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Kenyan cleric: Not enough dirty feet being washed in church

The Church is not offering enough service, a Catholic cleric, Rev Dr Eammon Mulcahy said during a forum titled, Exploring Faith in Public Life held at Hekima College in Nairobi on January 30, 2010, reports CISA.

During the forum, whose theme was: The Year for Priests, focusing mainly on the relevance of the priesthood in Africa today, Mulcahy who is a Spiritan priest, said that the purpose of launching the year for the priest is to renew and revitalise the priesthood.

Archbishop Emeritus Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki one of the guest speakers who has been a bishop for the last 40 years called on superiors to create time to listen to their priests.

Archbishop Ndingi said that during difficulties, superiors need to listen and to understand priests. “All of us are capable of losing our ways and we need to pray to God to pull us out of catastrophic situations.”

However, he said priests ought to cultivate deep respect towards their superiors but at the same time they should not fear raising issues with them.

“Superiors must not give up on their fellow priests,” Ndingi said. “They should avail themselves always and call for prayers and understanding for those who struggle in their ordained lives.”

He added that suspension should be the last action to be taken. He also advised the priests saying, “The essence of priesthood is to be Christ like and for a priest to be happy he must strive to be a minister of Jesus Christ in totality.”

“Community leadership is the starting point; being there for people,” Rev Dr Mulcahy said, adding that priesthood is a relational ministry and a priest must be with people and not above them in service.

He called for empowerment of the laity to activate and facilitate more leadership and responsibility adding, “I believe in future there will be an option where married people will come into church ministry.”

In conclusion, Hekima College Principal, Fr Aquiline Tarimo hoped that the forum will help to “increase our commitment in promotion of the well being of the church.

Among other participants at the forum was the Rector of Hekima College, Fr Gabriel Mmasi.

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TAGS: Kenya Catholic Church Rev Dr Eammon Mulcahy The Year for Priests Hekima College Fr Gabriel Mmasi

[02/03/2010]

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