Fr. Peter Karanja ordained priest in his home parish
Deacon Peter Karanja Kinyanjui was ordained a priest on Thursday 23 March, in his home parish, Nativity of the Lord Parish, Kagwe, in the Archdiocese of Nairobi. The Mass was presided over by His Excellency Mgr. David Kamau, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Nairobi and a friend of the Congregation.
Not because he is the best
In his homily the bishop explained to the new priest and to those present the different roles of a priest, stressing that he has been called from among the people to be an apostle and a blessing for the people — not because he is the best, but because the priesthood is a grace and a gift of God.
He also told him to stay bound to the Blessed Virgin Mary for faithfulness to his call and to his ministry as a priest. Without a close bond with Christ, the bishop insisted, our priesthood will lack meaning and even roots.
Quoting Fulton Sheen, Bishop Kamau invited the new priest to read the crosses and difficulties he may meet in his priesthood as a sacrifice offered to God, using them for his own salvation and for that of the people he will serve, uniting them to the sacrifice of Christ.
Mgr. Kamau thanked Peter’s parents for the gift of their son to the Congregation and to the Church. He also thanked the Sons of Divine Providence for deciding to hold the ordination in Peter Karanja’s home parish, as a way of vocational animation and of gratitude.
Many faithful from our Orionine parishes of Kandisi and Kaburugi, where Fr. Peter Karanja worked as a cleric, took part in the colourful celebration, together with many Orionine religious and priests, the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity and other priests of the archdiocese and of other congregations. God bless Kenya.
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