In his February 6 address, Bishop Oseso drew the attention of Catechists to the 2024 pastoral theme of Nakuru Diocese, “Proclamation of the Word of God”, and emphasized the need for them to “know the Word of God”.
"As catechists, spreading the Gospel is at the center of the work you do. Therefore, we must know the Word of God and we should read it,” he said.
Credit: Sr. Michelle Njeri
Bishop Oseso continued, “You know you can be a Catechist and you are not reading the word of God. People come to church to listen to the Word of God, so teachers, let us be the spreaders of the Word of God; read it, meditate on it so that we can deliver God's message to our people."
He went on to underscore the need for Catechists to take their role of preparing Catechumens seriously. The Catholic Church leader lamented, "I have been to other places where Christians are saying children are not being taught religion. Sometimes we baptize them through the back door. In such cases you are doing great damage to that child.”
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“There are things we cannot compromise about; let us teach religion well and if we teach well, the blessings and rewards that God will give you will be plentiful," he said.
Meanwhile, in his message for the 2024 World Day of the Sick, the Local Ordinary of Nakuru lauded health workers serving in his Episcopal See for their selfless service, love and compassion, and for giving hope to the sick.
Credit: Sr. Michelle Njeri
"Thank you for doing this difficult work; without love you cannot give that hope. May God continue to give you strength and continue to bring many more to join you in serving our patients," he said.
He called on the people of God to remember the sick in their daily petitions to God, imploring, “Let us pray for them every day".
Emphasizing the significance of offering prayers for the sick, the Kenyan Catholic Bishop said, "Perhaps they are waiting for that; only your prayer can pray for them and God's mercy can descend on them. This is a ministry of healing; so, let's put God first.”
Pope St. John Paul II established the World Day of the Sick in 1992 to encourage Christians to pray for the sick on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In 2024, the annual celebration is to be realized under the theme, “It is not good that man should be alone – Healing the Sick by Healing Relationships.”
Nicholas Waigwa contributed to the writing of this story
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