By Arnold Neliba
NAIROBI, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 (CISA)-Bishop David Kamau, auxiliary of the Catholic archdiocese of Nairobi has implored faithful to pray for their priests against temptations which they face in line with their work.
“As human beings remember the kind of life they lead. Don’t be the kind that puts things about them on the newspaper. That is what you do, spread information about them on the dailies and ignore your personal shortcomings. Instead of doing all that, pray for us,” Bishop Kamau said on February 12.
The bishop was speaking during an ordination ceremony for three Consolata priests and three deacons held at Resurrection Garden in Karen, Nairobi.
He likened the vocation to priesthood to the Bible when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac. He said “Isaac was Abraham’s all, was his future and hope for a generation. Abraham was a man full of Faith he was ready to give his son Isaac as a sacrifice.”
“Even living family life is not easy. This is not different either and therefore, we need to be committed in prayer. You Christians pray for us we servants of God. I don’t know if you know we need prayers? You ask us to pray for you but now I’m also asking you to pray for us. We need prayers,” Bishop Kamau said while calling for faithfulness to the sacraments of the Church and in vocations.
Alongside the vow of celibacy and obedience, Bishop Kamau said the missionaries by taking the vow of poverty should not be tasked financial responsibilities by their families. “Therefore parents don’t bank hopes that this will be the ones to educate other siblings. They don’t own anything, don’t give them more responsibilities because they won’t manage.”
“They will be required to obey. They won’t have the freedom to make independent decisions. They will follow what the church will tell them through their superiors,” he stressed.
To the newly ordained priests, Bishop Kamau lauded them for accepting God’s call and for accepting to be escorted to the Church by their parents. “Being called does not mean you come and sit down, it means you have responded to the mission of Christ. You have to work and from now you need to start working.”
The newly ordained Consolata Missionaries are Frs Patrick Mbaluka Ngei, Ibrahim Muinde Musyoka and Martin Mbai Ndumia and Deacons Ansoni Camacho Cruz, Fredrick Odhiambo Otieno and Imario Padrao.
The Regional Superior Consolata Missionaries Kenya-Uganda Region Fr Peter Makau was also present during the ordination ceremony.
