Newsbyte from the Philothea Missionaries
18th October 2009, the Mission Sunday, was a day of special grace for the Philothea Missionaries. Seven men and women committed themselves as members of the Philothea Missionary Society to serve as missionaries in the Church. The celebration took place at Saint Mary’s Church in Kiserian and later the lunch and felicitations at the philothea Centre. The Holy Mass was presided over by Fr. Maurice Makumba Muhatia (now the Bishop-elect of the Nakuru Diocese), with Fr. P.L. Joseph, the Provincial Superior of the Salesians of Don Bosco and other priests concelebrating. Trusting in the intercession of the Holy Virgin Mary Help of Christians, of St. Francis de Sales, of Archangels St. Michael and St. Gabriel, St. Jane de Chantal, St. John Bosco, and the guardian angels, these missionaries promised to devote their life and strength to this evangelical project of God.
What do these people do after their commitment? The Philothea missionaries are engaged in various apostolic works, both individually and as Ministry Teams. The Ministry Teams are currently responsible for (i) Family pastoral ministry, (ii) Youth pastoral ministry, (iii) Pastoral ministry to the sick, (iv) Ministry to the Professionals, (v) Catechetical ministry, and (vi) Liturgical Ministry (including vocation promotion). By organising and running various programmes, - which are open and draw from the wider group of lay faithful -, the members of the Ministry Teams carry out their mission. These ministries therefore form a vital part of the missionary commitment of every philothea, who at the same time is engaged in his/her professional duties and the life of the parish community. These could have marvellous impact on evangelization causing a type of ripple effect. Hence the importance and relevance of Philothea Missionaries dedicated to the Christian formation of the laity.
The 2009 Second African Synod took place in Rome on 4-25 October, 2009 on the theme, “The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace.” It has just been concluded. In the final message, the Synod Fathers underlined with firmness the importance of the lay faithful. The Fathers told the lay faithful: “Your are the Church of God out in the market places of society,” and continued: “It is in and through you that the life and witness of the Church are made visible to the world… This requires of you to allow your Christian faith to permeate every aspect and facet of your lives: in the family, at work, in the professions, in politics and public life.” The Synod Fathers emphasised the importance of grace received through prayer and sacraments to live such a life. They also clearly saw the importance of formation, knowledge of Christian faith, and the social doctrine of the Church (see, Message of the Bishops of Africa to the People of God, n. 22).
There is no doubt that the quality and efficacy of the Church’s mission in the modern world depend to a large extent on well-formed, knowledgeable and committed Catholic laity. That is where the Philothea Missionaries come in, with the ‘little’ that they are able to contribute towards the growth and well-being of the Church in Africa in the years ahead.
On the 25th of January we shall be celebrating the feast of Saint Francis de Sales our beloved patron saint, whose spirit is coming alive in us and through us. His spirit of love, concern for the holiness of all, commitment to acquiring knowledge, and living a relational spirituality continue to be our guiding forces. Father Maurice Makumba Muhatia (the Bishop-elect of Nakuru) is expected to grace the occasion and preside over the Holy Eucharist on that day. Then of course, a month later, on 27th of February all of us will be travelling to Nakuru to witness his Episcopal ordination and to pray for him with the rest of the community there. May God grant him the graces needed to carry out his ministry as a Shepherd of the Lord’s flock.Fr. George Kocholikal
