Local news - 31.05.2011 - By Philip Kodet and Daniel Edaan - SOCIAL AUDITORS STAKEHOLDERS TRAINING AT NAPEILILIM.

Fifty community members were early today trained at Napeililim sub- location of Loima district. The training which was organized by the justice and peace commission of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar was facilitated by deputy coordinator Mr. Christopher Losiapat. In the training Mr. Losiapat focused on governance and accountability. The training was aimed at sensitizing the community based social auditors on the importance of social auditing, collecting data regarding to the public funded projects, linking the community with the justice and peace office in the matters regarding to all public funds allocated to their area and finalizing documentation of the data collected from the field regarding the public funds in the area. According to Losiapat the community has to be aware of the funded projects and also check and make follow-ups in the implementation of community projects. He also informed the community of their rights to ask how the funds have been used. Denis Ekaru, Mary Ngala Moriita and Etot Martin were the trained community based Social Auditors who will help in mobilizing the community in acquiring the basic information.

Local news - 31.5.11 - By Evangeline Munyi and Mary Tioko - 28 Catholic Church Assistants Graduated At. Good shepherd Katilu Catechetical Centre.

28 catholic church Assistants graduated today after 3months of training at the katilu Good shepherdd catechetical trainingcenter.. The ceremony that took place at Katilu Parish was presided over by His Lordship Dominic Kimengich. On this same day one of the CCAs Regina Ekamais took her Matrimonial Vows with Geoffrey Apedor. The wedding was also officiated by the His lordship Kimengich. In his homily, Rt. Rev. Kimengich informed the graduates to ensure that they live their lives according to the teachings of the Catholic faith. He also urged them they to be examples to those they serve in the community. The parish priest Fr. Dismas Masinde thanked the graduates and termed as a blessing to the parish. Fr. Masinde said that there presence ensured that the spread of the good news was done well and he wished that the Bishop would let them stay in his Parish. Also Present at the ceremony was Fr. Roberto Villalobos of Kainuk Parish, Fr. Peter Francis Okioma of Kaeris and Peter Kariuki of Katilu Parish. Teachers from kainuk Primary school and some colleagues from Lodwar Prison were also present with the officer in charge of the GK Lodwar Prison Mr. Gerald Ogume to accompany Regina and Apedor to the alter of the lord in their big day which was double blessing. We wish the couple and the CCAs good christian lives in future and let them practice what they have been taught.

Local news - 30.5.11 - By Mary Tioko - Secretariat of Lodwar Diocese were urged to testify their faith through their own Actions.

Secretariat were urged to be willing to become Christians in their actions in the mass today. His lordship Dominic Kimengich said this when celebrating staff mass at St. Thomas chapel today. He also took the opportunity to invite all the staff to begin the sixth week with lords protection. Bishop Dominic also welcomed the visitors, Fr. Peter Ndegwa from Garissa Diocese who has come to visit the livelihood programme to see their activities and share experiences. His lordship also took the responsibility of welcoming Parish Priest of Lokori Fr. Paul Areman who came visiting. Bishop Dominic was accompanied by the Vicar General Fr. Joseph Ekalimon and the two visiting priests. Among the visitors in the mass was Sr. Maureen Metty who is coming from St. Josephs congregation from Kalamazoo Michigan in the United States of America. Sr. Maureen came to the Diocese to visit his lordship and see the Diocese. She requested the staff to hold her in their prayers as she holds them in her prayers. In his homily Bishop Kimengich said that God always gives people encouragement and prepares them to receive his word. The staff were encouraged to open their hearts to be filled by the word of God. His lordship said that faith is not personal but has to be shared by all in the neighborhood, family and the entire surroundings so as to become evangelizers themselves. His lordship said that one can be evangelizer when she is a witness to the word of God. He encouraged the staff to be prayerful so as to become witnesses of the lord. The secretariat were urged to look at the word of God and give it space in their hearts and lives and in that they can bear witness to his word. He urged the staff to be transparent and accountable in their activities so as to testify through their own lives.

