ma kila ivinda kwa Aklisto maitu iulu wa muikiio ni ma vata na muno muno kwa Aklisto maitu ala me ivilani sya utongoi.

Diocese situ syonany’e ngelekany’o nzeo maunduni ma: -Utongoi museo.

-Utheu na usuvio museo wa mbesa.

No nginya tuendee na kwikia kithito kumina ukya anduni maitu nundu niw’o kisiii kila kinene kya muuo na wiw’ano.

Twendeew’ei ni kwambiia mawia me kivathukany’o ala matonya kutuetee ukwati.

Kila Asikavu ta mutongoesya wa kanisa yake, ni wia wake kumbany’a aklisto, na kumanenga mwanya wa kumya maw’oni maunduni ma mawalany’o ma mivango ya Diocese ya kuete wiw’ano, uw’o na muuo.

20) Mundu ula wi vakuvi vyu na Asikavu ta mutetheesya wake ni muthembi.

Kwoou mwakani uu wa athembi twimukulya nikana kwisila uthukumini wenyu nthini wa Diocese mwonany’e ngelekany’o nzeo ya uthembi kula kwi andu ala angi kanisani ona nza wa Kanisa.

Ngelekany’o yenyu ya kwikalany’a vamwe na muuo vate ivathukany’o sya mbai kana wumo wa mundu, ikeethiwa ukusi wa w’o kwa andu.

Kwisila kwenyu walany’o wa Diocese na wia wayo wa kuete wiw’ano, uw’o na muuo ukeania.

Momanyisyo ma muikiio kwa aklisto maitu, kusuvia muikiio wa andu ma Ngai: Maundu asu onthe makeania kumana na kithito kyenyu na kwiyumya kwenyu uthukumini wa Parish.

Kwoou wumbano uu wa Maasikavu wimukulya kwa ndaia mwikie kithito wiani usu wenyu.

Kwa kuthukuma mwi ngwatanio na athukumi ala angi a Parish ta, mandikoni, masisita na mavulatha, alimu ma katekisimu, aklisto aume na aka na muika.

Kaingi muthembi ethiawa e kati wa andu ala matalawa ta me na umanyi isioni mbingi, na kwoou kwikwatw’a kutongoesya andu maunduni ma motui. Kwoou twimukulya muikonany’e ivathukanyo unduni usu.

Uikiiku wenyu mawivitoni menyu ma uthembi ukeethiwa ukusi wa w’o anduni ma Ngai. Aingi menyu mathukumaa nthi sya nza wa Afrika. Uthukumi wenyu, na mwikalile wenyu museo ukoonany’a ngelekany’o nzeo ya Afrika.

Mwiai namunenge ituvi yila yathitwe onthe “ala matiite misyi ….kwoondu wa usumbi wa itu” ( Lk 18:28)

21) Nthi ya Afrika kwa yu niyithiitwe na mawito maingi ma athembi, masisita na mavulatha. Tumutungie Ngai muvea kwoondu wa uathimo usu munene.

Twimukulya muendee kwithiwa mulumitye mawivito menyu ma utheu wa ngoo, ukya na wiwi. Kwisila mawivitoni asu menyu mukeethiwa athani ma w’o na mamuuo nthi na isio ila syi na mathina.

Wumbano uu wimukilya mwiyumye vyu uthukumini wa Ngai kwa kwithiwa mwi ewi, na kwonany’a uumwe na Asikavu wenyu nthini wa Diocese. Twitungia muvea masisita maitu kwa wiyumyo woo wiani wa uiiti masivitalini, masukulu na maundu angi ala maetae maendeeo kwa mundu.

22) Kwa aklisto maitu ma nthi ya Afrika, manyai kana ninywi kanisa ya Ngai mwi vala mui. Mwikalile na ukusi wa kanisa ya Ngai iulu wa nthi ukoonekana nthini wenyu na kwisila vala mui.

Kwoou o nenyu mwi “atumwa ma klisto” ala umwitite nikana muete wiw’ano wa andu na Ngai na wiw’ano wa andu mo ene. Mukeanisya wia usu kwa kwikala mwikalile wa muikiio wa uklisto vandu vonthe vala mwiithiwa, mawiani, uthukumini wenyu, maunduni ma siasa na kwikalany’a na andu ala angi. No kwisila mumoni wa Ngai kwa mboya na kwosa masakalamendi tukethiwa tutonya undu usu.

Kieleelo kitu kya wumbano uu kitumanyithya ithyonthe ta aatiii ma klisto kana, “Inywi mwi munyu wa nthi…… inywi mwi kyeni kya nthi” ( mathayo 5:13-14).

To be Continued next month June Issue No. 83

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SUNDAY COMMENTARIES

5^th Sunday of Easter

Acts 14:21-27; Apoc 21:1-5; John 13:31-35

The Gospel of John shares the Spirit that Jesus offers to his disciples. The gospel offers part of the final testimony of Jesus to his disciples before his passion. The disciples came to understand what he was saying only after the resurrection.

The word “Glory” today is interpreted in terms of manifestation of fame and acclaim. Instead, in the Biblical sense, when Jesus states that his Father has glorified him, he means that God’s immense love has been manifested in him and he also has manifested it to his disciples. After Jesus speaks about his glorification by the Father, he gives the new commandment to his disciples, “love one another as I have loved you.” These two elements, Glory and Love, testify the rapport between a Christian, God the Father and God the Son.

