Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides)- “I can only be holy if I am missionary. I can only be missionary if I am holy”. This was the theme of the 4th Pontifical Mission Societies Kenya National Mission Congress held in Nairobi from 4 -9 December. “The theme is taken from John Paul II’s Redemptoris Missio encyclical” National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Kenya Fr Eugenio Ferrari told Fides.
The congress was attended by 64 participants from Murang’a, Ngong, Lodwar, Nakuru, Malindi, Marsabit, Mombasa, Machakos, Embu, Kericho, Nyahururu, Isiolo, Kakamega, Eldoret, Kisii, Nyeri, Meru, Bungoma, Kisumu, Kitui, Kitale and Homa Bay.
“On Tuesday 5 December the Congress was graced with the presence of 85 Holy Childhood missionary children from Kisumu, who sang songs and recited poetry on the joy of being missionary children but also about the sad lives of many less fortunate children in the world ” Fr Ferrari said and continued: “The children sang the Holy Childhood hymn, “We are little friends of Jesus” and carried the Holy Childhood flag: white for purity, yellow for maturity and red for the blood shed by Fr Gabriel Perboyre, martyred in China in 1840 whom the founder of Holy Childhood chose as patron Saint”.
The Congress included the following conferences: “I cannot be holy unless I am missionary, I cannot be missionary unless I am holy” by Bishop Anthony Muheria of Embu; “The missionary spirituality of Mary” by Consolata missionary Fr. Vincenzo Salemi, “The Spirituality of Holy Childhood” by Agnes Mwonjaru, PMS national secretary; “Is it time Kenya had a missionary youth movement?” Fr. Eugenio Ferrari.
Kenya’s next PMS National Mission Congress will be held in December 2007. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2006 righe 30 parole 322)
