Nairobi (Fides Service) - Mafungo ya Uzima in Swahili means "retreat for health of spirit". This is what has been organised for the young Catholics by Kisumu archdiocese (west Kenya) for the weekend 11-12 in preparation for Palm Sunday, which is traditionally Youth Day in every diocese of the world.
"This Mafungo ya Uzima for our young people will focus on the Eucharist" says Dominican Father Benedict Croell who works in Kisumu diocese.
"The retreat will be a catechesis on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Confession and the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, focusing on chapter six of the Gospel according to John and the sermon on the Bread of Life" says Fr Benedict who adds "We are very pleased with the response to our initiative, already 600 young people from 14 different dioceses in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda". The Archbishop of Kisumu Mgr Zaccheus Okoth will take part in the retreat with the young people.
Last Christmas, 2002, some 400 young Catholics took part in a similar retreat organised by Musoma diocese in Tanzania. These initiatives are a response to what Pope John Paul II said to the 2 million young people gathered in Rome for World Youth Day 2000: "Put the Eucharist at the centre of your personal and community life: love the Eucharist, adore the Eucharist and celebrate it. Live the Eucharist bearing witness to God's love for every human being". LM (Fides Service 1/4/2003 EM lines 16 Words: 240)