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CAR: EU Steps Up Relief Effort, Launches Humanitarian Air Bridge
BANGUI, December 10, 2013 (CISA) -The European Commission is deploying its humanitarian air service with immediate effect to open up a vital line of support into and out of Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic (CAR), as international efforts to stabilize the strife-torn country intensify. The first plane, run by ECHO Flight – the EU’s humanitarian air service, with a capacity of 50 passengers or five tonnes of cargo, arrived in Douala, Cameroon on December 09. The CRJ 200 jet aircraft will perform daily rotations between Bangui and Douala, establishing a humanitarian air bridge to ferry humanitarian goods and…
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KENYA: Kibera Residents Demonstrate Over issuance of Title Deeds
NAIROBI, December 10, 2013(CISA) – A section of Kibera residents in Nairobi on Monday December 09 held demonstrations over the impending issuance of title deeds in the area by the government. Protesters included those who want the government to continue with the issuance and another group that wanted all resident communities to be allocated land as well. This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta cancelled his visit that was anticipated on Sunday to issue Title Deeds for a 300 acre piece of land to a group of locals. According to Capital FM News, section of those supporting the plan, urged the…
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SOUTH AFRICA: Mandela’s Legacy is One of ‘Reconciliation,’ Priest says
JOHANNESBURG, December 10, 2013(CISA) -In wake of the passing of Nelson Mandela, spokesman for South Africa’s Episcopal Conference lauded his political achievements, stating that he will be remembered most for his work in fostering unity. The political legacy of Mandela can be described in “one word: reconciliation,” Fr Similo Mngadi told CNA in a December 06 interview. “He made you feel human, and want to be human.” Nelson Mandela, the South African revolutionary who headed the country’s anti-apartheid movement, fighting to replace it with a multiracial democracy, died at the age of 95 in his Johannesburg home after a long…
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NIGERIA: Bishop Urges Christians to Emulate Mandela
JOS, December 10, 2013(CISA) -Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Jos and chairman, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has called on Christians to emulate people with exemplary lives like former South African President, Nelson Mandela. Kaigama made the call during his pastoral visit to the Church of Immaculate Conception, CIC, Parish, Zaramaganda, Jos on Saturday December 07. The Archbishop said that by emulating good people, their legacy would continue to impact on society. “The Catholic Church had long identified such and had been immortalizing people that lived righteous and exemplary lives as saints’, Nigeria’s Vanguard Newspaper reported. “We…
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KENYA: ‘Remain in Christ’ Bishop Urges Nuns
NAIROBI, December 10, 2013 (CISA) -Rt Rev Maurice Muhatia Makumba, Bishop of the Catholic diocese of Nakuru urged nuns to be active in their vocation and remain steadfast in Christ. “You are the women of promise” he said, “You have to show the world that the only way to remain in Christ is by obedience. Remain in Christ and ask him to remain in your life as true joy is found in remaining in the life of Christ.” Bishop Muhatia further urged the nuns to “be part of the action that will bring change to the people” and to remember…
CISA NEWS
CAR: EU Steps Up Relief Effort, Launches Humanitarian Air Bridge
BANGUI, December 10, 2013 (CISA) -The European Commission is deploying its humanitarian air service with immediate effect to open up a vital line of support into and out of Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic (CAR), as international efforts to stabilize the strife-torn country intensify. The first plane, run by ECHO Flight – the EU’s humanitarian air service, with a capacity of 50 passengers or five tonnes of cargo, arrived in Douala, Cameroon on December 09. The CRJ 200 jet aircraft will perform daily rotations between Bangui and Douala, establishing a humanitarian air bridge to ferry humanitarian goods and…
KENYA: Kibera Residents Demonstrate Over issuance of Title Deeds
NAIROBI, December 10, 2013(CISA) – A section of Kibera residents in Nairobi on Monday December 09 held demonstrations over the impending issuance of title deeds in the area by the government. Protesters included those who want the government to continue with the issuance and another group that wanted all resident communities to be allocated land as well. This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta cancelled his visit that was anticipated on Sunday to issue Title Deeds for a 300 acre piece of land to a group of locals. According to Capital FM News, section of those supporting the plan, urged the…
SOUTH AFRICA: Mandela’s Legacy is One of ‘Reconciliation,’ Priest says
