Faithful in Kenya to Focus on Peace during Lent

CANAA || By Father Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 04 February 2016

The Catholic faithful in Kenya will be expected to pray and make deliberate actions for peace during the Lenten season this year, which the Bishops have planned to officially launch this Sunday, February 7, 2016.

This has been announced by the General Secretary of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Father Daniel Kimutai Rono.

In a letter inviting the media to a press conference at the official launch of a national Lenten Campaign this Sunday at Milele Hall of Ngong Diocese, Father Rono highlighted the theme of the Lenten season in Kenya.

“This year, the Catholic Church has picked the theme, “Peaceful and prosperious Kenya, my responsibility,” Father Rono stated, adding that reflections, discussions, prayer and actions across the country would revolve around “responsible citizenry, care for our common home/environment, family values, insecurity, and corruption.”

The Somalia-based militant group, Al Shabaab, has been the major cause of insecurity in Kenya in recent years.

The areas of reflection and discussion were identified by KCCB General Secretariat through the Commission for Justice and Peace.

An estimated 11 million Catholics in Kenya are expected to support the Lenten initiative.

Relating this year’s Lenten season with the ongoing Jubilee year of Mercy, Pope Francis has described lent as a time of conversion and a time to deepen one's faith, demonstrating and sharing it through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

"Faith finds expression in concrete everyday actions meant to help our neighbors in body and spirit," Pope Francis said in his message for Lent 2016, which will begin next week with Ash Wednesday on 10 February.

According to Father Rono, the Lenten campaign in Kenya will be launched at the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral of Ngong Diocese, where a section of Catholic Bishops will hold a media a press conference at Milele Hall in Ngong town, about 30km from Nairobi Central Business District.