The Holy Spirit animates this relation. As in the case with Paul and Barnabas, who animated the community with their love, we are also called to share our love with others so that God may be manifested as living among his people. Our joys and sorrows will only find meaning if we are connected to Jesus who introduces us to his Father’s love.

6^thSunday of Easter

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Apoc 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29

As we come close to the end of the Easter Season, we listen to the final testament of Jesus to his disciples.

His words remind us that, being a disciple according to him means taking up the responsibility of learning from him and teaching through our lives what he has taught us.

“As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” The ministry to love and serve Christ among our brothers and sisters can only be realized if we cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Jesus defines the Holy Spirit as the advocate, the consoler, the teacher and a reminder. It was through the help of the Holy Spirit that the disciples were able to come up with a solution for the Church of the Gentiles during the Council of Jerusalem, described in the first reading.

It was a call not to load over the others our cultures and ideologies when we are calling them to conversion. How often do we become obstacles to those who want to become Christians?

We block them with our traditions which are not in accord with the Church teaching nor with the call of Christ. John in the Apocalypse reminds us that it is only through our life of witness that we can manifest the new temple i.e. a spiritual one made in God’s design.

The Ascension of our Lord

Acts 1:1-11; Hebrews 9: 24-28; 10: 19-23; Luke 24: 46-53

The Ascension marks the end of the earthly contact between Jesus and his disciples after the resurrection. For 40 days, the risen Lord meets his disciples in different places, institutes different sacraments of his existence, restores them after their escape in the passion scene and promises to be with them even though he is going away. Luke presents this event first in his Gospel and continues its description in the Acts. In the ascension account, he intends to spell out for his audience different aspects of the Savior’s Paschal Mystery. The ascension means Jesus’ going to the Father and no longer with them as a person but being with them through the Spirit. We Christians are called to live the period between the ascension and the second coming with hope. We need not “look up at the sky” but we are called to work so that we may bring the Kingdom of God among his people and prepare ourselves to be seated also at the right hand of the father as Jesus is. About the ascension Pope Leo the Great writes: “The visible presence of our Redeemer passed over into the sacraments. For, in a mysterious way, once he had returned to the glory of his Father's majesty, the Son of Man began to be more present.”

The Pentecost

Acts 2: 1-11; Rom 8: 8-17; John 14: 15-16, 23-26

The second great event after the resurrection of Jesus was the descent of the Holy Spirit. For the Jews, the Pentecost was a thanksgiving feast for the wheat harvest and took place seven weeks after the Feast of Unleavened Bread/Passover.

All the Jews including the proselytes (those who had been converted into Judaism though they were not of the Jewish descent) used to meet in Jerusalem for this feast.

It is at this time that the Holy Spirit descended among the disciples.

Their fear was overcome and they went out proclaiming Jesus to the crowd.

This we can say was the birthday of the Church and her mission of evangelization. The Spirit is the very life principle of the Church; the Spirit dwells in each believer as our “paraclete” – the companion who stands by us in all our trials, providing whatever is needed to survive every trial. We live in Christ because he has given us his own Spirit. The Holy Spirit should bring unity and peace, not confusion and division. Every Christian by virtue of baptism has received the Holy Spirit and is called to work for the salvation of his own soul and that of the others.

By Fr. Francis Maundu.

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BISHOP’S DIARY

MAY

7— 9th Ndithini Parish

10th Diocesan Education team

13th Mount Olive

15th Ordination

Spiritan Nairobi

16th Mwala Convent Fundraising

22nd-23rd Mbiuni

29th-30th Tala Confirmation

JUNE

3rd Ordination

6th Nguluni Corpus Christi

8th Deans Meeting

11th Kalawa Itituni

Secondary School

12th Muthetheni

Harambee, Kikoko BOG

26th Yathui Parish-

27th Confirmation

29th St. Peter & Paul

30th National Year of the Priests

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REMARKABLE NEWS BRIEF

STAND UP FOR LIFE-CATHOLIC BIHOPS SPEAK

The Catholic Bishops in Kenya spoke in one voice concerning the proposed Constitution for Kenya. In their Pastoral letter entitled Stand Up for Life, they openly expressed the need for a new Constitution But the contentious clauses on abortion and Kadhi courts should be removed from the proposed Constitution. Two of the reasons for saying this is 1. because there is insufficient time to achieve consensus and clarify all the issues in a calm, reasoned and unemotional manner and 2. all religions should be treated equally as provided for in the proposed Constitution. “there shall be no state religion”( Article 8).

From: The Kenya

Episcopal Conference.

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Catholic Diocese of Machakos

P.O. Box - 344 -90100 Machakos

Tel. +254-44-20484; Fax. (044)-21308

Office Mobile Numbers: 0735-330160/0721377439

E-mail: bishopsomks@wananchi.com

Website: http/www.machakosdiocese.org

A WARM WELCOME TO THE PROVIDENCE SISTERS FOR

ABANDONED CHILDREN.

THE YEAR OF THE PRIESTS

THE 44TH WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY -16TH MAY 2010

USING THE NEW MEDIA TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION

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THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST– 16th MAY 2010

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AFRICAN SYNOD CONTINUED FROM ISSUE NO. 81 APRIL 2010

AFRICA RISE UP

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AFRICAN SYNOD IN KIKAMBA CONTINUED FROM ISSUE NO. 81 APRIL 2010

SUNDAY COMMENTARIES

BISHOP’S DIARY

REMARKABLE NEWS BRIEF

THE 44^TH WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY -16^TH MAY 2010

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