By Paschal Norbert
MOMBASA, OCTOBER 26, 2021 (CISA) – The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) – Pontifical Mission Societies Office (PMS) has appealed to the faithful to donate generously towards supporting the work of Missionaries and Churches in marginal areas.
In a statement released on October 24, and signed by Fr Bonaventure Luchidio, the National Director of PMS, Kenya, during the World Mission Sunday 2021 celebrations held at Holy Cross Parish in Chaani, Mombasa. He highlighted the challenges that have been bedevilling PMS worldwide.
“Unfortunately, the year 2020 was a tough year for everybody due to the Covid19 pandemic that destabilized the social, economic and religious functions in the whole world. This led to loss of lives and livelihoods and we are all alive to this fact. We all suffered in one way or the other. As a result of this pandemic, Churches were closed down and no in-person worship was allowed, especially, during the crucial months when the PMS activities were to take place. As a result, the PMS Collections at the International Secretariat has dwindled tremendously,” explained Fr Luchidio.
Fr Luchidio detailed the dwindling fortunes in the PMS coffers was as a result of the restrictions of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“In the year 2020, the tide turned against us, because, Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith Universal Fund managed to raise, USD 64.398, 266, 67. With these incomes, we are to share it out for the Ordinary Subsidy to the 1,200 dioceses, and 2,646 projects registered as proposals for Extraordinary Subsidy. Truly speaking, very needy dioceses in Kenya and other places will suffer because they are not able to sustain their annual budgets with these sharp declines of funds from the universal kitty,” expounded Fr Luchidio.
Fr Luchidio implored Christians to come to the aid of the Church and the Holy Father by continuously making their offerings to PMS to support needy dioceses in November 2021 and June 2022.
“This could be done by channelling your contribution to KCCB-PMS RESTRICTED FUND, ACCOUNT NUMBER 1178590927, NCBA BANK MALL BRANCH WESTLANDS or send your contribution using the MPESA PAYBIL NUMBER 880100 to ACCOUNT NUMBER 1178590927 then enter the amount with a big heart, or contributing through your Church kitty …” he said.
The Holy Mass to celebrate World Mission Sunday 2021 was presided over by Archbishop Martin Kivuva of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa and assisted by Bishop Dominikus Schwaderlapp, Auxilliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne. The theme for this year’s celebrations was: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard,” Acts 4:20.
