REFLECTIONS OF A KENYAN PRIEST

By Fr. Casmir Odundo Venerable Fulton Sheen As a historian and researcher of the Vatican II Council, I am always thrilled to study the debates of the Council Fathers. It was such an interesting period, bringing together the most influential figures of the 20th century. Imagine Cardinals: Spellman, Ottaviani, Frings, Bea, Laurent Rugambwa, Suenens, Döpfner, Maurin, König, Archbishop Helder Câmara, Luciani (later Blessed John Paul I,)  Montini later (St. Paul VI), Bishop Wojtyla later (St John Paul II), Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), our very own (later Cardinal) Bishop M. Otunga, Bishop Frederick Hall of Kisumu, Bishop De Reeper of Ngong’, Yves Congar, Henri de Lubac, Álvaro del Portillo, and yes, even Fulton Sheen (to mention but a few) — all under one roof discussing the challenges and potential solutions for the Church in the modern world. It was a council of the ‘who is who’ in the 20th century Church.  Having been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of New York on 28th May 1951

By Fr. Casmir Odundo I was then but a young colt,   A modest donkey, harbouring a million dreams untold, Nestled in the village, humble origins my hold,   I gazed at stallions, warriors bold, in admiration bold. They, akin to me, yet in beauty they surpass,   Graceful in battle's dance, while I, in shadow cast.   My dreams, to my parents, I did eagerly amass,   " Cease such thoughts ," they chided, " for we bear the burden's mast. Donkeys we are, destined to toil, not to bask in glory's light,   Our lot is of the earth, not the splendour of the knight."    Resigned, I embraced fate, though my heart yearned for flight,   But youth held a spark, a flicker in the night. Then, a Sunday came that would my destiny recast,   Two men, Apostles named, in our village amassed.   They untied me, despite protest, their intentions vast,   "The Master needs him," they declared, and my heart raced fast. To Jerusalem, they led, the city of kings,   A young vil