St. Therese of Lisieux

Short Cuts

Facts

Feastday: October 1
Patron of the Missions
Birth: 1873
Death: 1897

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Generations of Catholics have admired this young saint, called her the "Little Flower", and found in her short life more inspiration for own lives than in volumes by theologians.
Yet Therese died when she was 24, after having lived as cloistered Carmelite for less than ten years. She never went on missions, never founded a religious order, never performed great works. The only book of hers, published after her death, was an brief edited version of her journal called "Story of a Soul." (Collections of her letters and restored versions of her journals have been published recently.) But within 28 years of her death, the public demand was so great that she was canonized.
Over the years, some modern Catholics have turned away from her because they associate her with over- sentimentalized piety and yet the message she has for us is still as compelling and simple as it was almost a century ago.
Therese was born in France in 1873, the pampered daughter of a mother who had wanted to be a saint and a father who had wanted to be monk. The two had gotten married but determined they would be celibate until a priest told them that was not how God wanted a marriage to work! They must have followed his advice very well because they had nine children. The five children who lived were all daughters who were close all their lives.
Tragedy and loss came quickly to Therese when her mother died of breast cancer when she was four and a half years old. Her sixteen year old sister Pauline became her second mother -- which made the second loss even worse when Pauline entered the Carmelite convent five years later. A few months later, Therese became so ill with a fever that people thought she was dying.
The worst part of it for Therese was all the people sitting around her bed staring at her like, she said, "a string of onions." When Therese saw her sisters praying to statue of Mary in her room, Therese also prayed. She saw Mary smile at her and suddenly she was cured. She tried to keep the grace of the cure secret but people found out and badgered her with questions about what Mary was wearing, what she looked like. When she refused to give in to their curiosity, they passed the story that she had made the whole thing up.
Without realizing it, by the time she was eleven years old she had developed the habit of mental prayer. She would find a place between her bed and the wall and in that solitude think about God, life, eternity.

Oktoba 25,2015 Tanzania tutavuna tulichopanda

Na Paskal Linda    http://batarokota.blogspot.com/

Kweli, aliyekubuhu katika uovu anaweza kumfunda mwana awe malaika? Au mwalimu juha wa mazuzu anaweza kuandaa na kutoa mwanafunzi gwiji? Jambazi anathubutu kumkemea kibaka?

 

Kweli fukara aliyejifahari katika hali yake anaweza kumuongoza mjasiriamali katika umaridadi wa kutafuta neema? 

 

Haya ni baadhi ya maswali wengi tumekuwa tunajiuliza kwa kutafakari mitihani inayotukabili. Maswali kama haya tumeyasikia yakiulizwa kwa namna mbalimbali katika semi, methali na hata vioja vya kisa mkasa. 

 

Uchaguzi huu pia una vioja vyake. Kutokana na uchu wa kusaka kura kuna mambo tunayashuhudia ambayo hakika yanaibua maswali mengi, tena sana.

 

Hivi karibuni mgombewa wa Chadema anayeungwa mkono na Ukawa, Edward Lowassa, ameshutumiwa na hasimu wake kwa kutoa ahadi ambayo inatafsiriwa kuingilia uhuru wa mahakama na kubashiria kuivunja katiba ya nchi. Mgombea huyo, pamoja na mambo mengine, aliahidi kumwachia huru mtu fulani aliyetiwa hatiani na mahakama wapo atachaguliwa kuwa Rais.

 

Naye mgombea wa CCM, Dk. John Magufuli, amekuwa akimwaga ahadi ambazo baadhi zinaelekea kuvunja sheria na haki za wengine. Miongoni mwake ni ahadi ya kunyang’anya watu mali zao au kuwapa wananchi faida ambayo huna mamlaka nayo. 

 

Kwa lugha za wachambuzi ni kwamba wagombea wa aina hii wanakosolewa kwa kutoa, bila haya, ahadi hewa wakati wakitambua fika kuwa unachokisema hatotenda. Hawa ndio aina ya watu waliokomaa kuturubuni watuongoze, sisi wananchi ambao tunasaka bado masihi wa kutuvusha kuelekea kwenye Tanzania tarajiwa, Tanzania yenye neema.

 

 Wapo miongoni mwetu waliohoji ombwe ama uhaba/ukavu wa uongozi nchini Tanzania. Tutakuaje na viongozi bomba kama desturi imekuwa kuongoza kwa njia ambazo ni za kihuni, yaani ambazo hazifikii wala kukidhi viwango vya ustaarabu?

Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Guardian Angel Prayer #2 (This is an old Guardian Angel Prayer)
O Holy Angel,
attendant of my wretched soul
and of mine afflicted life,
forsake me not, a sinner,
neither depart from me for mine inconstancy.
Give no place to the evil demon to subdue me
with the oppression of this mortal body;
but take me by my wretched and outstretched hand,
and lead me in the way of salvation.
Yea, O holy Angel of God,
the guardian and protector
of my hapless soul and body,
forgive me all things
whatsoever wherewith I have troubled thee,
all the days of my life,
and if I have sinned in anything this day.
Shelter me in this present night,
and keep me from every affront of the enemy,
lest I anger God by any sin;
and intercede with the Lord in my behalf,
that He might strengthen me in the fear of Him,
and make me a worthy servant of His goodness.

Amen

Daily Reading for Wednesday, September 30th, 2015

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Reading 1, Nehemiah 2:1-8

¹ In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, since I was in charge of the wine, I took the wine and offered it to the king. Now, he had never seen me looking depressed before.
² So the king said to me, 'Why are you looking depressed? You are not sick! This must be a sadness of the heart.' Thoroughly alarmed by this,
³ I said to the king, 'May the king live for ever! How can I not look depressed when the city where the tombs of my ancestors are lies in ruins and its gates have been burnt down?'
⁴ The king then said to me, 'What would you like me to do?' Praying to the God of heaven,
⁵ I said to the king, 'If the king approves and your servant enjoys your favour, send me to Judah, to the city of the tombs of my ancestors, so that I can rebuild it.'
⁶ The king -- with the queen sitting beside him-said, 'How long will your journey take, and when will you come back?' Once I had given him a definite time, the king approved my mission.
⁷ I then said to the king, 'If the king approves, may I be given orders for the governors of Transeuphrates to let me pass through on my way to Judah?
⁸ Also an order for Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, to supply me with timber for the beams of the gates of the citadel of the Temple, for the city walls and for the house which I am to occupy?' These the king granted me because the kindly hand of my God was over me.

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

¹ By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept at the memory of Zion.
² On the poplars there we had hung up our harps.
³ For there our gaolers had asked us to sing them a song, our captors to make merry, 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.'
⁴ How could we sing a song of Yahweh on alien soil?
⁵ If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither!
⁶ May my tongue remain stuck to my palate if I do not keep you in mind, if I do not count Jerusalem the greatest of my joys.

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Gospel, Luke 9:57-62

⁵⁷ As they travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.'
⁵⁸ Jesus answered, 'Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.'
⁵⁹ Another to whom he said, 'Follow me,' replied, 'Let me go and bury my father first.'
⁶⁰ But he answered, 'Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.'
⁶¹ Another said, 'I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say good -- bye to my people at home.'
⁶² Jesus said to him, 'Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'

St. Jerome

Short Cuts

Facts

Feastday: September 30
Patron of Librarians
Birth: 331
Death: 420

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St. Jerome, who was born Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius, was the most learned of the Fathers of the Western Church. He was born about the year 342 at Stridonius, a small town at the head of the Adriatic, near the episcopal city of Aquileia. His father, a Christian, took care that his son was well instructed at home, then sent him to Rome, where the young man's teachers were the famous pagan grammarian Donatus and Victorinus, a Christian rhetorician. Jerome's native tongue was the Illyrian dialect, but at Rome he became fluent in Latin and Greek, and read the literatures of those languages with great pleasure. His aptitude for oratory was such that he may have considered law as a career. He acquired many worldly ideas, made little effort to check his pleasure-loving instincts, and lost much of the piety that had been instilled in him at home. Yet in spite of the pagan and hedonistic influences around him, Jerome was baptized by Pope Liberius in 360. He tells us that "it was my custom on Sundays to visit, with friends of my own age and tastes, the tombs of the martyrs and Apostles, going down into those subterranean galleries whose walls on both sides preserve the relics of the dead." Here he enjoyed deciphering the inscriptions.

Tafakari ya neno la Mungu Dominika ya 26 ya Mwaka B,

Na Paskal Linda

Mpendwa mwana wa Mungu,  katika kipindi tafakari Neno la Bwana, jioni hii tunatafakari Dominika ya 26 ya mwaka B wa Kanisa. Neno la Mungu latutaka kutambua kuwa Roho wa Mungu ni zawadi kwa ajili ya wote ilimradi mmoja anaitumia zawadi hiyo kadri ya mpango wa Mungu.

