ROME, 28 (NE) Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, consecrated on March 18 and 20 three new Bishops in Nairobi and Lodwar, Kenya, two of them born in this country and the other a missionary. "This is certainly a motive of joy for the Church in Kenya, indeed for the universal Church," Cardinal Tomko said in his homily on March 18 in Nairobi, as Fides informed in its last issue.

    The Vatican Cardinal recalled as well the important duties and responsibilities of Bishops, stressing the active life of the Church in Kenya. The Church in Nairobi, a city with 1 million Catholics from a total population of 4 million, is very active in pastoral and social activities and is one of the few dioceses in Africa which can rely on a sizeable number of clergy, religious and committed lay Catholics.

    Among current challenges, Cardinal Tomko highlighted as a major priority pastoral formation in the faith for all ages. It is also necessary, he further emphasized, that the diocesan community grows "in missionary spirit because, while in Nairobi there are many pastoral workers, elsewhere in Kenya and in the rest of Africa there are dioceses and peoples in urgent need of apostolic personnel."

    The Cardinal Prefect ended his homily recalling that the fundamental vocation of a Bishop is to "love his flock and to spread love, reconciliation, harmony, forgiveness and solidarity. The Bishop is a man of God who lives for others!"