JOHANNESBURG, December 10, 2013(CISA) -In wake of the passing of Nelson Mandela, spokesman for South Africa’s Episcopal Conference lauded his political achievements, stating that he will be remembered most for his work in fostering unity. The political legacy of Mandela can be described in “one word: reconciliation,” Fr Similo Mngadi told CNA in a December 06 interview. “He made you feel human, and want to be human.” Nelson Mandela, the South African revolutionary who headed the country’s anti-apartheid movement, fighting to replace it with a multiracial democracy, died at the age of 95 in his Johannesburg home after a long…
NIGERIA: Bishop Urges Christians to Emulate Mandela
JOS, December 10, 2013(CISA) -Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Jos and chairman, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has called on Christians to emulate people with exemplary lives like former South African President, Nelson Mandela. Kaigama made the call during his pastoral visit to the Church of Immaculate Conception, CIC, Parish, Zaramaganda, Jos on Saturday December 07. The Archbishop said that by emulating good people, their legacy would continue to impact on society. “The Catholic Church had long identified such and had been immortalizing people that lived righteous and exemplary lives as saints’, Nigeria’s Vanguard Newspaper reported. “We…
KENYA: ‘Remain in Christ’ Bishop Urges Nuns
NAIROBI, December 10, 2013 (CISA) -Rt Rev Maurice Muhatia Makumba, Bishop of the Catholic diocese of Nakuru urged nuns to be active in their vocation and remain steadfast in Christ. “You are the women of promise” he said, “You have to show the world that the only way to remain in Christ is by obedience. Remain in Christ and ask him to remain in your life as true joy is found in remaining in the life of Christ.” Bishop Muhatia further urged the nuns to “be part of the action that will bring change to the people” and to remember…
SOUTH AFRICA: Obama Eulogizes Mandela as ‘A Giant of History’
SOWETO, December 10, 2013 (CISA) -US President Barack Obama on Tuesday December 10 eulogized Nelson Mandela as a “giant of history” who earned his place in posterity through struggle, shrewdness and by showing the power of political action. Obama painted Mandela as a testament to how people can reach for change by fighting for their ideals and employing reason and argument to match personal sacrifice. “It is hard to eulogize any man … how much harder to do so for a giant of history, who moved a nation towards justice,” Obama said, after being introduced to wild cheers from a…
NEWS BULLETIN
VATICAN: Pope Launches New Commission for the Protection of Minors
VATICAN CITY, December 06, 2013 (CISA) –On Thursday December 05, Pope Francis accepted a proposal for a new commission which will advise him on the protection of children from abuse, as well as how to offer help to those who are already victims. “Accepting a proposal that has been presented by the Council of Cardinals, the Holy Father has decided to establish a very specific commission for the protection of children,” Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley told journalists in a press conference announcing the new initiative. Cardinal O’Malley is the archbishop of Boston, Mass., USA, and is a member of the…
ZIMBABWE: Bishops say Country more Polarized than before Elections
HARARE, December 06, 2013(CISA) -Zimbabwe is more polarized now than it was before this year’s general elections, said the country’s bishops. “The political fault lines and their impact on all aspects of the lives of Zimbabweans are set not only to deepen, but also to stand in the way of progress and ultimately in the way of peace,” the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference said in a December 03 pastoral letter “We note with apprehension that … there are no visible prospects for improvement in the spheres of life in Zimbabwe that cry for restoration to give people hope for a…
CAR: Catholic Church hopeful UN Troops will Settle Tense Situation
BANGUI, December 06, 2013(CISA) -Church leaders in the Central African Republic are hoping the arrival of French and African troops will help settle a situation that has effectively left people barricaded in their homes in the capital, Bangui. “It’s tense and dangerous on the streets and everyone is afraid,” said Msgr Cyriaque Gbate Doumalo, secretary-general of the Central Africa Republic’s Catholic bishops’ conference. “We’ve long appealed for the international community to intervene, since no one here can do anything. We hope the new forces will now act quickly to bring this crisis to an end,” he told Catholic News Service…
KENYA: Leaders Mourn Nelson Mandela
NAIROBI, December 06, 2013(CISA) –Kenyan leaders joined the rest of the world in mourning the death of South Africa’s anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela after passing on Thursday, December 05 Capital FM News reported. President Uhuru Kenyatta in mourning and celebrating the life of Mandela described him as an outstanding African statesman with exceptional leadership skills. “President Nelson Mandela was an exceptional transformational leader who was gifted with unique, admirable abilities and strong values. He believed in the noble principles of equity, justice, cohesiveness and inclusiveness in governance. He had faith and confidence in the ability of his people to realize…
