AFRICA/KENYA - Campaign for Lent: Christ is the starting point for reconciliation

Thursday, 15 February 2018 reconciliation   lent   youth   local churches  

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Kisumu (Agenzia Fides) - "Reconciliation for peaceful coexistence and national integration, Justice for all": as reported to Agenzia Fides, this is the theme of the Lenten campaign for 2018 presented at the University of Uzima, in the Archdiocese of Kisumu. "Reconciliation means to recreate what had been separated, to restore friendly relations among parties or to make communities coexist in harmony", explained Mgr. Kivuva Martin, Archbishop of Mombasa and President of the "Justice and Peace" Commission of the episcopate.
The Archbishop invited Kenyans to reconcile "for the sake of peaceful coexistence and national integration", to overcome ethnic differences and to act "to restore the dignity that is in every person". "As Kenyans of different backgrounds, communities and cultures, we must recognize that we have similarities and differences caused by numerous factors. However, if we focus on our differences, we will be condemned", comments Mgr. Kivuva in a note of the Bishops of East Africa, sent to Fides.
The Archbishop also emphasized that, as Christians and believers, Christ is the starting point: "His prayer, so that they may be one only thing (Jn 17:21) came from the depths of his heart, while his apostles discussed who among them was the greatest".
The Lenten campaign is divided into weekly in-depth analysis. The first focuses on "good governance" and how to tackle incompetence and corruption in counties and in the country as a whole. The theme of the second week talks about "reconciliation", while the third week focuses on youth. The fourth week concerns safety in the community and the last one focuses on child protection.
"This Campaign is an annual national event that brings together Bishops, clergy, religious men and women and lay faithful from all over Kenya to pray and prepare for Lent. It is also a time of penance, fasting and sharing with the less fortunate following Jesus Christ footsteps, who gave his life for men", the Bishops conclude. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 15/2/2018)


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