Amid “challenges within the Church”, Catholic Bishop in Kenya Urges Priests to “stand by revealed truth of the Gospel”

Ngong, 28 March, 2024 / 10:46 PM

Bishop John Oballa Owaa of the Catholic Diocese of Ngong in Kenya has cautioned Priests against despair in the face of challenges they experience “within the Church”.

In a Wednesday, March 27 report on his homily at the anticipated Chrism Mass that he presided over on Tuesday, March 26, Bishop Oballa called upon Priests ministering in his Episcopal See to found their lives on the person of Jesus Christ revealed in the Gospel.

“Dear Priests, there are a number of challenges within the Church, even doctrinal divisions. May we be encouraged by the Word of God to seek and stand by the revealed truth of the Gospel,” Bishop Oballa is quoted as saying on Tuesday, March 26.

Spreading the truth of the Gospel is an essential mission of Priests, he said, and added, “Stand by the revealed truth of the gospel. Do not dilute the Word of God by word and witness. But our closeness to Christ will enlighten our way.”

The Kenyan Catholic Bishop urged Priests to seek ways of evangelizing the minds of the communities out of the challenge.

The Kenyan Catholic Church leader, who has been at the helm of Ngong Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in April 2012 went on to urge the Priests to thank God for the gift of their ministerial Priesthood.

“Dear beloved Priests, how we need to take it upon ourselves to be grateful to God for this undeserving gift, not given to us on merit, but undeservedly, God whispered His call for which He had been preparing you and you responded,” Bishop Oballa said.

He emphasized, “Let us be ever grateful for this gift that we do not deserve. And that should call us to prayer, a life of prayer. The Church has lovingly imposed on us the liturgy of the hours.”

“Let it be a treasure and not a burden, for we stand in for so many people and God's creation that may not pray,” he further said.

Bishop Oballa thanked Priest for choosing a state of life that sets “aside all worldly success.”

He highlighted the spirit of listening as important, saying, “Everyone should be sure of finding in a Priest a listening heart, a man who is never indifferent. A priest is not in a position to give alms or to find a solution to the problems that someone confides to Him.”

“A priest can always be compassionate; he can always love, and He can always pray, pray for and with the person,” the Kenyan Catholic Bishop said.