SOUTH AFRICA: Nelson Mandela is Dead, South Africa and World Mourns
JOHANNESBURG, December 06, 2013(CISA) -South Africans have gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to mourn their former leader, Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday December 05, aged 95, BBC News reported. Crowds paid tribute, dancing and singing in front of Mr Mandela’s former home in Soweto throughout the night. Flags flew at half mast after President Jacob Zuma announced his death in a late night national TV address. Mr Mandela spent 27 years in jail before becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994. His administration replaced the racist white-minority regime that had enforced segregation of black and white people in…
KENYA: KCA Leads Journalists in Demo over Oppressive Media Bill
NAIROBI, December 03, 2013 (CISA) -Kenya Correspondents Association has led hundreds of journalists in peaceful protests across Kenya to protest the passage of a contentious Media Bill – The Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) (KICA) Bill that threatens press freedom in the country. The Bill, passed by Kenya’s National Assembly recently provides for heavy financial penalties for journalists and media houses which are meant to gag the media and intimidate journalists into not covering stories deemed critical by the government and the ruling elite. The Bill has provisions for an all powerful Communications and Multi-Media Tribunal which will fine journalists…
S SUDAN: Catholic University Announces Additional Faculties
WAU, December 03, 2013 (CISA) -The Catholic University of South Sudan has announced plans for new faculties in Wau campus. Vice Chancellor Mathew Pagan told Catholic University students in Wau that the institution will introduce an Engineering Faculty with the departments of Mining and Mineralogy by 2014, Voice of Hope reported. He said the institution aimed at offering chances to South Sudanese nationals who wish to pursue their studies in various fields. Fr Pagan urged students across the country to be self-sufficient to ensure the availability of food and eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. He encouraged students not to be…
SOUTH AFRICA: Churches Oppose e-tolls
JOHANNESBURG, December 03, 2013(CISA) -Several church groups in South Africa have urged their members to take a stand against e-tolls. According to South Africa’s The Star Newspaper, the Christian churches called on motorists not to buy e-tags in a passive-resistance exercise. “We declare our intention to refuse to buy e-tags and refuse to pay this unjust e-toll,” the bishops said. The joint statement involves, among others, the Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Uniting Reform churches, together representing thousands of motorists. Their leaders slammed the government for refusing to listen to the people and the effect tolling would have on their lives….
MALAWI: Bishops Call for Transformative Leadership
BLANTYRE, December 03, 2013(CISA) -Catholic bishops in Malawi have issued a pastoral letter calling for the citizens to usher in visionary leaders at all levels during next year’s tripartite elections so as to transform the country. “We strongly believe that our nation today needs to rediscover the spirit of patriotism and active participation in the national development and emancipation agenda”, Nyasa Times quoted section of the pastoral letter dated December 01, 2013 The pastoral letter, that was signed by all the Catholic bishops, observed that there was limited adherence to the rule of law and limited compliance to the practice…
KENYA: Environmental Sustainability Everyone’s responsibility, says Religious Leaders
NAIROBI, December 03, 2013 (CISA) -Different religious and environmental groups came together in a workshop intended as implementation strategy for environmental sustainability. The main idea of the meeting according to Fr Charles Odira, the National Executive Secretary, Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), was “to bring all the groups together in order to create a significant impact in the efforts of restoring the environment.” “Environment is a social thing that affects everyone regardless of our religious inclining,” said Fr Odira in an interview with CISA, “and all of us have to be…
THE SEED MAGAZINE
Yes, Kenya Matters
3rd Sunday of Advent (A), 15th December 2013
1. Readings Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10; Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 2. Biblical Reflection Advent. The coming of the Lord. Isaiah prophesies a future time of flowering in abundance, when God comes with vindication, meaning that God is to be proved right despite expectations. Similarly, James asks Christians to be patient like the farmer awaiting a bountiful harvest, even while waiting for the coming of the Lord. To follow God’s call, John the Baptist renounced a great career — as son of a priest he had the right to enter the priesthood and enjoy all the benefits that…
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