Remarks · 12 October 2024
Your Excellency, Rt. Rev. Msgr Hubertus Van Megen (the Pope's representative to Kenya), Your Eminence John Cardinal Njue, Your Graces /My Lord Bishops, Members of the Clergy, Religious Brothers and Sisters,
It is a great honour to be with you today as we gather to take part in a momentous event which underscores the profound role of faith, faith-based leadership and faith-based organisations in fostering ethics and integrity in national service. This event also underlines the role of faith in strengthening patriotism, deepening national unity and mobilising citizens to selflessly undertake good causes.
For this reason, the Episcopal Installation of the Rt. Rev. Wallace Ng'ang'a, as Bishop of the Catholic Military Ordinariate of Kenya, is more than a routine change of stewards; we are here to witness and celebrate the contribution of moral leadership in reinforcing the unity, resilience and strength of our defence forces.
We are also gathered here to affirm our confidence that, under Bishop Ng'ang'a's leadership, the Military Ordinariate will continue to provide our soldiers with essential spiritual support.
Recognising the high trust vested in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation and the significant physical, moral and personal challenges faced by our men and women in uniform in fulfilling this mission, we cannot deny or underestimate faith as a critical source of strength, pillar of motivation and basis of enduring resilience. Our presence at Bishop Ng'ang'a’s installation underscores our commitment to support the Forces in every way, including the provision of spiritual and pastoral sustenance necessary for their well-being.
In Kenya, we acknowledge the supremacy of the almighty God of all creation and, therefore, the recognition that protection of the freedom of worship is a fundamental constitutional guarantee. Like sunlight or air, this right, like other fundamental rights and freedoms, is freely available to all, including those serving in our Defence Forces. Every soldier’s right to practice their faith can only enable the KDF to maintain greater levels of discipline, not only because faith is an effective organising principle but also because we worship and serve a God who brings victory, abundance and success to our nation.
To ensure that our Defence Forces remain strong in every way, including physically and morally, faith-based support structures, like the Military Ordinariate, are critical in nurturing the values and organisational ethos that guide our soldiers. They allow our men and women in uniform to serve the nation bravely and with distinction while staying true to their beliefs.
We live in a highly dynamic world where our faith and moral values are under constant challenges from scepticism, moral relativism, religious extremism and terrorism. Our institutions, communities and nation have never required a solid ethical and spiritual foundation as they do today. Bishop Ng'ang'a’s strong spiritual leadership enables our soldiers to navigate these challenges guided by faith, integrity and service to a higher moral cause.
Throughout the life of our nation, the partnership between the State and religious institutions has been a cornerstone of our nation's strength. The Catholic Church is among the foremost of our partners and continues to complement national strategies to serve citizens in many sectors, including education, healthcare and the provision of psycho-social and pastoral services. Built on mutual respect, tolerance and moral uprightness, this partnership anchors our society. Today, we honour this enduring partnership and express our gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis for Bishop Ng'ang'a's appointment, which strengthens our military’s spiritual core.
Bishop Ng'ang'a: Receive my warmest congratulations and the best wishes of the government and people of Kenya. Your leadership will be vital in guiding those who defend our nation. I am confident that under your guidance, the Military Ordinariate will remain a source of strength for our brave men and women in uniform.
Even in this moment of celebration, let us take a moment to remember the many heroic men and women whose selflessness, courage and moral strength inspired them to dedicate their lives and work to the service of their motherland, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Let us honour their memory and gratefully acknowledge their contribution. May their example serve to inspire us to do more and better in the service of this country. May they rest in eternal peace, and may their families find comfort in our respectful recognition of their noble sacrifice and honourable service.
May the Almighty God bless our new bishop as he takes over the Ordinariate, and may God bless the Kenya Defence Forces and the Republic of Kenya. Thank You.