Local news – 29.5.11 - By Mary Tioko - Marriage encounter meeting held at St. Augustine's Cathedral church today. T

The small Christian communities from St. Augustine's Cathedral parish today assembled for a joint Jumuiya at the church to receive clarifications on the church teaching on the sacrament of matrimony. Speaking during the meeting, His lordship Bishop Dominic Kimengich elaborated on the Cannon law on the sacrament of marriage and gave the faithfuls an open forum to ask questions on the same sacrament. His lordship stressed on the three core things in the marriage where he talked on the unity of the two people husband and wife, The insolubility of the Marriage where by he said that the two people blessed in church cannot be separated by anybody since God has bounded them in the holy sacrament of Matrimony. He also mentioned on the third aspect of being open to children where by they are supposed to reproduce and fill the earth as a command from God and bring children up in his loving care and in good morals. His lordship emphasized on the importance of life and explained on the stand of the church towards contraceptives and Abortion. He added that contraceptives destroy life. He encouraged the faithfuls to learn to keep the commandments of God and be people who dwell in prayers and all their troubles will be solved by Jesus Christ. Various people asked questions on the marriage life and his lordship answered them and also promised to consult the marriage healing committee to organise for more talks in future. He thanked the faithfuls for coming in large numbers and for their active participation in the discussion.

Local news - 29.5.11 - By Mary Tioko - Faithfuls of St. Augustine's Cathedral parish were encouraged during mass today to be people of truth.

St. Augustine Cathedral faithfuls celebrated mass in preparation for the Ascension of Jesus Christ. The faithfuls celebrated the service with fully of inspiration led by Parish Administrator Fr. Francis Teo. In his homily he encouraged the faithfuls to be happy and hungry for the word of God. Fr. Teo mentioned the Greek word Paracletos which means an advocate to give the faithfuls guidance and comfort when they are down and uplifts their spirits. The parish administrator said that Jesus was the advocate to his disciples and looked like the coach to them. Fr. Teo added that Jesus is with them in their lives and they have to know and call on him for assistance. He also said that Jesus will send the holy spirit which will act like the paracletos to the faithfuls and will stay with them and lead them in his ways. He added that one who keeps the commandments of God and loves God will always receive the holy spirit and God will live in that person. Fr. Teo talked on the spirit of truth that the world will not have if they will not invite the holy spirit to be in them. He also referred to the incidence of Todonyang where people were massacred and mentioned on how pathetic the situation is during his visit. He said that the place is deserted and isolated without security and even people are dying of Hunger in some parts of the county yet the Leaders say that the security has been beefed up in Todonyang! He was perturbed on how leaders tell lies in press and Radios! He added that, that looks like the invisible forces that they cannot see! He encouraged the faithfuls to be truthful always since their father in heaven is Truthfu

LOCAL NEWS - 28.05.2011- BY ZACHEAUS OTABA - Young Christian Students Vocational meeting takes place at st. Teresa's pastoral center.

Young Christian Society members from six schools in Turkana county today converged at St. Teresa's pastoral center for a vocational meeting. The chief facilitator, Deacon Bonaventure Emase based in st. Joseph's Lowarengak Parish, said that it is important to have young leaders who live a responsible life. He said that it is important to have people who can render better services , learn to embrace each other as brothers and sisters and offer services in a Christian humanity. He added that as PPI in primary schools, Young christian Students (YCS) is set to teach moral living and use of the bible. The deacon thanked the head teachers and patrons from Lodwar high school, st. Kevin's Secondary, Uhuru high, St. Leo's Boys Kakuma, PAG secondary and Salvation Army Nawoitorong secondary for allowing their students to participate in the meeting. Other facilitators were the Vocational Director Diocese of Lodwar Fr. John Bosco Lokaale, seminarian Donald Imo representing st. Mathias Tindinyo, Martin Ekalale st. Mary's Molo and Alex Namweya representing st. Augustine's Mabanga Seminary. The meeting was set for one day, sponsored by the catholic diocese of Lodwar Vocation office.