Kenyan Catholics Urged to Bring Hope through Responsibility and Dependability at Closing Jubilee Year Mass

Bungoma, 11 December, 2025 / 2:30 AM

The Bishop of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Bungoma has called on Kenyans to be  “pilgrims of hope” through responsibility and dependability in their families, villages, Small Christian Communities (SCCs), and the wider Church.

In his Wednesday, December 10 homily at the closing of the Misikhu Deanery Church’s Jubilee year celebrations, Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya noted that true Christian hope is made visible through action despite the challenges. 

“We should be people who are responsible in our work.We must carry out our responsibility if you want to be a person who brings hope to others.That you fulfill your work without thinking that there is something else that will make you fail to work. Sometimes there is hunger, or other challenges, even if people are not good, you fulfil your work,” Bishop Kadima said at the closing Jubilee Year mass, which was held at Misikhu Parish in his Episcopal see.

“That is hope: do your work without complaining that you are tired, it is far, you have not eaten, people are difficult,” he added.

Bishop Kadima urged the faithful to entrust their struggles, including sickness and other difficulties, to God, assuring them that “He is there all the time.”

The Bishop encouraged Kenyans to be fully present in their duties for hope to take root, saying, “ Be there at your work, at your duty, at your responsibility.”

He noted that challenges are normal in life, urging people to embrace them at all times because “There is no place where everything is perfect.”

“There will be no day when you will not be sick, or you will not be discouraged, or you will have everything. Continue working hard; do not lose the desire to work. That is what brings hope,” he said.

Bishop Kadima also emphasized dependability as a key pillar of hope in the Christian community, urging the faithful to support one another consistently, both in good and bad times.

“Carry the burdens of others; be there to carry your brother’s or sister’s load; that is what brings hope. Be a dependable person. There are people you live with who, when you lose your job, disappear,” he said.

The Catholic Bishop cautioned against behaviors that undermine hope and trust, calling on the people of God to remain true to one another in all circumstances.

“Be a person who can be relied on in good and in bad. Continue carrying the burden so that friendship does not end because there is no payment. We should not be calculating people. Be depended on at all times, people who can be trusted, who can be relied on. Some people have too much lying, too much gossip, quarrels, you cannot be relied on. You destroy hope,” he said.