Evan - Catholic Diocese of Maralal

October 27, 2022January 2, 2024

KENYA: “Don’t Use Force,” Bishop Pante Urges New Bishop of Maralal

By CISA

MARALAL, OCTOBER 25, 2022 (CISA) – It was full of pomp and colour as the faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal gathered at Allamano Grounds, Maralal Town, to witness the auspicious occasion of the consecration and installation of Rt Rev Hieronymus Emusugut Joya IMC, as the second bishop of the diocese on October 23.

“If you want to lead a family or a village, don’t use the heart, but use the lungs. In other words, don’t be in a hurry. Don’t use force. Jesus was very strong. He was the son of God, the King but only once he was very very strong, when he chased from the temple the traders but otherwise in front of the King, he was like a lamb,” counselled Bishop Virgilio Pante, emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal in his homily during the solemn vespers on October 22.

Bishop Pante used the analogy of how a shepherd guides and gathers the sheep using the crook in a steady path with concern and compassion as he demonstrated to the new bishop how to shepherd the diocese not with authority or power but with love and understanding.

“You have to tell the truth. Stand by it firmly, yet with gentleness,” encouraged Bishop Pante as he extended his well wishes to Bishop Joya on his new mission. “You are a servant—a humble servant. I pray that the Lord will guide you to embody servitude, becoming a shepherd who loves and sacrifices for the people of the Diocese of Maralal.”

Much like the anticipation and engagement when one decides to play casino games online, Bishop Joya’s mission involves commitment, dedication, and a heartfelt service to the community he serves, aiming to make a positive impact while embodying humility and compassion. And the same as playing Ice Casino, where people get many slots and bonuses and the most important emotional and financial profit, on bishop’s meetings people get what they came for too.

Bishop Joya becomes the third Kenyan Consolata Missionary bishop after Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki IMC of Marsabit and Bishop Anthony Ireri Mukobo IMC of Isiolo. He takes over the diocese from Bishop Pante who was at the helm for over 21 years.

October 18, 2022

KENYA: Fr Egidio Pedenzini IMC “Elder of The Samburu,” Passes On at 83

By Paschal Norbert

SEREOLIPI, OCTOBER 17, 2022 (CISA) – Fr Egidio Pedenzini IMC, a Consolata Missionary has died. Fr Pedenzini parish priest of Sere-Olipi Catholic Mission in the Catholic Diocese of Maralal died on the morning of October 14, 2022, at a Nairobi hospital.

At the time of his death, Fr Pedenzini had celebrated 61 years of religious profession and 55 years as a priest.

Fr Pedenzini was born on June 8, 1939, in Mezzocorona province, Trento, Italy. He made his first profession as a Consolata Missionary on October 2, 1961. In 1964, he made his perpetual profession and was ordained into the diaconate in Turin on June 29, 1966. He was ordained a priest on December 17, 1966, in Mori, Italy.

Fr Pedenzini served the people of Samburu with great dedication and zeal for over 50 years from the year 1968 when he was first missioned at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Parish Archer’s Post as the assistant parish priest.

He also served in the same capacity as both assistant parish priest and parish priest in South Horr, Baragoi, and Wamba between the years 1970 to 2009.

Fr Cornelio Lomatukae, the assistant parish priest at Sere-Olipi who has served with Fr Pedenzini since 2018 has eulogized the missionary man as brave, courageous, eloquent, and linguistically gifted. He says Fr Pendenzini has contributed so much to the understanding of the Samburu people by authoring so many literary works on their culture.

“He himself is a master’s holder in cultural anthropology on the scope of Samburu people. And he has written so many things about the people of Samburu, he knows more about Samburu’s, actually, he’s an elder,” eulogizes Fr Lomatukae in an interview with CISA on October 14.

“He is a wonderful man. I know he is going to be missed by so many people, and actually, he usually used to refer to himself as the king of the northern region because he has worked there for so many years. All of his crystal life, he has worked in northern Kenya,” he adds.

Sere-Olipi Catholic Mission established in 2009 is one of the missions in Samburu County. It is about 1000 km away from Nairobi and situated along the Isiolo-Marsabit highway through Archer’s post in Samburu East sub-county. This mission has two main centres namely: Sereolipi and Ndonyo Uasin.

