“I said to myself, ‘here is a missionary spirit, ready to throw deep, ready to be sent wherever and to whomever for the salvation of souls, for the kingdom of God’,” the Kenyan Bishop said about the young Priest who had expressed joy at being sent to work in the South Asian country where 96.47 percent of the population are Muslim and only 1.9 percent are Christian.
He said that the late Fr. John Anthony Kaiser, a Mill Hill missionary murdered in Kenya, and whose 25th death anniversary was marked on August 23, provides a good example of the readiness of members of the Congregation to pay the ultimate price for the salvation of souls.
Bishop Oballa said, in reference to the American-born member who served in the Diocese of Ngong until his death, “Missionary work confronted him with situations of injustice, of exploitation, of abuse, and he would not stand and watch. That cost him his life.”
According to him, missionary work demands sacrifice. He said, “Some of the terrain can be pretty hostile, can be oppressive, can be unjust, and yet the work of Christ has to be done in obedience to His commands.”
“Missionary experience exposes one to all sorts of terrain,” he said.
The Bishop of Ngong since his Episcopal Consecration in April 2012 encouraged missionaries choosing to serve in hostile environments to rely on divine protection, saying, “Always remember that even if the nets should break, no fish will escape because the Lord himself will preserve his own amid persecutions.”
“And if in the process of witnessing to his gospel you lose your life, know that you will find it. Because that is the logic of the Gospel. Whoever loses his life will find it. Whoever denies himself (will) not have to end up in physical death will find his life,” Bishop Oballa said.
Lauding the nine MHM members who were ordained Deacons for having been found “worthy”, the Bishop said, “You have been found serious and dignified, that you are honest men, not deceitful, and not addicted to drink.”
“You have been tested and found worthy, not to be greedy for money…whatever you do, that you will carry out the mission of Christ without asking what material gain… have been found to be above that,” he said.
In his homily, the Kenyan Catholic Bishop urged the Deacons-elect to be faithful to prayer life from where he said they would draw strength to serve amid difficulties.
