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Bishop Anthony Muheria of Kitui, Kenya visits Minnesota |
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By The Catholic Spirit
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Friday, 12 March 2010 |
Bishop Anthony Muheria, 46, of the diocese of Kitui, Kenya, came to visit the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in February. He visited parishes and schools, including St. Pius X in White Bear Lake and St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights. This is the fourth time someone from the Diocese of Kitui has come to this archdiocese since a partnership between the two dioceses was formed in 2004. In September 2009, a nine-member delegation from Kitui came for a visit.
Q: When the previous delegation came in the fall, there was a severe
drought in your region. How would you describe the water situation
today?
“First thing is good news. We were hoping to have good rains. And,
indeed, God was good to us. He blessed us a lot and we had very good
rains, maybe the best rains we have had in the last five years or six
years. At least, now we are able to harvest [crops], some we have
already harvested and some we are getting ready to harvest. So,
[rainfall] has been a great blessing.
“The situation now, I would say, is good because the rain came – and the
harvest. The challenge that has come with the harvest is the storage
[of harvested crops].”
Q: What is your school background and how did you become a priest?
“I studied at various schools in Kenya. I went to a high school that was
the best science school in the country. I count myself very blessed,
thanks to my parents encouraging us in education. They were both
teachers, so it was easy for them to instill in us the value of
education. I went to the university from there and studied until 1985.
“I went to work for four years with a good engineering design firm. I
was in charge of the supervision of construction. At that stage, I
started saying, ‘Well, why can’t that person who should be able to reach
out to all those persons [with the Gospel] be me?’ So, let me try out
whether that’s possible. I wrote to the bishop, the prelate of Opus Dei,
and he said to take my time. After my fourth year of work, I went to my
dad and told him, ‘Look, I think I made up my mind. I’m resigning and
going into the seminary.’ Of course, my dad couldn’t hear anything about
that – [he was] very upset. So, I resigned and I went to study in Rome
for my theology. I was ordained in Rome in 1993. Now, my dad is my
biggest fan. It was a work of grace.”
Q: How did you become a bishop?
“I went back to Kenya and worked for 10 years as a priest in various
groups, various ways. After 10 years of priesthood, the surprise came
and I was asked to be bishop of Embu.
“I went to Embu, I was only 40 years old. I was there for four years.
And, after completing my fourth year, I was asked again by the Holy
Father to move over to a new diocese (Kitui) — another surprise. I
became bishop of Kitui August 10, 2008.”
Q: What is your vision for the partnership between your diocese and
ours?
“My vision is a partnership that arises from the fact that we are sister
dioceses, we are sister churches. It will open up a new wealth or
richness of our own understanding of our faith. I think that’s one of
the greatest fruits of this partnership, that this is a partnership that
arises from a common calling — not just wanting to do something for
others, but wanting to lead their life with them. So, it’s something
about empathy, more than just something about assistance. It’s something
about sharing and working together, more than just about telling, or
copying, or giving, or depending or directing.”
Q: What were the highlights of your visit here?
“I had very, very good interactions with people in the various
communities who have been involved with Kitui directly. But, I would say
the major highlight has been to meet those communities whom I didn’t
know. It has been very good to meet those who have been part of this
experience, and to hear them tell me what this experience has been for
them.
“But, I haven’t been just listening or wanting to hear. I also have
taken advantage of — and that’s the other highlight — talking about what
I feel about my experience, not only my experience of the partnership,
but my experience as a Christian, sharing what I feel, what I think, my
reflection as a bishop.”
Q: What was it like visiting the schools?
“I love to be with young people. So, it’s been wonderful [going to
schools]. If I had a choice, I would spend even more time with them. It
was good, particularly at St. Thomas, to see a group of young men who
are disciplined and eager to hear and listen. You can see it; you can
see how eager they were to listen to what I was saying.
“I was very impressed by how receptive they were. I also spoke to a
small group of the leaders in the campus ministry. And, they asked very
interesting questions.”
Q: What is your reaction to the announcement that St. Thomas Academy is
forming a partnership with St. Joseph’s Seminary and High School in
Kitui?
“Great. That’s my reaction — just great. It should have been done
before. I think a lot of good is going to happen for Kitui and St.
Joseph’s. It will be a wonderful experience for them. It will be a
wonderful challenge.”
Q: Will there be an exchange of students between the two schools?
“At the present time, I don’t think that’s what we are addressing. And,
we really cannot say how this will develop. It does not seem like that
is the priority now. But we do foresee that sometime, some of the
students, particularly, we think, from here will be able to pay a visit
there. It will be a bit more difficult for the students in Kenya to come
to the United States.”
Q: A partnership between these two, all-boy schools seems like a good
fit, doesn’t it?
“Yes, it does. It is, in fact, a very good fit because it’s all boys and
it’s private, but with very clear pillars of faith, honesty, leadership
— all the values we want to create in leaders. And, both [schools] have
produced great leaders. St. Thomas has also produced priestly
vocations, so has St. Joseph’s. Whoever looked and studied the two
[schools] did a good job.”
Q: Would you like to see an exchange of priests between your diocese and
ours?
“That’s not the main objective. The main objective is not just one of
sharing personnel or sharing experiences of personnel. It may come to be
one of the experiences that may happen. But that will come with time.
“A priest may come here for some time within the context of sharing
faith, but always with the idea to re-energize him to come back. It’s
kind of a feedback system.
“I, as bishop, would say the main priority is not one of an exchange of
priests. It may happen as this [partnership] develops. And, I want it to
develop.
“In the delegation [from Kitui that came in the fall], for example, we
had three priests, which is significant. I would hope that when the next
delegation comes from St. Paul and Minneapolis, there will be a priest
or two also.”
Q: What do you think of our winter?
“Basically, it has been good to just experience how people [here] lead a
normal life in these circumstances. Also, it’s a different sense of
beauty. I’m not used to seeing the trees half covered in snow, and all
the houses looking nice and tidy with snow on top. I’m not sorry that I
came during this time. I’m happy. Many people have cared for me. They
helped to keep me warm.”
Q: Do you think you’ll come back to Minnesota?
“Oh yes, I’ll come back, God willing. Maybe not so soon. I look forward
to coming again.”
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