Church Unity in Kanamkemer, Kenya - Fr Gift Mawuya SPS

It is often said that “talk is cheap,” meaning that words alone carry little value unless they are supported by concrete action. In a parish that is constantly busy with pastoral activities, it can be challenging to put ecumenism into practice. However, Fr. Gideon and I took the initiative to meaningfully celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which ran from 18th to 25th January together with Christians from other denominations within the Kanamkemer area where our parish is situated.

In preparation for this special week, we held a series of meetings with pastors from various churches. Throughout the week, we consistently reminded our parishioners of the importance of walking together with our brothers and sisters from other Christian denominations. Yet we realised that words alone were not enough. For this reason, we sought to translate our reflections on Christian unity into action.

On the final day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we invited members of different churches to come together for a joint prayer service held at Kanamkemer Primary School grounds. At the heart of this gathering was a shared desire to pray for unity and to journey together as Christians, despite the different ways in which we express our faith. We were inspired by the words of Jesus, “Father, may they all be one” (John 17:21).

It was a deeply moving and beautiful experience to witness Christians from different denominations praying together as one body. From the outset, all Church leaders clearly understood that this gathering was not an occasion for theological debates, nor an opportunity to persuade anyone to join another Church. Rather, it was a sacred moment to share ecumenical ideas that promote unity and to echo the heartfelt prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Father, may they be one.”

Fr. Gift Mawuya SPS