REFLECTIONS OF A KENYAN PRIEST

THE 17 TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME:  MUCH IN LITTLE By Rev. Fr. Casmir Odundo One of the earliest schools in our diocese (Nakuru, Kenya) is St. Xavier’s School. Today, it is a collection of three schools: Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary. While the three schools are now managed separately, they still hold on to some common elements. All of them put on the same uniform, are all catholic schools and have the same School motto.   The school(s) was originally associated with Goan Catholics; perhaps this explains the choice of its Patron Saint: St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit Missionary who preached in Goa, India. Among the many things that have always struck me about these schools is their motto: Much in Little. Perhaps the Motto was derived from the fact that the schools sit on a relatively small piece of land (as compared to other pre-independent schools). And so, Much is accomplished In Little acreage. Much In Little. Our readings today, speak of this Much in Li

THE 16 TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME By Rev. Fr. Casmir Odundo The Classical Movie Sister Act 1 ends with Whoopi Goldberg conducting a choir of nuns singing the beautiful melody “ I will follow Him” to a packed audience in a church where the Pope was among those   present. The beautiful lyrics of the song I will follow him, are as follows: I will follow him Follow him wherever he may go And near him I always will be For nothing can keep me away He is my destiny. I will follow him Ever since he touched my heart I knew There isn't an ocean too deep A mountain so high it can keep Keep me away Away from his love (I love him) Oh yes I love him (I'll follow) I'm gonna follow True love, he'll always be my true love (Forever) From now until forever I love him, I love him, I love him And where he goes I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow He'll always be my true love, my true love, my true love From

HOMILY THE 15 TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME By Fr. Casmir Odundo One of the things that has remained with me from the Philosophical hermeneutics classes that I attended in the seminary, (as a philosophical student) now over 6 years ago is an aspect called Logos Apophantikos.   Logos Apophantikos   is a concept introduced by Aristotle but interpreted and elaborated by the existentialist Martin Heidegger. Logos Apophantikos simply put relates to “ pointing out and later being seen ,” more of “ bringing out ”. Let me explain by way of example: The different things we see today, the skyscrapers, the tables, the different car models etc. They first existed in someone’s mind before they were translated into reality. A statue first existed into a sculptors mind before he brought it out to exist in reality. Similarly, one may have good ideas but unless he or she brings them out…they remain just ideas. Simply put, it is like the transfer from the theoretical to the practical.

MASS: TIME FOR SILENCE By Rev. Fr. Casmir Odundo We live in a world filled with pleasant and unpleasant sounds. From the barking of dogs, the bleating of goats, trumpeting of elephants, hooting of cars, buzzing of the mobile phones, clangor of hammers, shuffling of feet, to the zooming of aero planes one cannot fail to conclude that our world is a noisy world. Sometimes, man, whether he is aware of it or not craves for some sense of serenity, some sense of silence. To others of course, because they have been so used to noise, the word silence itself makes them uncomfortable. The brief moments  of silence during mass and other liturgical celebrations may  for many people may be the longest they will experience all week, given so many busy and hectic (and even chaotic) schedules of the week. In the First Books of Kings, we read about the experience of the Prophet Elijah: The Lord said to Elijah "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord."

THE OFFERTORY PROCESSION By Rev. Fr. Casmir Odundo In many Catholic Churches in our country, I have observed that during preparation of the offerings, the Procession of the faithful, with the gifts of bread, wine, water as well as the monetary offerings (especially on Sunday Masses) is gradually being omitted. In other places, where it is practiced, its significance is sometimes overlooked. It is fitting to note that, strictly speaking there are 4 major processions in Mass: 1.       During the Entrance, where the priest(s) going with the deacon(s) and ministers process to the altar 2.       During the Gospel Acclamation or Alleluia where the deacon carrying the Book of the Gospels processes to the ambo before the proclamation of the Gospel; 3.       Procession of the faithful presenting the gifts 4.        Procession Faithful coming forward to receive Communion. The General Instructions of the Roman Missal instructs that these four processions, “ be carr