2015-07-01 11:53:00

Pastoral care for migrants and itinerants in Kenya


The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Seafarers, has taken up the duty to educate chaplains and pastoral agents about the reality of refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, Internally Displaced People and stateless persons in Kenya.

In his opening remarks at a workshop on pastoral care for itinerant people on 30 June 2015 at Rosa Mystica Centre in Nairobi, the Bishop of Garissa and Chairman of the Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Seafarers, Joseph Allesandro said special concern should be shown for those among the faithful who, on account of their way of life, cannot sufficiently make use of the common and ordinary pastoral care of parish priests or are cut off from it.

Bishop Allesandro said “suitable pastoral methods should also be promoted to sustain the spiritual life of those who go to other lands for a time for the sake of recreation” quoting (Christus Domini, Decree of the II Vatican Council 1965 n. 18)

The Bishop called upon pastoral agents drawn from different dioceses in Kenya to pay special attention to migrants and their families by accompanying them with prayer, solidarity and Christian charity. He encouraged participants at the workshop to enhance activities that are reciprocally enriching to host communities and migrants themselves. The Bishop further called for the fostering of new political, economic and social planning that promotes respect for the dignity of every human person, the safeguarding of the family, access to dignified housing, work and to welfare.

The Bishop Chair for the Commission, challenged pastoral agents to help long haul truck drivers and to sensitise them to observe the ethics and responsibilities of their profession with the view of reducing road accidents.

Bishop Alessandro commended those who all over the world have taken keen interest in migrants, exiles and refugees, seafarers, air-travelers, Roma gypsies and others. According friendship, a welcoming hand, spiritual and material care to those that desperately need it is a rich and deep Christian tenet, the Bishop emphasised.

The one week Kenyan workshop aims at finding ways of giving the best pastoral care services to all the Itinerant people.

(By Rose Achiego)

e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va








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