“What kind of fruits do we expect from this?” he queried during the March 2 Eucharistic celebration at St. Michael the Archangel Kasamwa Catholic Parish of Geita Diocese.
He went on to laud the Catholic Church in general and the pioneer missionaries in particular for fostering integral evangelization. Bishop Flavian explained, “The purpose of the Church is to shine a light not only in our faith, but in every area of our lives. That is why, from the beginning, when these fathers started their mission, they combined preaching the gospel with education.”
To liberate a person, you must address both their body and soul, the Local Ordinary of Geita Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in June 2016 said. “This is why wherever there was a church there was also a school. And the school was meant to be the first step to open people’s eyes before the gospel could take root,” he added.
Bishop Flavian thanked the Missionaries of Africa for what he described as a successful evangelization mission in his Episcopal See.
“The Missionaries of Africa, called so because they were specially prepared for the African mission, came at a time when Africa was caught up in the slave trade. Their mission was not only to proclaim Christ but also to help end the slave trade,” he said on March 2, when he launched the 200th anniversary of the Founder of the Missionaries of Africa.
Born on 31 October 1825 in Bayonne, France, Cardinal Lavigerie, who served as Archbishop of Algiers and Carthage in North Africa founded the White Fathers in 1868 and the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (White Sisters) in 1869.
In his March 2 homily, Bishop Flavian said that in launching the bicentennial Jubilee of Cardinal Lavegerie, the celebrations are not just about thanking God for his life and contribution to evangelization in the East African nation, but also praying that the good work he started may continue to bear good fruit.
“Missionary work continues even today,” the 57-year-old Catholic Bishop said, and added, “A school should raise children to bear good fruit.”
Bishop Flavian went on to reflect on the Gospel Reading of the eighth Sunday, emphasizing the need for Catholics to pay keen attention to their hearts, and working towards managing obstacles that hinder spiritual growth so as to bear good fruit.
“As a Catholic, do you measure yourself by Catholic standards? The sieve we are using today is not the one that strengthens our faith,” he said, and underscoring the value of selflessness and sacrifices, added, “This is exactly how we, believers, fail to translate our faith into our Catholic identity: we choose the easy way out.”
