KENYA
S AFRICA
BURKINA FASO
Pope declares
February 1 Feast day
of Blessed Benedict
Daswa
Bishops call for
Peaceful Elections
Pope Francis has declared February 1 as the
feast day of Blessed Benedict Daswa who
was beatified on September 13 in South
CHURCH OFFERS to
Mediate ON TEACHERS’
STRIKE
Africa.
Catholic Bishops in Kenya are ready to
presided over the beatification ceremony
mediate towards ending the ongoing
National teacher’s strike.
“We religious leaders are ready to mediate
in this process to find an amicable lasting
solution to the current impasse to enable
Cardinal Angelo Amato, the Prefect of
the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
that took place in Tshitanini, Thohoyandou,
transparent elections.
“All of us should aspire to a democracy
which requires especially a change of
mentality at all levels to achieve peaceful
elections that are free and transparent,” said
the bishops in their Pastoral Letter.
In the Letter entitled “Political commitment:
a supreme expression of love” the bishops
In the decree Pope Francis described
Blessed Daswa as an educator who gave
must step back from the brink of an all out
“We grant that the venerable servant of
Chairman Kenya Conference of Catholic
a change in mindset for peaceful, free and
decree from the Pope.
heroic witness of the Gospel.
country,” said Bishop Phillip Anyolo the
called for conversion among citizens and
Limpopo, South Africa and read out the
normal learning to resume. Both sides
industrial confrontation for the sake of our
Catholic bishops of Burkina Faso have
God, Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict
Daswa, a layman and family man… a
urged Burkinabe citizens to fully participate
in the forthcoming presidential elections
scheduled to take place on October 11.
They reiterated that for elections to be
credible, they must take place in a spirit of
reconciliation.
zealous Catechist, all-round educator who
“We must all commit ourselves to reducing
gave heroic witness to the gospel, even to
the current social divide and walk towards
the shedding of blood, from now on be
true reconciliation,” said the Bishops
called Blessed,” read the decree from the
adding that “All must have the courage to
where he said that the challenges currently
Holy Father.
tell the truth, to ask, to give and receive
facing the education sector the country are
Benedict Daswa was born on 16 June 1946
Bishop (KCCB).
Bishop Anyolo was speaking September
13 during a press conference in Nairobi
adversely affecting all Kenyans.
KCCB expressed concern in the manner
in which industrial disputes are handled in
Kenya.
“On the ongoing teachers strike, the
hardline positions taken by both Teachers
and was married with eight children. The
forgiveness; to have the courage to do what
is right and to fight impunity.
South African school principal was killed
The bishops made a plea for peace and
25 years ago by his fe