LOCAL NEWS - 11.7.10 - BY MARY TIOKO - CONFIRMATIONS AT ST.GABRIEL KANGATOSA PARISH

The christian community of St.Gabriel Kangatosa Parish today received the sacrament of confirmation in a colourful celebration animated by His lordship Bishop Dominic Kimengich and Fr.Damien Eripon. The 284 christians drawn from all the five outstations of Kangatosa Parish received the sacrament of confirmation. These include the Natiir outstation (65), Naoros (60), Kangatosa(74), Akatuman(22), Katagilae(43) and Kangagetei (20). Each station accompanied by the chairperson , Mr. Mike Ekiru, Mrs. Esther Ekiru, Mr.Dominic Losike, Mr.William Nakeor, Mr. James payan, Mrs. Christine Are respectively. The parish council chairman Mr. Johnson Ekwaar reported that the Parish was officially opened by His Lordship Bishop Patrick Harrington on 23rd september 2007 as a project of St.Gabriel which is a small christian community of St.Augustine's Cathedral Parish Lodwar. In his homily His Lordship Bishop Dominic Kimengich commented in the readings of the day saying that they touched on the life of human beings. He said that God has given us an opportunity to choose life and not death. He encouraged the faithfuls to love one another and help them as christians. He also echoed the stand of the catholic church on the new proposed constitution saying it is faulty as it permist abortion which is killing and is against the 5th commandments of thou shall not kill and thus advised the christians to rejecct it and vote NO come August 4th. His lordship explaining why the church says NO saying that life is sacred and precious as it is agift from GOd and no one has a right to take it away until natural death. He encouraged all those confirmed to keep their faith and guard it well from the evil one. He also commented on the development of the area encouraging the community members to be inquistive on how the CDF funds are used. The community experience poor service delivery from the local authority. The Kangatosa community complained of lack of water, poor markets for their basktry and lack of Transport as the people depend on the Parish Vehicle as the only source of transport in the area. The parish priest Fr. Philip Lotiman thanked the bishop, and Fr.Damien Eripon for visiting his parish and increasing the christian community through confirmations.