FROM MISSIONS AND COMMUNITIES

Fr. Paolo Malerba is studying khiswahili in Tanzania. He will complete his corso in December.

Fr. Daniele Moschetti is on a sabbatical year in Holy Land. He is staying in Bethany at the Comboni Sisters’ house while attending Bible courses at the Franciscan Institute of Jerusalem.

Fr. Rinaldo Ronzani came back to Kenya for the final editing of the breviary in English to be published in Nairobi soon after the approval of Rome. Rinaldo left Kenya on October 25th for his new assignment in the London Province.

Re-distribution of means of transport: the Mitsubishi pick-up of the Postulancy was stolen while parked near Kenyatta Hospital, on the 5th of august 2008. The confreres of South Sudan too had their car stolen in Nairobi, while parked in front of the South Sudan Office.

The annual meetings of the superiors and of the bursars of the Comboni Communities were held in Nairobi, Friday 31st of October and Saturday 1st of November. The revision of the Provincial Directory in the light of the Code of Conduct was the main topic on the agenda.

The secretariat of Evangelisation and Ongoing Formation, in the 1st November meeting, prepared the agenda of the Provincial Annual Assembly 2009, scheduled for January, from Monday evening to Friday evening, 19- of 23rd.
The state of the Institute and of the Church in Kenya, a reflection on the forthcoming Special Synod of Bishops for Africa (Expectation of Africa from the Missionary Institutes) and the approval of the new additions to the Provincial Directory, in the light of the  Code of Conduct, are the main topics on the agenda.

The Comboni Missionaries working among the Pastoralist of Kenya and Uganda met at Moroto (Uganda) for their bi-annual meeting, on November 6th, to discuss common problems and challenges.

JOHN KIPKEMOI ARAP KORIR, the new Comboni Priest, is ordained in Roret by Monsignor Emmanuel Okombo, bishop of Kericho, on 6th December 2008. Fr. John Korir is the 15th Comboni Missionary Priest of Kenya 

ALL SOULS DAY
Monday, November 3rd the Comboni Missionaries, father, brothers and sisters, present in Nairobi, assembled for a requiem mass at St. Austin to remember the Comboni Missionaries who served the Lord in Kenya and have been called to the house of the Father.
Since 1974, 20 Comboni Missionaries have died and are buried (except four) in Kenya. Other 41 missionaries worked in Kenya but died elsewhere. Our remembrance and prayer go to all of them.

FROM TURKANA ZONE

There are changes among the Turkana. Traditionally the Turkana are considered to be a nomadic pastoralist people. But, especially in towns and small urban centres, they are increasingly moving from nomadic to settled life. Fishing in the Turkana Lake, small scale agricultural activities in Nakwamoru and Katilu, basket weaving etc… are the new initiatives that are introducing changes in the economic life of the people. Traditional pastoral practices are also changing: the lack of animals hinders the traditional marriage system; very few people complete payment of dowry; increase rate of pregnancies has also changed traditional marriage practices.

The Turkana have their Sunday Missal in their native language, the Ngaturkana. The work was done and financed by the Comboni Missionaries of Nakwamekwi.
The Bishop of Lodwar, Monsignor Patrick Harrington, looks forward to seeing soon the translation of the new Catholic Catechism into Ngaturkana.

Serious consideration is given to the project of revitalising the catechetical centre of Katilu for the formation of the pastoral agents.

FROM MARSABIT ZONE

The Comboni Missionaries at Marsabit have completed the preparation of the Charter of the zone.
They offer a short description of the Diocese of Marsabit, of the major ethnic groups that form the population of the region and of the problems connected with their living together and competing for the short resorts offered by nature. After a short presentation of the Comboni Missionaries, the Charter presents the pastoral challenges, methodology and commitments of the Diocese. The short document is an intelligent introduction to the life of the Church among the astoralist of the arid and semiarid regions of North Kenya and a valid means of understanding of what the Church is committed to do on behalf of the people.

From tension to reconciliation: which way?
Growing tensions, killings and thefts among the people are noticed in the region of Marsabit. This is affecting the running of the Christian communities. At times one feels obliged to know “who is who” and “who says what”. Even in the parish, before taking decisions one is forced to pay attention to the ethnic factor. The Combonis are committed to set into motion several initiatives, small things and events, that could help bring the people together and overcome their long standing competition and enmity.

NAIROBI  ZONE

The Comboni Scholasticate of Nairobi opened the new academic and formation year with
27 students of 15 countries from Africa, Europe and America. All of them pursue their studies in Tangaza College and care for their pastoral training offering their services on weekends in parishes(Kariobangi and Ngong), slums (Korogocho, Kibera, Kwinda and Banglasdesh), in street children rehabilitation centres, and in Kamithi prison.

The new formation team is formed by Fr. Raphael Wokorach from Uganda, superior, and Fr. Giuseppe Giannini from Italy.