 
Katika somo la kwanza kutoka kitabu cha Hesabu, tunaona jinsi Mungu alivyowashukia wale ndugu 70 na wakatabiri kama ambavyo Musa alikuwa akishukiwa na Mungu. Si hao tu bali kulikuwa na watu wengine wawili ambao wao katika harakati za kwenda hemani ambapo daima Musa alikuwa akikutana na Mungu wao walibaki kambini pia nao wakashukiwa na roho wa Mungu na wakaanza kutabiri. Tendo hili liliwaudhi watu wengine ambao waliona daima lazima Mungu agawe roho wake pale kwenye hema tu na si kwingine! Mpendwa jambo la wivu ni la zamani sana kama ambavyo tunaona kwa tukio hili. Je leo jambo hili lipo? Kabisa na ni kweli kwamba katika zama zetu kuna baadhi yetu ambao huona kama Roho Mtakatifu ni kwa ajili yao tu! Yapo makundi katika Kanisa katoliki ambayo hujisikia kabisa kwamba yanaweza kumkumbatia Roho Mtakatifu na kumteka kwa ajili yao tu! Labda pia kwenye makanisa mengine! Mpendwa hili ni kosa la kiteolojia na pengine linapaswa kukemewa mara moja na viongozi wetu wa Kanisa kwa sababu limekuwa ni jambo linalohangaisha na kuleta usumbufu kwa jumuiya ya Kanisa.
Somo la pili, linatualika kutazama vema juu ya suala la kuwanyonya maskini na hasa katika suala zima la malipo baada ya kazi. Mt. Yakobo anasema madhulumu kwa walio maskini huleta kilio ambacho humfikia Mungu mara moja kama kilio cha damu ya Abeli kilivyomfikia Mungu haraka. Anawakumbusha matajiri kutumia utajiri wao kwa haki na zaidi kuimarisha maisha ya ustawi uliojaa uwiano sahihi. Mpendwa mwana wa Mungu, kama tunataka kweli kushika vema Injili ya Kristu yatupasa kufikiria vema namna ya kushikama na utajiri ili kisiwe kikwazo bali chombo kwa ajili ya ustawi na maendeleo ya watu.
Katika somo la Injili tunapata msaada wa kuweza kuelewa somo la kwanza ambapo tulisikia juu ya wivu kwa kuwa watu wawili ambao hawakuwa wameandamana na wale 70 pamoja na Musa nao walipata uwezo wa kutabiri. Ndiyo kusema mtu mmoja anatoa pepo kwa jina la Bwana lakini hayuko katika kundi la Mitume, na matokeo yake Yohane anamwambia Bwana kwamba walipomwona mtu huyu akitenda walimkataza asifanye shughuli hiyo ya kutoa pepo! Bwana anawajibu Mitume akisema hakuna ambaye atakuwa kinyume nami na kisha ataweza kutoa pepo kwa jina langu, kwa jinsi hiyo basi huyo yu upande wetu. Jambo la msingi ni kwamba mkuu wa shughuli nzima ya kitume ni Yesu Kristu na si Mitume kumbe yeye hugawa apendavyo karama zake. Roho Mtakatifu ni zawadi kwa wote hata wale ambao wako nje ya Kanisa linaloonekana, na hivi wanaotumia nguvu ya Kristu wanalisaidia Kanisa kusonga mbele katika shughuli ya wokovu.
Mpendwa sehemu ya pili ya Injili inazungumza na kutuasa juu ya ukarimu ambao Mt. Yakobo daima anasisitiza. Anawatayarishia heri wale wote watakaowakirimu Mitume wakiwa katika utume wa utangazaji wa Injili ya Bwana. Mpendwa , kazi ya kitume inaendelea na hivi wanaheri wale wote ambao wanaifanya kazi hiyo njema isonge mbele. Namna za kuifanya kazi ya kitume iende mbele ziko nyingi na mojawapo ikiwa kwa njia ya sala, kwa michango ya fedha na vitu, kuwahifadhi watumishi wa Kanisa mara kunapokuwa na hitaji kama vile nyumba, mfano parokia mpya inapofunguliwa.
Mpendwa, bado kuna hatua nyingine ya kutekeleza utume wa Kristu, nayo ni kuhakikisha huwi kikwazo au chanzo cha makwazo kwa jumuiya ya waamini, maana Bwana anasema atakayemkwaza mmojawapo wa wadogo hawa ni afadhali afungiwe jiwe na kutupwa katika kilindi cha maji marefu. Anazidi kusema kama kiungo kimojawapo cha mwili kinaleta chukizo basi ni vema kukiondoa na kubaki kilema kuliko kubaki mzima na ukapoteza uzima wa milele. Huu ni mwaliko wa kudumu kuhusu kazi ya kimisionari, na zaidi kazi ya wokovu inayodai utulivu na uvumilivu wa hali ya juu, kuweza kutafakari alama za nyakati tukiongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu.
Ninafurahi zaidi nikikutakia neema za Yesu mfufuka anayetukirimia Roho Mtakatifu kwa ajili ya wokovu wa watu na sifa kwa Mungu Baba.

Tumsifu Yesu Kristu.

TAFAKARI YA NENO LA MUNGU DOMINIKA YA 25 YA MWAKA B!

Na Paskal Linda
Ninakuletea ujumbe wa Neno la Mungu, Dominika ya 25 ya mwaka B wa Kanisa. Mama Kanisa anatufundisha wajibu wa Jumuiya kuwakumbatia maskini na walio wahitaji. Katika wimbo wa mwanzo Dominika ya 25, Bwana anasema mimi ni wokovu wa watu, na watu hawa wakinililia nitawaokoa katika taabu zao. Ndivyo basi Jumuiya ya Kikristu inavyopaswa kuwasikiliza na kuwakumbatia walio maskini.

Somo la kwanza linatoka katika kitabu cha Hekima ya Sulemani, na mwandishi anatupa bado sura ya mtumishi mwaminifu ambaye wanajamii wenzake wanamwonea wivu na wanaweka vitisho na vikwazo mbalimbali dhidi yake. Hata hivyo kwa kuwa ni mtumishi mwenye haki, yule aliyemtuma atamlinda mpaka mwisho. Kwa kuvumilia mateso katika upole na unyenyekevu anakuwa mfano kwa watesi wake na jumuiya nzima.  Mtumishi huyu anayetabiliwa na mwandishi wa kitabu cha Hekima anajitokeza katika sura ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristu katika Agano Jipya.

Mpendwa mwanatafakari, jambo la mateso kwa waliowa kweli na watu wa haki katika mazingira ya leo linajitokeza bado na hivi je warudi nyuma au wasonge mbele katika kuvumilia magumu hayo? Kama Bwana wetu Yesu Kristu alivumilia mateso mpaka kufa, basi nasi tuliosafishwa katika Damu yake yatupasa kufuata nyayo zake mpaka mwisho.

Mtume Yakobo anaendela mbele kutufundisha juu ya maisha ya kila siku, leo anatupa Hekima itokayo juu kuwa kielelezo safi cha maisha ya mkristu. Anasema yeyote aifuataye Hekima hiyo atakuwa kinyume na machafuko na fitina katika maisha ya Jumuiya. Machafuko mbalimbali na hasa vita katika ulimwengu wa leo ni matunda ya tamaa za kimwili, na hivi Mt. Yakobo ataka tuzame zaidi katika Hekima ya kimungu itokayo juu, Hekima ambayo hutazama kwa upole na subira mambo yote na hasa kwa njia ya sala inayotangaza mapenzi ya Mungu. Anataka pia sala yetu iwe ni sala iliyojaa imani na tumaini na si tamaa za kimwili.

Katika somo la Injili, Mt Marko anatuonesha Yesu aliye katika utume na wakati huo anatoa katekesi kwa wanafunzi wake. Ni katika katekesi hiyo, Bwana anaendelea kukazia fundisho la kupokea kikombe cha mateso na kisha siku ya tatu kufufuka. Kwa kuwa Mitume bado wana mawazo ya Masiha mwenye nguvu za kivita hawasikilizi vema fundisho hili na badala yake wanajiuliza wao kwa wao, hivi mkubwa ni nani kati yetu! Wanafikiri juu ya vyeo katika ufalme wa Yesu Kristu Masiha!

Huu ni udhaifu na hasa waonesha kuwa hawajaelewa kitu!, hawajaelewa Bwana analenga wapi na njia gani anaifuata kwa ajili ya wokovu wa mwanadamu. Ni udhaifu unaokuja kwa sababu katika historia ya ulimwengu kulikuwa na matabaka, ambayo mpaka hivi leo yapo tele.

Kwa kuwa Bwana, daima ni mwenye huruma na mvumilivu atatulia na kisha atawafundisha nini maana ya kuwa Mtume, nini maana ya kuwa mkubwa katika Jumuiya, nini maana ya kuwa kiongozi. Ndiyo kusema ukubwa katika Jumuiya ya Kanisa, uongozi ni kutumikia na kuhudumu jumuiya katika mahitaji yake na hasa kutangaza Injili ya Bwana.  Mhudumu anatakiwa kuwapokea wale wote wanaohangaika katika jumuiya, walio kama watoto wadogo. Bwana anaweka picha ya watoto wadogo mbele yetu kwa sababu katika jumuiya ya Kiyahudi mtoto ingawa wanampenda lakini bado anasadikika kutokuwa safi kwa sababu hatunzi sheria na makatazo mbalimbali.

