THE RELIGIOUS’ PARTICIPATION IN HIV PROGRAMME: “I have journeyed with a lot of people living with HIV/AIDS… Quite a good number of them have died too fast, more from stigma and discrimination, than from the Virus Itself…” Archbishop Boniface Lele, the then Bishop of Kitui (now Archbishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, Kenya) (The Seed Magazine; June-July, 2005 (Vol. 17 No. 6)   The compassion for the infected and affected persons led to the Catholic Diocese of Kitui to start HIV/AIDS Programme in early 1990s.   Since then, the Diocese has not only succeeded in creating awareness in the local community, but also creating consciousness that each person in the community has a role to play.   As part of members of this community, the Religious (The Diocesan and Missionary priests, Nuns, Brothers) continue to take their part in this programme passionately and with determination, to journey together with everybody-else.   The members of clergy and the Religious have been front to offer psycho-social support, material support as well as journeying with infected persons, and affected relatives, friends and neighbours, offering consolation, advice, prayers, material support, carrying the sick for medical attention when required, as well as anointing the sick (for priests).   This Journeying together is in: ·          Advocacy ·          Spiritual care, Guidance ·          Social Support/ Care ·          Partnering/ Networking ·          Grass root Capacity building, etc   “When one is infected (or affected), you don’t condemn him/her…you journey with him/her until he/she sees that God is Good, God is loving…” Archbishop Boniface Lele, the then Bishop of Kitui (now Archbishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, Kenya (The Seed magazine June – July, 2005) (Back)