October 12, 2022

KENYA: Maralal Diocese Inaugurates Commercial Building in Nairobi Toward Self-Reliance

October 12, 2022October 12, 2022

KENYA: Consolata Regional Superior Urges Bishop-Elect Joya to Carry on Missionary Charism

July 20, 2022

𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐮𝐬 𝐄𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐲𝐚, 𝐈𝐌𝐂 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐥

Pope Francis has appointed Fr Hieronymus Emusugut Joya, I.M.C of the Consolata Missionaries as the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal. The appointment was announced today July 20, 2022 in the Osservatore Romano at 12 noon Roman Time.

The 57 years old missionary takes over from Bishop Virgillio Pante, 76, who has been bishop of Maralal for 21 years.

Until his appointment Fr Joya has been a Doctorate (PhD) student in Sacred Theology with specialization in Pastoral Theology at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), and a lecturer at the Consolata Institute of Philosophy, Nairobi.

Fr Joya previously served as the Regional Superior of the Consolata Missionaries for the Kenya-Uganda region for two terms from 2011 to 2016.

Fr Joya was born April 17, 1965 in Asinge village, Amukura District in Teso South Sub-County in Busia County to the late Andrew Ojuma Joya and Eremina Ikasere. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Anthony of Padua Chakol Catholic Parish, Bungoma.

He did his primary education at Changana Primary School in African Highlands, Kericho and Asinge Primary School. He later joined St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, Mukumu in the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega in 1982 and finished his high school studies in 1985.

He joined the Consolata Missionaries in 1990, and finished his Philosophical studies in 1993 with an award of Diploma in Religious Studies, and a B.A in Philosophy from Pontifical Urbaniana University.

Thereafter he joined Consolata Missionaries Novitiate Sagana, between August 1993 and August 1994. He later joined Tangaza University College from August 1994 to March 1998 where he was awarded Diploma in Theology, Diploma in Mission Studies; a B.A in Sacred Theology from Pontifical Urbaniana University, and B.A in Religious Studies from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

He took his first religious vows on August 6, 1994 and final vows on November 8, 1997. He was ordained deacon on November 9, 1997 and a priest of the Consolata Missionaries on September 5, 1998.

From June 14 to August 2003 he undertook a Summer Course on Leadership and Psycho-Spiritual growth and development at St. Anselm in England.

From August 2005 to May 2007 he did postgraduate studies at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and successfully graduated with a License in Sacred Theology with specialization in Pastoral Theology.

Fr Joya previously worked at Loiyangalani Catholic Mission in the Catholic Diocese of Marsabit, served as Rector and formator at the Consolata Philosophicum Seminary in Nairobi, and as the Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator and Director of Allamano Pastoral Centre in the Catholic Diocese of Maralal.

See less

— in Maralal.

July 14, 2022

TANZANIA: “Lack of Care for The Environmental Has Resulted into Conflicts, Violence and Divisiveness in The World,” Warns Cardinal Tagle

By Paschal Norbert

DAR ES SALAAM, JULY 12, 2022 (CISA) – “Lack of care for the environment is manifesting into lack of care for one another as seen in many conflicts in the world. God wants us to be closer to one another because in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, God is closer to us. And we should be closer to one another,” postulated Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples at the Vatican on July 10.

In his homily during the opening Mass of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) 20th Plenary Assembly held at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Cardinal Tagle opined that the present-day global conflicts and divisions and lack of care for the environment have contributed to a state of helplessness in the world.

“We need to ask ourselves why is it that caring is less these days?” asked the Cardinal.

The AMECEA 20th Plenary Assembly, which is being held from July 9 to 18, under the theme “Environmental Impact on Integral Human Development,” will focus on the papal encyclical Laudato Si (on care for our common home), Faith, Values, and Ethics in the Care for the Environment, Care for the Integral Ecology, and Church and Government Collaborations among others.

The Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples underscored the importance of the theme of the AMECEA meeting observing that it has come at a time when the world is faced with environmental challenges that have resulted in conflicts, violence and divisiveness.

Cardinal Tagle recognized environmental degradation as one of the major threats facing the planet and urged the 20th AMECEA Assembly delegates to address the underlying causes of this threat that compromises the natural environment.

“We need to discuss the root cause of the environmental degradation to have concrete resolutions after the Assembly otherwise we will have cosmetics resolutions from the assembly,” he appealed.

