Sunday, October 27, 2013---the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today, as we join with our fellow Catholics throughout the world to celebrate the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, I awoke with the realization that this is our last day in the Diocese of Lodwar. Later this afternoon, we will travel to Kitali, a city about a three hour drive from Kainuk, and stay there until our flight to Nairobi on Tuesday.
As I mentioned, Kainuk is at the very southern part of the Diocese of Lodwar. About three miles from Kainuk is a huge mountain which indicates the border with the neighboring diocese, the Diocese of Kitali. Today, here in Kainuk, is a very special day. Not only is it the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, but it is a historic day as people from Kainuk, from Kitali, and two other distant locations from other directions have arranged to celebrate today as Prayer for Peace day. The "peace" that is being prayed for is an end to the violence of the local "gangs"---which sounds a lot more like organized crime. Young people from each of the "sides" raid the other "side" not only to steal animals, but also in recent years to kill the innocent shepherds and herdsmen indiscriminately, whether they are men, women or children. Msgr. Mike and I are blessed to be here to be able to participate in the Peace Rally.
Following an early time of Morning Prayer with all the priests and a quick breakfast, the very prayerful procession made up of the people of all ages from Kainuk began at 7:15 a.m., processing to the agreed upon meeting place where the other groups would meet us. Along the way, we sang, prayed the rosary (multiple times) in Swahili (well, they prayed in Swahili; I prayed in English). About 8:00 a.m. we arrived at our meeting place about 2 miles down the road. After waiting only a short time, a bus appeared coming from the other direction, bringing a busload of people from Kitali (which, as I mentioned, is a three hour drive away), and a number of priests who had come, also from the Diocese of Kitali, from their parishes in the surrounding mountainsides.
When all had gathered, there were probably 300 people now a part of the procession, which turned around and processed back down the road into Kainuk, again, praying and singing all the way. We processed right through the busy market place of Kainuk while people stood and watched. Finally the procession ended up in the church hall where people were able to get "Chai tea." Since it had been so hot, already in those early hours, the "tea time" gave me time to change my wet clothes for dry ones to get ready for Mass. The Mass started close to 11:00 a.m., and finished sometime after 2:00 p.m. Once again, it was a Mass that was joyful, festive, filled with dancing and processing and singing, but with great love and devotion to the Word of God and the Holy Eucharist. It was quite a "final Mass" for Msgr. Mike and I to participate in as our lasting memory of our time in the Diocese of Lodwar.
After the Prayer after Communion came the talks and speeches from those who had helped to organize this special Celebration of Prayer for Peace, which took well over an hour. At the end of that, Bishop Dominic kindly asked me to address the people. Since the only Swahili that I have mastered is "Praised be Jesus Christ; now and forever"---a greeting that everyone uses when they begin to speak, I too began with that greeting. The speaker says: "Praised be Jesus Christ"; the people answer "Now and forever". Then the speaker says: "Now and forever"; and the people answer: "Praised be Jesus Christ". It's a beautiful custom. This is how it goes in Swahili: "Tum-si-fuYesu Kristo; da-i-ma na mi-le-le; Daima na milele; tumsifu Yesu Kristo". Isn't that beautiful?!
I spoke to them about how vibrant and faith-filled their participation in the Mass was, and how inspiring that is to me. I told them that in the U.S., people are usually unhappy when the Mass lasts more than an hour; but here, we had been together already three hours, and everyone was very happy. I told them that Bishop Dominic had taken us to every part of the Diocese of Lodwar, and I had been able to see for myself the joys and the sorrows that the people of this Diocese are experiencing, from issues of a lack of basic necessities of life, such as food and water, to the problems with "insecurity" and fear of violence as the people here in Kainuk were living in. I told them that they should be proud that what makes the difference in each of those situations is the presence of the Church: not just the work of Bishop Dominic, the priests and the sisters, but the work and involvement of them as dedicated lay faithful, putting their faith into action I also spoke with them about our two Dioceses---though in many ways we are very different, that it is what we were doing here in the celebration of the Eucharist that unites us---that makes us true sisters and brothers in the Body of Christ. It was truly a beautiful celebration.
I've been wanting to say a word about the priests and the sisters whom we have met here in the Diocese of Lodwar. I have not met anyone that is not filled with joy and is truly a happy spirit, in spite of the great challenges they have to deal with---the extreme conditions that they have to bring God's Word to these wonderful people. One of the priests who was present for the Mass was Father Barry. He was the pastor of the parish that was located on the mountain that we could see from the parish where we were. When Msgr. Mike and I were standing outside after the Mass, Fr. Barry came over and pointed to the mountain with pride and said: "There is my parish.” I commented that it looked like a difficult place to get around, and he agreed. He went on to say that there are many parts of his parish that have no roads, but that he must walk to them on foot. I said how difficult that must be, and he said that was no problem; that he enjoyed doing that. The Guadalupe Missionary Priests there at the parish in Kainuk are also amazing and happy men. They have a wonderful fraternal spirit among them, and they truly love their people. And the Sisters are the same way---all the Sisters I have met here are clearly "in love with God---and God's People.” It's truly heartwarming to see. I pray that this visit will also challenge me to be less focused on the difficulties or the challenges of what I am called to do, and more focused on the great privilege I have been given to bring Christ's Word and His Presence to all the people in Kalamazoo.
When the Mass was over, there was a dinner for all who came. Then, we had to quickly get ready to leave, and load the car with our suitcases, and say our farewells. It was somewhat emotional, knowing that this was our last visit on what has been a truly amazing and life-changing and spiritually-enriching 10 days. Many of the people crowded around the car and danced, waved and sang us out of the parish compound as we left the parish and the Diocese of Lodwar.
The road to Kitali for the first two hours was possibly worse than many of the other roads. We actually saw a family of baboons along the way. And as we traveled up and over the mountains, the weather also began to change from very hot, to cool here in Kitali. It's a very different part of Kenya. We arrived at St. Martin Diocesan House here in Kitali about 6:45 p.m., freshened up a bit, had a nice dinner with Bishop Dominic, his secretary, a religious Sister, and Lucas our trusty driver. And then it was time to put this day, and this great adventure, to bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment