I am a Gift from God to God

Sister with Isaac and Nicholas

October recollection was about recognition of our being as a gift that comes from with it is purposeful end being in God.  Sr. led us to first answer the question, who am I? As Paul puts it “we are his hand-work, created in Christ Jesus for the good work that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.”(Ephesians 2:10). God created us to be a gift to one another, that despite ourselves being gifts He also endowed us with other gifts within us to share them out. These are different from one another “and he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers.”  Quoting one of the writers that, “a personhood is not accomplishment, is a gift.” Sr. continued that my presence to one another is the greatest gift ever to others. This gift means what one gives expecting no return, and this mostly is a gift of self. Smile in my face communicates love to the other person and yet it does not cost material things. According to Ignatius we ought to experience God in all , this leads me in sharing my gift because I will realise that am sharing it with God in all. Drawing from St Teresa of Calcutta, we cannot give what we do not have, therefore I can only share my gift by realising how am gifted.

The second session was to help us realise our sinful nature and God’s Love. That as human there is no doubt that we are sinners but the most important knows that I am a Beloved Sinner who is invited by the Merciful Father for repentance. If my gift is used in works of charity my sinners are remitted, because is by grace that we have faith. (Eph 2:8-9) one repentant soul brings joy in God’s house, therefore we should have the attitude of the tax collector towards our sinful nature “O God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13); and not like the Pharisees attitude of self praise and comparison. Lastly, she invited us to conceal our sins because through confession we find God’s mercy (Proverbs 28:13), and be ready to approach one another to ask for reconciliation in order to create a peaceful and joyous community with ability of sharing our gifts because we are gifts from God called by our way of life to be gifts to others. The facilitator called us to have hope because it helps us not only to see the sin we are in today but that we will be washed from it by God’s mercy.

Texts of reflection; Psalm 139, Ex 34:5-7, James 1:16-17, Jn 3:16, 14:6,10:1-11,Rm 12:3-17, Lk 23:39-43 and Jn 8:3-11.

By Gabriel Ouma

PCJ Social Evening

The PCJ Social evening is a time when all the candidates from the different congregations gather to have a family-time. The event is graced by presentations from the different religious congregations accompanied with dancing, eating, drinking and socializing.

Technology, A Window of Opportunities or Liabilities?

The globe now has become a village; communication can be done in every angle. Everybody is moving towards ‘digitalisation’ that is the common term used to those who have access to digital phone and if you’re lucky you get an i-pad. Market has been made stress-free everywhere and in everything you need is just a matter of ‘googling’ and everything is just right in front of you. Transport reservation has its share also in technology through advertisement of the services the company offers. Therefore, from your house, you could secure for yourself a ticket online and there is not much movement from the house to the station. The Word of God has also been transferred to many generations through technology and many have seen the great work of the Lord. The big question is, is technology a liability or a resource? This question may seem to be tranquil but is of very big importance. Look at the children who are exposed to many things at a younger age making them unable to concentrate on what they are supposed to do. When the parents try to intervene, they are called ‘analogues,’ meaning they are still antiquated and they know nothing about technology.

Young people are misusing their school fees in buying a gadget which will help them to bond with the world, however, the connection is doubtful instead of doing research in studies; they search for friends and the more the friends one has the more he/she becomes popular. Morality is deteriorating in the society because of technology people are becoming indolent and some are unable even to calculate even a simple mathematical calculation 78/2=? One has to look for a calculator to get the answer. There are many diseases which have emerged because people are not exercising their bodies. After a heavy meal, one goes to sleep and the fats accumulate in the body blocking the flow of blood. Exercises help in burning of fats and make one relaxed and able to overcome syndromes associated with restfulness. If we proceed with moderation technology will be of great help and no matter how good it is if not regulated the world will be more confused in times to come.

Wachira Peter

Our Support Staff

From Left to Right: Judie, Nalongo, Maggie, Ssenga, Sam, Matthias and Mike

We are grateful to our support staff for the love, care and services rendered to us. This ranges from preparing our meals, to keeping the compound clean, helping with the animal farm, and repairing and helping in the shopping of stuffs. They add to the joy in Lavigerie House and without them, not everything would be moving on well. We thank the Lord for the gift of this part of the Lavigerie family. May God continue blessing the hand of your works.