Kenya officially launches Year of Mercy

Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Chairman Bishop  Philip Anyolo has launched the Jubilee Year of Mercy at the Kenya Catholic Secretariat on 10 December 2015, two days after Pope Francis opened the Jubilee Year of Mercy in Rome at St. Peter’s Basilica.

During the staff weekly celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Bishop Anyolo who is the Bishop of Homabay expressed gratitude to the Holy Father, Pope Francis for declaring the Year of Mercy calling on the faithful to reflect, open their hearts and let Jesus Christ in their lives.

“Let us serve the Lord with one heart, one spirit and with the understanding that our God is merciful and he comes with a lot of mercy and wants us to unite”. The Bishop said.

In his Homily at the Catholic Secretariat launch, the Bishop of Marsabit, Peter Kihara said that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had given permission for dioceses all over the world, that feel that their faithful live far from the Cathedral to have some shrines and some parishes designated as Holy Doors. These doors need to be of shrines or Churches with some particular relevance. It is an opportunity that the Bishop of Marsabit intends to utilise fully due to distance and pastoral challenges in Marsabit.

During this Jubilee Year, the faithful are called to repentance and given the opportunity to experience God’s mercy and grace through Sacraments such as the Sacrament of Confession. The faithful will receive indulgences and blessings focusing particularly on God's forgiveness and mercy. 

(By Rose Achiego in Nairobi)