REFLECTIONS OF A KENYAN PRIEST

By Fr. Casmir Odundo Believe it or not, for most people today including many Christians, The word "crucifixion" means little today other than to turn our thoughts to Jesus.   This is perhaps because we Christians have grown too familiar with the cross of Jesus, with the crucifix that we've sanitized it, tamed it, domesticated it,   probably because we have become overly familiar with it as we wear it on our bodies round our necks, on our clothes as jewellery, have it as an ornament, part of the furniture in our homes. Perhaps we've blunted and dulled the force of the crucifix. This Friday, being a Good Friday, when we venerate the cross in all our Churches, we have an opportunity to meditate and reflect deeply on it. We need to look at it again to grasp all its sordid horror and butchery. See it for what it really was. A disgrace and shame it was. it is only then, that we can appreciate what it is and it means for our Christian lives. Etymology T...

Dear Francis,* It feels nice to no longer call you a deacon, i.e. a servant, but a friend, a brother priest and a co-worker in the vineyard of the Lord. (Cf. John 15:15). I hope you will forgive me for missing your priestly ordination. But as I told you, I was with you in spirit and I placed you on the Paten that day during Holy Mass. I thank God for calling you into His service. I know that you will realize as you celebrate Mass during the Easter Vigil that indeed, the Lord has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. (I Pet 2:9). Thanks to you too for responding to God’s Call. It is a sign as Pope Francis wrote in his Letter to Priests last year , “ that in a society and culture that glorifies the ephemeral, there are still people unafraid to make lifelong promises.” “ Priesthood, ” as St. Josemaria Escriva always insisted, “is the greatest thing.” Please try your best with the grace of God to guard it jealously and zealously. Thank you for yo...

By Fr. Casmir Odundo Who Exactly was Judas Iscariot? Friends, we are within Holy Week, when we re-live the Passion of Our Lord and His last moments here on earth. One of the notable figures from these days is Judas Iscariot: The Apostle who betrayed the Lord. Background The name Judas (Ioudas) is the Greek form of Judah (Hebrew "praised"), a proper name frequently found both in the Old and the New Testament. Two among the disciples of Christ bore the name. The surname Iscariot denotes the city where he came from i.e   Kerioth" or Carioth, which is a city of Judah (cf. Joshua 15:25)]. Very little is told us in the Sacred Text concerning the history of Judas Iscariot beyond the bare facts of his call to the Apostolate, his betrayal, and his death. His birthplace, as we have seen, is indicated in his name Iscariot, and it may be remarked that his origin separates him from the other Apostles, who were all Galileans. For Kerioth is a city of Judah. ...

 Fr. Casmir Odundo  Early Years Bishop Raphael Simon Ndingi Mwana a’ Nzeki was born in Mwala Division of Machakos District on Christmas day, 25th December 1931.   Being the last born in a family of 5 children of Mzee Ngila Nzeki and Mama Maria Muthoki.  He attended local schools at Minyanyani, Kabaa and Etikoni. In 1946, he was admitted in the Minor Seminary in Kabaa where he studied Form One and Two before proceeding to Kilimambogo Teachers College for a further two years (1948 – 1950) from where he graduated as a P3 teacher.    As a teacher, he taught in the newly opened Minor Seminary in Kiserian under Nairobi Archdiocese. From 1953 to 1956, he studied philosophy in Tanganyika (Kibosho Senior Seminary – in Moshi) and later in Morogoro Senior Seminary for Theological studies.   These were in preparation to Priesthood. He was ordained a Priest at Kabaa Parish on the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, on 1st January 1961 by Arc...