AFRICA/KENYA - Family members of priests and missionaries also called to active service in Church

Embu (Agenzia Fides) – The parents of both diocesan and missionary priests have been urged to be committed members of the church, especially, by living the life of faith and sacraments. It is most significant at this time in the Year for Priests which will conclude June 19, 2010, said Bishop Paul Kariuki of the Embu Diocese, during an annual diocesan Prayer Day for priests together with their parents.
The Bishop of Embu challenged priests to listen to the counsel of their biological parents saying, “The joy of every parent is to hear his son doing extremely well in the vocation which God gave him.”
According to Fr. James Gatiti of the Embu Diocese, the bishop added that no priest could work comfortably in his vocation, knowing his parents and by extension, his close family members - like brothers and sisters - are not living the life of faith and sacraments.
The Bishop thanked the parents of the priests for their good work in nurturing the vocation of each one of their sons who are priests today in the Church.
The Diocese of Embu has 29 religious missionary priests serving the church in other dioceses, 58 diocesan priests, and 3 deacons. Two are Fidei Donum Missionaries in the Vicariate of Isiolo and six others are studying in local colleges and universities abroad. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 17/5/2010)