REFLECTIONS OF A KENYAN PRIEST

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 r...

"We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:14).   These are the words that came to my mind when I was told about the life of Fr. Michael Musyimi Mutuku, who passed away on the 18th of August 2023 and was buried yesterday, during the feast of St. Augustine at Katoloni in Machakos. I was not privileged to know Fr. Michael during his life. However, the testimonies I heard and read after his death really moved me. Fr. Michael was the only son of his family and he decided to become a priest. At the time of his joining the seminary, he was actually the breadwinner of his family. But he left all that and joined the seminary. He actually received his vocation when he was at the University of Nairobi. Back then, unlike today, very few students would make it to the university and Michael was among them. At the University of Nairobi, and at St. Paul's chaplaincy, he was known as a talented musicia...

By Fr. Casmir Odundo The surname "Rugambwa" is very famous within Catholic circles. This is because it belonged to the late Laurean Cardinal Rugambwa, the first African Cardinal. He was created a cardinal on March 28, 1960, by Pope John XXIII at the age of 47. Cardinal Rugambwa's contributions to the Vatican II Council from 1962-1965 are considered to be one of the most significant by an African prelate. He was praised for his fluency in multiple languages, including Italian, French, German, Swahili, Luanda, English, and Latin. Later, he became the Archbishop of Dar Salaam after moving from Bukoba. Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa died on December 8, 1997, on the Feast of Our Lady, whom he was deeply devoted to.  Laurean Cardinal Rugambwa: First African Cardinal According to Bishop Method Kilaini, the name "Rugambwa" signifies an individual with an esteemed reputation. They say that give a child a name, and he will live up to it.  In Tanzania, there are two other prel...

By Fr. Casmir Odundo The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the  Lord  has this been done; a marvel in our eyes. (Psalm 118: 22-24) The decision of Pope Francis to name Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Juba, South Sudan, as a Cardinal Last Sunday (5th July 2023), along with 20 others, could be Pope Francis' way of sending a message to the Church regarding the tribal politics that sometimes find their way into the Church. This follows the elevation of Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke to Cardinal, who had also undergone similar tribulations when he was appointed Bishop of Ahira diocese .  When Pope Francis appointed Bishop Ameyu as the Archbishop of Juba, there was contestation from a few individuals who wrote a letter stating , " Under no conditions will Bishop Ameyu be accepted to serve as Archbishop of Juba. " To make their case weighty, the letter also included false allegations to tarnish the Archbishop's name. However, as in the diocese ...

By Fr. Casmir Odundo Mons. Cleophas Oseso From today, throughout the 18,149 square kilometres of Nakuru diocese, in all masses every day, all priests and bishops will be mentioning in the Eucharistic prayer, ' With Your servant Francis, our Pope, and Cleophas, our bishop'. I suppose I was too young to remember whether Bishop Ndingi was ever mentioned in the Eucharistic prayer, even though he must have been. However, I do remember Bishop Kairo's name being mentioned, and later during the transition, Bishop Anyolo's, and finally Bishop Maurice's, whom I personally mentioned until I left Nakuru for a while for further studies. At times, I can't help but think that bishops are fortunate because they are remembered in every mass. However, I also recognize that it's a tradition that dates back to the early Christian centuries, when the names of the bishops were included in the Eucharistic prayer. That's why in the Roman canon, we still have some names of the b...

By Fr. Casmir Odundo  I remember fondly in late March 2005, I was a form two (High School) student at St. Joseph’s Junior Seminary Molo, Kenya. We had by then closed school for the Easter and April holidays. Then suddenly it was announced that Pope John Paul II, had taken ill and was very sick. I remember watching on TV how the pilgrims kept vigil at St. Peter’s Square praying for the Pope. He was the only Pope many people had known  and so there was uncertainty of what the future would be like without him. Who could succeed such a great Pope?  On 3rd of April 2005, my mother woke me up to the news that John Paul II had died the previous day. I remember watching the announcement and I recall the spontaneous applause that followed. “Why are they clapping at such sad news?” I wondered. But the commentator on TV was gracious enough to explain that it is part of Italian tradition.  Then followed the requiem Mass on 8th April 2005, which I followed from the beginning to t...

By Fr. Casmir Odundo Benedict XVI and Card. Njue   Unlike his immediate predecessor and his immediate successor, Pope Benedict XVI did not get the opportunity to visit Kenya during his Pontificate. We know that St. John Paul II, “The Pilgrim Pope'' the predecessor of Pope Benedict XVI, made 104 foreign trips in his long pontificate that included three visits to Kenya, in May 1980, August 1985 and in September 1995. Pope Francis, the successor of Pope Benedict XVI made Kenya the first African country he visited in November 2015.  However, as a cardinal and head of the then Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (future Benedict XVI)  was part of the delegation that accompanied Pope John Paul II to Nairobi, Kenya during the promulgation of the Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia in Africa in September 1995 . Again, while he did not make a pastoral visit to Kenya during his Pontificate,  Pope Benedict XVI made two Apostolic trips to ...