Ngong Deanery mass whose theme for the year 2018 was ‘Fathers celebrating the gift of the youth in the family’, was successfully held at St Anne Parish, Kibiko on Saturday, 22nd September 2018.
His Lordship Bishop John Oballa Owaa was present in the annual occasion as the main celebrant. Other clergy present were
the Diocesan Chaplain Rev Fr Boniface Mukwe, the parish priest, Rev Fr Thomas Akello Wanangwe and his two helpers. Also in attendance were deacon John Mutua From St Mary’s Ongata Rongai.
The attendance was lower than that held in 2017at Embulbul, and two hundred and fourty two (242) men registered attendance. Two Parishes, namely Fatima and Ewuaso Kedong, were however not represented in spite of there being ongoing classes for commissioning. The sole member from Magadi was celebrated for his effort in attending on behalf of the Parish.
In the homily the Bishop said that men are chosen to celebrate children as a gift to the family and not to allow Satan to enter. He also asked men to teach the youth by example and to become sowers of good seed in their families. He also said that, so long as the man is in the family no one could take away anything from it. He therefore asked us to play our God given role effectively. The Bishop also said that men were becoming more (active) in the church and he was happy. He acknowledged that men brave many burdens and blessed the congregants’ efforts and work of their hands in time of happiness and sadness. He also asked men to lead their families with humility and patience.
There was a brief introduction to Waumini SACCO where men were asked to join either as individuals, groups or corporate members in order to improve their livelihoods through their businesses and by taking loans three to five times their savings after six months.
The Parish CMA Chairman, in his speech, said that he was very happy since that this was the first major event in the church since its inception as a Parish six years ago.
The Deanery chairman introduced Deanery members present and urged members to appeal to men that the boy child throughout Kenya had been neglected that we should put in place plans take care of the boy child
The Diocesan chairman brought out the matter of the Bishops fence project and asked men to contribute to the project as a way of taking care of our shepherd. He reiterated that at the time Watakatifu Wote Center (WWS) was formed the upper side of the centre was a forest but now occupied and therefore required a more substantive fence, as the one existing was very dilapidated.
The next meeting on the fence was due to be held on Saturday, 29th September 2018
He also brought to the attention of those present that there was land at Emakoko available, purchased by CMA from Ongata Rongai, and had been given to diocesan CMA to develop. He suggested that it be used for developing the boy child in line with the Deanery Chairman’s speech. Towards this end a working group would be selected to start looking into issues surrounding this.
CMA Calendar Dates that are important to remember are Night vigil on Friday 9th November 2018 at Resurrection Garden, and the Diocesan Mass at Ngong Cathedral on 10th November 2018
In his speech, the Diocesan CMA Chaplain Rev Fr Boniface Mukwe asked men not to neglect their spiritual life as this brought them closer to God, by participating in various CMA activities at every level and take part in recollections retreats and confession. He made special mention of Nkoroi Parish who had taken part in all recent activities including National Prayer day at Eldoret, on Saturday, 8th September 2018 and Ngong Deanery retreat at Komarock Shrine that took place on 15th September 2018.
He reminded the participants that the next events in the diocese were the Diocesan mass on 11th November 2018 and the Family Day on 1st December 2018
It was declarered that next years Ngong deanery mass shall be held at Nkoroi parish.
After a well cooked lunch the congregants left at their own pleasure
