Make Sacred Scripture “frame of family values”: PMS Official in Kenya

Nairobi, 24 January, 2024 / 8:52 PM

Families that take the Word of God and the Sacred Scripture seriously, relying on them in the day-to-day encounters, can surmount the challenges that the contemporary world poses, the National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Kenya has said.

In an interview with ACI Africa following the Sunday of the Word of God 2024 marked on January 21, Fr. Bonaventure Luchidio said, “There are many voices in the world today speaking loudly against family and family values.”

However, Fr. Luchidio further said, “When the Bible becomes the frame of family values, you can be sure, such a family will be rooted in love, patience, sacrifice, and perseverance.” 

“These are core values for any family to coexist and survive in the contemporary world,” he added during the Monday, January 22 interview.

At the level of the family, Sacred Scripture is for sharing, he clarified, saying, “We need to emphasize here that the place of the Bible is not for Study and preaching, but Bible sharing to see how the Word has influenced our life as family members to grow into better persons.”

In bible sharing within a family set up, it becomes possible to find out how the Word of God has impacted both parents and children in their various roles, and “how the mission of the baptized and sent is being realized at this basic unit,” the PMS National Director in Kenya added.

“It is in the family that we are enabled to filter words of violence against words of encouragement. Words of encouragement can only be found in the Holy Book,” he continued. 

Fr. Luchidio went on to explain the value of the Word God in the reality of Small Christian Communities (SCCs), a new way of being Church that the leadership of the Church in Africa has included in its evangelization structures.

“While reading the Bible, God actively speaks to the hearts of each person present in the forum; as each person shares the encounters, God strengthens our resolve and when we pray together in our voices God listens to our prayers,” he said.

The Nairobi-based member of the Clergy of Kenya’s Kakamega Diocese emphasized the need for bible sharing during meetings in SCCs, distinguishing these meetings from those of self-help groups, where financial matters take center stage.

“The Bible is key and central in SCCs formation and enterprise,” Fr. Luchidio said, and added, “Reading of the word of God in the SCCs builds up the body of Christ in prayer and adoration of God.”

The Kenyan Catholic Priest further said, “Our faith is strengthened more when we share our stories and experiences of our encounter with the word of God.”