CISA NEWS REPORT:
NAIROBI, September 7, 2012 (CISA) -Thousands of Catholics on September 6 converged at Nairobi’s Holy Family Minor Basilica to mark the 9th anniversary on Maurice Cardinal Otunga’s death.
The Cardinal, who died in September 2003 aged 80 years, had served the Church for over fifty years as ordained priest and 25 years as a cardinal.
In a homily, Bishop Philip Anyolo, who represented John Cardinal Njue at the memorial Mass described Cardinal Otunga as dedicated man in the service of God.
He urged the faithful to emulate him.
“He always described himself as a servant of servants and served God with humility and obedience,” said Bishop Anyolo, of Home Bay Diocese and Vice Chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.
He also commended the Church tribunal, charged with the work on the current beatification process on Cardinal Otunga, now referred to as Servant of God.
Addressing the congregation, Vice-Postulator for Cardinal Otunga’s beatification process, Brother Reginald Cruz said the tribunal was likely to wind up its Diocesan Phase work on the beatification process either December this year or early next year, 2013.
“We hope by then we shall have finished our assignment. After this we shall hand in our report to Rome, where the Second Phase of the process, Roman Phase will commence,” he explained.
He said so far the tribunal, appointed last year by John Cardinal Njue has visited several places in the dioceses of Kisii, Bungoma, Mombasa, Kakamega, Military Ordinariate and Nairobi.
“We have collected more than sixty testimonies and we plan to reach about 100 by the time we wind up our work,” added Brother Crux at a press briefing after the memorial Mass.
After the Mass, Bishop Anyolo delivered a lecture on Cardinal Otunga in the Basilica’s Hall under the theme: Humility/Obedience of Servant of God Cardinal Otunga.
He underlined the centrality of prayers in the current beatification process on Cardinal Otunga.
“We are being asked to offer prayers and give testimonies on what we knew about this servant of God,” he emphasized.
The talk was followed by a funds drive for Cardinal Otunga Scholarship fund for the poor and needy students, studying at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
A total of Ksh 2.2 million was raised, which will go into supporting 20 poor and needy students.
The Guest of Honor at the funds drive was Joseph Karanja, a businessman in Nairobi, who together with his friends donated Kshs 500,000.
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The Cardinal, who died in September 2003 aged 80 years, had served the Church for over fifty years as ordained priest and 25 years as a cardinal.
In a homily, Bishop Philip Anyolo, who represented John Cardinal Njue at the memorial Mass described Cardinal Otunga as dedicated man in the service of God.
He urged the faithful to emulate him.
“He always described himself as a servant of servants and served God with humility and obedience,” said Bishop Anyolo, of Home Bay Diocese and Vice Chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.
He also commended the Church tribunal, charged with the work on the current beatification process on Cardinal Otunga, now referred to as Servant of God.
Addressing the congregation, Vice-Postulator for Cardinal Otunga’s beatification process, Brother Reginald Cruz said the tribunal was likely to wind up its Diocesan Phase work on the beatification process either December this year or early next year, 2013.
“We hope by then we shall have finished our assignment. After this we shall hand in our report to Rome, where the Second Phase of the process, Roman Phase will commence,” he explained.
He said so far the tribunal, appointed last year by John Cardinal Njue has visited several places in the dioceses of Kisii, Bungoma, Mombasa, Kakamega, Military Ordinariate and Nairobi.
“We have collected more than sixty testimonies and we plan to reach about 100 by the time we wind up our work,” added Brother Crux at a press briefing after the memorial Mass.
After the Mass, Bishop Anyolo delivered a lecture on Cardinal Otunga in the Basilica’s Hall under the theme: Humility/Obedience of Servant of God Cardinal Otunga.
He underlined the centrality of prayers in the current beatification process on Cardinal Otunga.
“We are being asked to offer prayers and give testimonies on what we knew about this servant of God,” he emphasized.
The talk was followed by a funds drive for Cardinal Otunga Scholarship fund for the poor and needy students, studying at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
A total of Ksh 2.2 million was raised, which will go into supporting 20 poor and needy students.
The Guest of Honor at the funds drive was Joseph Karanja, a businessman in Nairobi, who together with his friends donated Kshs 500,000.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS
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