NEW PEOPLE MEDIA CENTRE (NPMC)

NPMC has been established to have a presence in media for Mission Animation in English Speaking Countries of Africa. Through its publications and digital media production, NPMC works to raise social awareness, explores issues of Justice and Peace, broaden the horizons of the Local Church and promote vocation for mission. The Centre is also playing an important role in the training of young media people.
For more information visit the web site at www.newpeople.co.ke. And “About New People Media Centre”

MISSIONARY REFLECTIONS  >>Click here to view the PDF content>>

Mission Reflections was started in 1993, the output bimonthly encounters of Comboni Missionaries at the time of the preparation of the first African Synod. When the Synod was over, the encounters continued and the publication of the reflections and contributions went on. In May 2007 number 27 of M.R was published.

COMMON GOOD, PARAMETER OF LEADERSHIP

The root cause of the post election violence in Kenya is the anomalous Constitution that vests all the powers in the President. The NARC was voted in to remedy and failed. Will the government of the Grand Coalition deliver the reform?

Elections in Kenya are often spoiled by acts of violence. Why? Which is the root of the problem? Is there any way out of the spiral of hurt and devastation? These are the question Missionary Reflection group tried to answer, under the guidance of Prof. Mudida Robert, in the last meeting of May 20th.

Power and land are the real issues.
The root of the problem is the anomalous Constitution of the country. All authority is vested in the President of the Republic. By his power of appointment and of land allocation he can apportion the riches of the country, he is able to buy the allegiance of sections of the people, when his government does not enjoy national popular support. The 40% of the economy of the country is controlled by the President who can handsomely reward his supporters and condemn the others to poverty and neglect.

The unequal distribution of riches,  the marginalisation of entire ethnic groups and regions, the failure to cater for the basic needs of the people are a time bomb due to explode any moment.  A country cannot go far with the 48% of the population condemned to live with less than one dollar a day, while a minister is rewarded with 500 dollars a day.  
The holders of power accuse tribalism as the source of the troubles and in strong words reject it.  It is their scapegoat. The same politicians practise it, rewarding the supporting ethnic groups with allotment of land, infrastructures and services while denying the same things to the opposing tribes.

The Constitution inherited at independence offered some forms of protection to the weaker groups of the population. One of them was “majimbo”, the devolution of power that could grant equal opportunities of development to all the regions and sections of the population. Subsequent constitutional amendments cancelled these forms and finally, 38 constitutional amendments later, the President of the Republic was granted “imperial powers” over the country and its people.

In 2002, the NARC government was enthusiastically voted in to reform the Constitution reducing the power of the President, in favour of a more democratic form of governance. It betrayed the expectations of the Nation and the monopoly of power remained the attribute of the President. In 2008 the government of the National Grand Coalition promised to deliver a new Constitution in one year time. Will it keep its commitment?  The groundwork for the reform has been done and the changes to be introduced have already been identified. It all depends on the political will of those who today detain power.

Meanwhile, waiting for the new Constitution, the people of Kenya are to look forward and walk the way to reconciliation and peace. The following steps have been presented as conducive to an effective process of reconciliation and peace.

Truth: people have the right to know what happened, by whom and why. Why are some politicians speaking of “amnesty”, without any commitment to justice and to the situation of the people?  South Africa, on the way out of apartheid, devised a system to reach the truth and the system worked. Kenya could do equally well.

Mercy:  people, knowing the truth, are ready to forgive. But if the causes are not acknowledged and removed, the conflict may easily erupt again, as past experiences prove. The present policy of repatriation of the Internally Displaced Persons is strewn with difficulties and dangers just because the problem at the root of all is not yet being addressed.

Justice: the wrongs of the past are to be righted. But the impression is that an attitude of throwing a “merciful blanket” on the events and their perpetrators might prevail, foiling the search for justice. Proper system of devolution of power to the regions and addressing the basic needs of the people are the key elements for removing the roots of inequalities and violence. Only the enactment of a new Constitution could achieve it. The present government pledged to give it in one year’s time. It is perfectly feasible by making good use of the groundwork already done. Public opinion is to put pressure on the politicians not to renege on their commitment. 
The proposed introduction of the course of “Civic Education” in the classrooms, does not achieve its aim without the involvement of the family. At home the new generation receive the seeds of prejudices and discriminatory attitudes. Reciprocity and respect among the groups are to prevail.

PEACE:  The peace we need is not simply the absence of war, the removal of fear of violence. This is the negative aspect of peace. It is healing, reconciliation and justice. The positive search of peace asks also for the political reforms that foster better standards of living for all.

Working for the positive peace, healing and reconciliation among the peoples is the commitment of all. Meeting the basic needs of the people and thinking in terms of “common good” as the parameter of leadership are the duty of the rulers and administrators. With the collaboration of good citizens and the honest work of good leaders, PEACE will prevail.
Jb. A.

Nairobi, May 20th 2008.