Ordination

Monday, June 15, 2009 5 priests, 2 Deacons ordained   It was joy as faithful filled Kitui Cathedral to capacity on 30th May 2009 to witness the ordination of five priests and two deacons. This colourful occasion which kicked off with a procession from St. Augustine Secretariat to the Our Lady of Africa Cathedral Kitui few metres away was presided by His Lordship Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria, Bishop of Kitui with a   The priests to be ordained included Rev. Mark Musyoka ( Mulutu Parish), Rev. Japheth Mwove ( Muthale Parish), Rev. Michael Ngunia ( Nguutani parish), Rev. Jonathan Malusi ( Mutito parish) and Rev. Dominic munene ( Nuu Parish). The Deacons are: Cyprian Kaleve ( Kabati Parish) and Edward Mulwa ( Mutune Parish).   While addressing the congregation, the Bishop requested all the parents to give out there childrens to God whenever they are called. “When your child is called, give him/her permission to go and serve the Lord.” the Bishop said.     ordained priests and deacons as our children and whenever they encounter as sort of problem its our responsibility as the church to help them come out the problem. “Incase of any mistake, we should advice them the same way in which we advice our children.” said the CWA chairperson. (Ann Mwanza)   All the Christians were requested by youth vice chairperson, Michael Kyenze to pray for one another, bishop, clergy and the entire church to embrace faith and maintain Catholic identity.   --END--

Justice and Peace

Catholic Diocese of Kitui Launches School based Justice and Peace Formation Clubs (JPCs).   Towards the fulfillment of its mandate, The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) conducted principals’ & Patrons’ training on Justice, Peace, Human rights, accountability and Transparency which took place on 20th to  22nd  May 2009 at Kitui Pastoral Centre.    This training was aimed at equipping the participants with a resource that enables them to initiate and manage the activities of JPCs in Schools. Fourteen Participants representing seven (7) Schools successfully completed the training. This is a pilot exercise comprising Kimangao Girls’ Sec. School, Mutomo Girls’ Sec. School, Muthale Girls’ Sec. School, Mutini Mixed Sec. School, Usiani Mixed Sec. School, Kyangunga Mixed Sec. School and Kwa-Tundu Mixed Sec School.                                                  Initiation of school – based Justice and Peace Formation Clubs (JPCs) seeks to mentor holistic growth and development for high school youth as they approach the transition period to become young Adults. There are two manuals that the learners will base their activities for better part of term namelly: “Give peace a chance” and “Citizenship-Child rights” Other manuals will be provided within the course of other terms.   It is hoped that the Clubs shall be avenues through which Schools can promote and enhance a culture of human Rights and justice, where the dignity of human person is respected and upheld. Strategic objectives of such Clubs include; ·          To inculcate ethics/morals among the school youth; ·          To promote a sense of duty and responsibility in the lives of young people; ·          To enhance realization of Human Rights and access to justice. During the training, Fr. Paul Mathenge emphasized there exists no difference between evangelization and human development; and that “the church relentlessly promotes social, economic and political structures that practice justice and equity”The principal of mbitini Secondary school, Mr DanielMunguti indicated that “prayer of St. Francis on peace to be put in class/ school notice boards to transform the schools as institutions of prayer and formation”incipal of Mutini secondary, Mr. Daniel The plenary did not fail to note the complexity of the right to privacy in shool set up. The following issues were debated unconclusively: should students Boxes be arbitrary searched? What about opening and reading students’ mails? The power of love and charity! On reciting the resource pack, the justice and peace Coordinator, Mr. Joel Ndingi gave the action of providing scholarship in school. The Coordinator posed, “suppose the principal of  Muthale Girls’ which has  a population of over 500 students asked each to contribute Kshs 50.00 in a year. This would Sum to Kshs. 25,000.00- enough to pay school fees of one needy, bright student per year”. This is an action leading to the promotion of ‘the right to education’. Does this read practical? How resourceful we can be if we are committed to promotion of a just order.

Saturday, April 04, 2009 Diocese gets 5 more priests, two new deacons this May   On 30th May 2009 (the eve of the Pentecost) will be a day of its own kind for the Bishop and our five deacons who will be ordained as priests.         They are: Rev. Mark Musyoka (Mulutu Parish) currently working in Kimangao Parish. Rev. Japheth Kimanzi (Muthale Parish) currently working at Our Lady of Africa Cathedral. Rev. Michael Ngunia (Nguutani Parish) currently working in Ikutha Parish. Rev. Jonathan Malusi (Mutito Parish) currently working in Nuu Parish Rev. Dominic Nzamuli (Nuu Parish) currently working in Miambani Parish. The above will be elevated to priesthood while two Seminarians, who are now serving as acolytes, will be ordained to diaconate. These are: Cyprian Kaleve from Kabati Parish Edward Mulwa from Mutune Paris It will be the first ordination of Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria since he became the bishop of Kitui in August 2008.   Before the ordination day, the Catholic Women Association together with the other arms of the Catholic Church (ie CMA and Youth) will visit the deacons’ families (Nthoki). They will do so to thank the Parents of those to be ordained for giving their sons to serve as priests in the church.   As we witness the ordination of seven men into different orders (diaconate and priesthood), our three seminarians, who are in fourth year in Theologicum will have graduated on 8th May 2009.    It’s also joy for the vocations director (Fr. Peter Muvea) who has been journeying with them for quite a number of years to see them as deacons and priests.

Saturday, February 07, 2009 Hunger situation in Kitui   According to the recently released statistics, 10 million people in Kenya face imminent starvation. The most affected areas include the arid and semi arid zones in rural areas and the slum population in urban areas.   Catholic Diocese of Kitui is within the Arid and Semi arid Zone   This prompted the Kenya government to declare the current famine and food crisis in the country a national disaster, with President Mwai Kibaki appealing for an urgent aid of Kshs. 37 Billion from the international and internal well-wishers.   According to an assessment undertaken by Caritas-Kenya, Cafod and Trocaire EARO in several Dioceses in Kenya, including Kitui, Garissa, Machakos, Embu, Meru,Isiolo, Maralal, Nakuru and Lodwar diocese Malindi and Mombasa, the assessors recommend that urgent food intervention programmes are needed on the ground.   Also needed are enhanced selective/ targeted feeding programmes for children especially in marginal areas.   In addition, is urgent need for providing livestock disease control initiatives, as well as rehabilitating water sources to enhance water harvesting.   Also required is investment in long term interventions to equip the affected communities with livelihood assets, physical and intellectual know-how that will prepare them for shocks and uncertainties in future.   The reports from meteorological department indicate that the country should be prepared for a longer dry spell. This means more food crisis at the back drop of the failed December rains.   This comes at a time when government has revealed that there may be not enough strategic emergency food reserves (Read: Maize (corn) the staple food in Kenya) to feed the nation.   More worrisome are alleged corruption scandals in the media that some cartels within the government/ private sector are exporting available maize stocks.   Also there are media reports that farmers in the north rift, a zone in Kenya which produces most of the grains consumed in the country have with held their stocks out of fear for losses as the price government is offering is quite low.   As a result the situation is expected to worsen.   Within this diocese, much fear goes to the populace that requires special diet as a therapeutic measure, including the under fives, persons living with HIV/AIDS, the aged and the expectant mums.