The Kenya Defence Forces Roman Catholic faithful commemorated the Jubilee of the sick and care givers at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital (DFMH) on Sunday, 6th April 2025.
The auspicious occasion was presided over by the Bishop of the Military Ordinariate, Rt. Rev Wallace Nga’ng’a, who was warmly received by the Director of Medical Services Major General George Nganga, Commandant DFMH Brigadier John Khaoya together with the senior leadership of the Memorial Hospital.
The Bishop paid homage to patients admitted in the wards, and offered words of Spiritual nourishment to the sick and care givers in the wards.
During the mass, Bishop Wallace reminded the congregants of God’s unchanging love even in times of distress, encouraging them to continue trusting in God’s divine plan.
“How can we be strong, for example, when our bodies are prey to severe, debilitating illnesses? How can we show strength when, in addition to our own sufferings, we see those of our loved ones who support us yet feel powerless to help us? In these situations, we sense our need for a strength greater than our own. We realize that we need God’s help, his grace, his Providence, and the strength that is the gift of his Spirit” he said.
Bishop Wallace further encouraged the congregants to appreciate the beauty and significance life situations, emphasizing on the need to hold steady amid the tempest of life.
“We need to learn how to cherish the gentle smile of a nurse, the gratitude and trust of a patient, the caring face of a doctor or volunteer, or the anxious and expectant look of a spouse, a child, a grandchild or a dear friend. All these are rays of light to be treasured; even amid the dark night of adversity, they give us strength, while at the same time teaching us the deeper meaning of life, in love and closeness” he added.
He proceeded to anoint and lay hands on the sick, calling on them to be steadfast in their perseverance and pain. The Bishop concluded by reminding all that we are “angels” of hope and messengers of God for one another, whether patients, physicians, nurses, family members, friends, priests, men and women religious.
The Jubilee day of the Sick is an awareness day, or observance, in the Catholic Church intended for “prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ”.
The mass was also attended by the Chief Medical Officer DFMH Brigadier (Dr) Charles Kingo’ri, Senior Officers, Service Members and their families.
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