KENYA: Archbishop Kivuva Calls for Reconciliation as Lent Begins

KISUMU, FEBRUARY 13, 2018 (CISA)-  Archbishop Martin Kivuva, Chairman of the of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Catholic Justice and Peace commission (CJPC) has asked faithful to embrace reconciliation and forgiveness during the lent period.

“We can never remain divided and continue to be one country; we need to ask God to give us an opportunity repeatedly to get back together as brothers and sisters,” he said in his homily delivered during a Mass to launch the Lenten campaign held in Kisumu.

The bishop urged Kenyans to emulate the Lord’s Prayer by forgiving others just as we seek for forgiveness from God.

“We should use this five weeks of lent to reflect and look at different aspects where God is reminding us to reach out to others,” bishop Kivuva said.

“We listened to some people yesterday, who have gone through very difficult times to an extent that when they see vehicles of certain people pass close to them they get afraid and run away,” he lamented.

He asked leaders to play a role in promotion of reconciliation as a way of heeding to the Lenten campaign theme; Reconciliation for peaceful coexistence national integration and justice for all.

“Reconciliation is an indispensable duty for each one of us. Just as God has forgives us we also need to forgive.” He added that, “forgiveness should be accompanied with justice and equity for all.”

As a form of promoting justice, the Bishop advised the government and the opposition lead as an example by respecting the constitution since it is by respecting the law that justice will be realised.

The event, which brought together thousands of faithful, was preceded by holy mass led by the host Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth and concelebrated by Archbishop Kivuva of the Archdiocese of Mombasa and Bishop Joseph Mbatia of Nyahururu Diocese.

Dr Mathews Owili the Deputy Governor of Kisumu County also led a delegation of area political leaders in gracing the event. In attendance were other religious leaders spread across different denominations.