At Jubilee, Religious Profession, Catholic Bishop in Kenya Emphasizes Value of Listening

Kisumu, 01 September, 2023 / 9:26 PM

The Bishop of Kenya’s Homa Bay Diocese has emphasized the value of listening, and acknowledged with appreciation its role in the formation and ministry of women and men Religious.

In his homily during the Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilee celebration of 19 members of the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSJ, Asumbi Sisters Kenya) at St. Theresa's Asumbi Parish of his Episcopal See, Bishop Michael Odiwa reflected on Luke’s Gospel story of Mary and Martha in the company of Jesus.

“Jesus praises Mary for choosing the better (part) because she is listening. It is only through listening that one is able to correct,” Bishop Odiwa said in his homily during the Thursday, August 31 event during which six FSJ members made their perpetual profession.

“Listening merits when there is the ability to correct,” the Kenyan Catholic Bishop said, and added, “Our sisters have been listening throughout formation, throughout community life, in persevering; and today we see the reason why they are celebrating the jubilees.”

He urged the jubilarians and those who were taking their final vows to emulate Mary in listening, saying, “Today we want to thank God who has given us the spirit of Mary to listen, to understand, and to pattern our lives.”

“The Spirit of the Lord has made us to respond to this call and to be docile to it, so we are not rigid to change, we do not cling to the mistakes we have done,” the Catholic Bishop who has been at the helm of the Kenyan Diocese since February 2021 said on August 31.

He went on to caution FSJ members, whose pioneer Sisters arrived in Kenya’s Nyanza region in 1936 against discouragement occasioned by past mistakes.

“It does not matter how many times you make a mistake, but if you are ready to correct and change, then there is merit like the one Mary had in listening to Jesus,” the Kenyan Catholic Bishop said at the event that had 12 Silver, three Golden, and four Diamond Jubilarians.

The 60-year-old Catholic Bishop added, “If we are faithful to the corrections of formation, then we shall come out victoriously.”

Turning his attention to parents, Bishop Odiwa thanked them for the responsibility they undertook to bring up their daughters in faith, and lamented, “Some parents have refused to bear children because they do not have time to bring them up.”

“As the Sisters make their vows today, credit goes to their parents,” he emphasized, and invited the parents to pray for their daughters “to be faithful to their vocation and in their service to God.”

Bishop Odiwa continued, “In many cases, we tell parents that once a child responds to a calling to Consecrated Life, it is not a solution to everything; it is not that he/she will give you a lot of things, but through their prayers, you will be able to witness the mighty deeds of God.”