In referring to the three readings of the day taken from Deuteronomy 30:10-14, Colossians 1:15-20 and Luke 10:25-37, Cardinal Tagle noted how the scriptures speak to the closeness of God to creation and humanity. He wondered why humanity should destroy creation if all that was created invisible and visible have the presence of Christ.

Cardinal Tagle was, however, appreciative that the Catholic Bishops, clergy, religious and laity from Eastern African Countries have gathered in Tanzania to proclaim the Good News that humanity needs to come together.

The 10-day assembly in Dar es Salaam has seen more than 100 Catholic bishops from Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Kenya, that make up the AMECEA region, attend the quadrennial plenary, which is the supreme authority within the association.

June 15, 2022June 15, 2022

Nuncio in Kenya Cautions against “power, imposition”, Calls for “humility of heart”

Archbishop Hubertus van Megen lays hands on the head of Bishop George Muthaka, during his episcopal ordination May 7 at Our Lady of Consolation Cathedral of Garissa Diocese grounds. Credit: Garissa Diocese

By Magdalene Kahiu

Nairobi, 09 May, 2022 / 8:45 pm (ACI Africa).

The representative of the Holy Father in Kenya has cautioned church members including members of the Clergy against the tendency to refer to authority saying, “The church of Christ does not build on power or on imposition.”

In his homily during the Saturday, May 7 Episcopal Ordination of Bishop George Muthaka, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen also reiterated his previous call for an end to clericalism in the Church.

“Dear George, dear colleagues in the episcopate, brothers in the Priesthood, Religious men and women, dear Christians, let us be humble of hearts,” Archbishop van Megen said.

He added, “That humility of heart we can only acquire when we are able to see our own poverty and insufficiency in the eyes of God.”

Addressing himself to the candidate for the Episcopate, a member of the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin (OFM Cap.), Archbishop van Megen said, “Dear Fr. George, as a follower of the poor man of God, St. Francis, you are fully aware that we cannot do without the grace of God. In fact, each and every day we are in need of Him.”

“The man who holds an office, a responsibility in the Church, a Bishop, a Priest, a Religious Superior, is even more in need of that grace,” the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya who doubles as the representative of the Holy Father in South Sudan said during the Consecration event held at Our Lady of Consolation Cathedral of Garissa Diocese grounds.

“We the teachers of the Gospel are many times blind to it,” he said in reference to the awareness about the need for God’s grace, and posed, “How often are we leaders of the Church not deceived by the things of this world? How many times do we not fall for the lure of money and power?”

Pope Francis appointed Mons. Muthaka as the third Local Ordinary of Garissa on February 17.

Consecrated on May 7, Bishop Muthaka has succeeded his 77-year-old confrere, Bishop Joseph Alesandro, who first served as Coadjutor Bishop of Garissa Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in September 2012 and as Local Ordinary of the Kenyan Diocese from December 2015.

In his homily during the Episcopal Ordination of the 47-year-old Bishop who, before he was appointed Bishop, was serving as Vicar General, Diocesan Financial Administrator, Director of Caritas, and President of the Diocesan Commission for the Protection of Minors in Garissa Diocese, Archbishop van Megen also cautioned members of the Clergy against the tendency to appeal to power, ruling Christians “with an iron fist”.

He bemoaned the fact that many time Catholic Church leaders have acted as if “we are our own god, as if we are the highest judge, as if we can rule the Christians with an iron fist on behalf of Christ.”

“Let us move away from a clerical Church where it seems that the clergy is a separate caste,” the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya who doubles as the representative of the Holy Father in South Sudan said.

He added, “We Priests, Bishops, Superiors are one with the entire people of God; we are the one Body of Christ.”

“We commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. We are one body of Christ, taking responsibility for each other as Christians, as members of that body, praying for each other, encouraging each other,” the Nuncio said referencing the letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

He continued, “Let us pray to the Lord that He will make his light shine in our hearts so that we may understand the true condition of our soul, of our human existence.”

The Apostolic Nuncio who doubles as the Permanent Observer to the United Nations Environment Program and Human Settlements Program further said, “To be a leader in the church bears many challenges. Any responsibility for that matter is filled with obstacles and frightening choices.”

“As a leader you may have to put your nets into the deep and that responsibility may weigh heavy on your shoulders. We may even be apprehensive or filled with doubts. We may be called to do things that we would rather avoid,” the Dutch-born Archbishop said May 7.

He implored, “Let us entrust ourselves to the prayer of our fellow Christians.”