LENTEN CAMPAIGN 2015 A Publication of KCCB-Catholic Justice and Peace Commission © A Publication of the KCCB-Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops-General Secretariat Catholic Justice and Peace Commission P.O. Box 13475 Westlands 00800 Tel: (+254) 20 444112/4443906 or 722 457114 Email [email protected] Conceptualisation and Development KCCB-Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Editors: Wainainah Kiganya and Martin Omwange Illustrations: Elijah Njoroge Layout and printing by Franciscan Kolbe Press, P.O. Box 468 Limuru 00217 Email:[email protected] Table of Contents Preface Build Family and Nation in Dignity…Today’s Seeds, Tomorrow’s Harvest 5 Week 1 Tribalism, Clannism and Politics ...................................................................10 Week 2 Security ..............................................................................................................15 Week 3 Family and Social Morality .............................................................................20 Week 4 Rights of the Minority and the Marginalised Groups ................................26 Week 5 Devolved Governments and Management of Resources ............................32 2014 Lenten Campaign Contributions ..........................................................36 Prayer for the Beatification of the Servant of God .......................................71 The Kenya National Anthem ..........................................................................72 3 Lenten Campaign 2015 Lent in the Catholic Church Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penitence before Easter. In the Christian tradition, this is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday (Sundown). This annual commemoration prepares the faithful through prayer, repentance, giving alms and self- denial, for the events linked to the Passion of Christ and the celebration of his resurrection. Liturgical catechumens are baptised on Easter. Why 40 days? The number 40 is important in the life of Christians. Moses and the Israelites, for example, wandered in the desert for 40 years as they prepared to go to the Promised Land. Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights without eating or drinking water, where he had gone to receive the tablets of the covenant God made with the Israelites. In the time of Noah, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Elijah spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Horeb without food. In the New Testament, Jesus was led to the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Why the Kenya Lenten Campaign? In the spiritual mood of Lent, the Catholic Church in Kenya thought it important to inform the public of the problems affecting society and advocate for change. Through the Lenten Campaign, the Catholic Bishops call all Christians and people of goodwill to join them in addressing these problems and advocate for change. By joining the bishops in advocacy, individual efforts, our small voices become much louder and each individual’s action is multiplied. 4 Preface Build Family and Nation in Dignity…. Today’s Seeds, Tomorrow’s Harvest he family is the first cell of human society and, therefore, it is of unique importance to the Church and to the nation. It is the family that sends out sons and daughters to build up human society. TTherefore, the quality of life in society and in the Church is determined by the kind of character formation that goes on in the home. The family is truly the ‘school of humanity’ (Gaudium et Spes, 52) Christ, who was sent into this world to implement the predetermined plan of the one who guides all things; began His mission by being born in a family and living in it for the most part of His life on earth. By living in a family situation, Christ was witnessing to the world about the unique importance of the family. In this way, Christ emphasised the role of the domestic Church for the fulfilment of His Father’s plan for His people. “In a family, a person learns endurance, the joy of work, fraternal love, and generosity in forgiving others – repeatedly at times – and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1657). If the family is going to address today’s challenges, then we need to do something practical. We need to emphasise that prayer and catechesis in the family are important in addressing many pertinent challenges facing the family. And with strong families we shall build a strong nation. Family prayer For families to remain strong against all kinds of adversities, they are encouraged to have morning, midday, evening and night prayers, pray the Rosary and read and meditate on the Word of God. The family that prays together, stays together. Family catechesis There is need to have a Catholic Catechism in every home. Encourage home catechesis, have holy pictures, books on the lives of saints, social life education for children and set good examples in the home at all times. 5 Lenten Campaign 2015 Guiding engaged couples in their preparation for marriage If the family is the cell of the human society and the Church, we must take very seriously how young people are prepared for marriage life. Many concentrate on their wedding day and forget the life-long commitment they are about to enter into. As Christian families, we need to look into this preparation by following the guidelines already provided. “A crisis in a couple’s relationship destabilises the family and may lead, through separation and divorce, to serious consequences for adults, children and society as a whole, weakening its individual and social bonds.” (Synod 14, no. 10) Remote preparation Remote preparation includes infancy, childhood and adolescence, and it takes place first of all in the family and also in the school and formation groups, as a valid assistance to the family. This is the period in which respect for all authentic human values, both in interpersonal and social relations, is transmitted and instilled, with all that these imply for the formation of character, self-control and self-esteem, the proper use of one’s inclinations, and respect for persons of the other sex. Moreover, especially for Christians, a solid spiritual and catechetical formation is also required (Cf. Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage: Pontifical Council for the Family, No. 22). Proximate preparation Proximate preparation takes place during the period of engagement. It consists of specific courses and must be distinguished from immediate preparation, which is usually concentrated during the last meetings between the engaged and pastoral workers before the celebration of the sacrament. During proximate preparation, it seems useful to provide the possibility to verify the maturation of the human values pertaining to relationship of friendship and dialogue that should characterise the engagement. (Cf. Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage: Pontifical Council for the Family, No. 32) Accompanying the married couple in the initial years of marriage “The initial years of marriage are vital and a sensitive period during which couples become aware of the challenges and meaning of married life. Consequently, pastoral accompaniment needs to go beyond the actual 6 Preface celebration of the Sacrament. In this regard, experienced couples are of great importance in any pastoral activity” (Synod 14 no. 40). In Week One, we shall discuss Tribalism, Clannism and Politics, which seem to take a centre stage in our country, affecting our development. St John Paul II has taught that we need ‘new evangelisation’ to address this problem. “The new evangelisation will thus aim at building up the Church as Family, avoiding all ethnocentrism and excessive particularism, trying instead to encourage reconciliation and true communion between different ethnic groups, favouring solidarity and the sharing of personnel and resources among the particular churches, without undue ethnic considerations.” (John Paul II, Ecclesia in Africa, 63) Security will be discussed in Week Two. It is important to know that security has many facets and it is not only the absence of physical insecurity. It has to be approached in a holistic manner. Our theme this Lent touches on the Family. In Week Three we shall discuss the Family and Morality. There is need for us to address the challenges that are facing families today. St John Paul II has captured this very well when he writes: “The family in the modern world, as much as perhaps more than any other institution, has been beset by the many profound and rapid changes that have affected society and culture. Many families are living this situation in fidelity to those values that constitute the foundation of the institution of the family. Others have become uncertain and bewildered over their role or even doubtful and almost unaware of ultimate meaning and truth of conjugal and family life. Finally, there are others who are hindered by various situations of injustice in the realisation of their fundamental rights.” (John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio 1) Rights of the Minority and Marginalised Groups will be discussed in Week Four. Here we shall have to interrogate how we treat those who are disadvantaged in our families and society. We shall have to know that the marginalised are also our brothers and sisters, members of the family of God and we shall be judged how we treat them. (Cf. Matt. 25:34ff) The last week, in Week Five, we shall address the pertinent issues of Devolved Governments and Management of Resources.