Mpendwa mwanatafakari, katika jumuiya zetu hivi leo, katika nchi zetu jambo la nani mkubwa limeshika kasi kubwa mno kiasi kwamba malumbano ni makubwa mno. Utasikia daima ugomvi kwa sababu ya madaraka katika nchi zetu. Leo basi Neno la Mungu latuambia tuachane na mambo ya kushikilia vyeo kama ndiyo mwisho wa maisha yetu bali kama njia ya kuwatumikia wengine kwa upendo na hekima ya kimungu. Ndiyo kusema kama hatutafanya hivyo tuko nje ya ukristu, tuko nje ya matarajio ya mataifa na jumuiya zilizotuweka katika mamlaka hayo.
Ninakutakia furaha na matumaini katika kushika mafundisho ya Bwana aliye Masiha mteswa lakini mshindi kwa ajili ya ukombozi wa ulimwengu.

Tumsifu Yesu Kristu.

Daily Reading for Monday, September 28th, 2015

Reading 1, Zechariah 8:1-8

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 102:16-18, 19-21, 29, 22-23

¹⁶ when Yahweh builds Zion anew, he will be seen in his glory;
¹⁷ he will turn to hear the prayer of the destitute, and will not treat their prayer with scorn.
¹⁸ This shall be put on record for a future generation, and a people yet to be born shall praise God:
¹⁹ Yahweh has leaned down from the heights of his sanctuary, has looked down from heaven to earth,
²⁰ to listen to the sighing of the captive, and set free those condemned to death,
²¹ to proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion, his praise in Jerusalem;
²² nations will gather together, and kingdoms to worship Yahweh.
²³ In my journeying my strength has failed on the way;

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Gospel, Luke 9:46-50

⁴⁶ An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest.
⁴⁷ Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child whom he set by his side
⁴⁸ and then he said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. The least among you all is the one who is the greatest.'
⁴⁹ John spoke up. 'Master,' he said, 'we saw someone driving out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.'
⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, 'You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you.

Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Holy Archangel Who Strengthened Our Lord in His Agony I salute thee, holy Angel who didst comfort my Jesus in His agony, and with thee I praise the most holy Trinity for having chosen thee from among all the holy Angels to comfort and strengthen Him who is the comfort and strength of all that are in affliction. By the honor thou didst enjoy and by the obedience, humility and love wherewith thou didst assist the sacred Humanity of Jesus, my Savior, when He was fainting for very sorrow at seeing the sins of the world and especially my sins, I beseech thee to obtain for me perfect sorrow for my sins; deign to strengthen me In the afflictions that now overwhelm me, and in all the other trials, to which I shall be exposed henceforth and, in particular, when I find myself in my final agony. Amen.

St. Michael the Archangel

Short Cuts

Facts

Feastday: September 29
Patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police, and sickness

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St. Michael the Archangel - Feast day - September 29th The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.
Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim. St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness

Papa Francis: Jengeni maisha yenu katika upendo

Papa Francis katika Ibada ya misa Takatifu ya Mkutano wa Dunia wa Familia - ANSA

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Na Paskal Linda

 

JUZI Jumapili 27 Septemba,2015  Papa Francis ameadhimsha kilele cha Misa Takatifu katika Uwanja wa Benjamini Franklin Parkway huko Philadelphia katika Mkutano wa dunia wa Familia kwa mwaka 2015.Mkutano wa siku mbili umeunganisha maelfu ya wajumbe kutoka sehemu mbambali za dunia ambao waliwakilisha familia za nchi zao. Na katika Homelia ya Papa Francis iliwatia moyo wanafamilia kujenga maisha yao katika upendo na kuwakumbusha kwamba upendo wa Mungu ni kwa kila mmoja  .

Akichambua juu ya masomo ya siku Papa Francis alisema: Neno la Mungu la siku linaleta mshangao na kutoa picha yenye nguvu na kuchochea sura. Sura hizo ni changamoto kwetu, lakini zinatia shahuku yetu.Kwenye somo la kwanza Joshua alimwambia Musa ya kwamba watu wawili kati yetu wanatoa unabii, wakiongea maneno ya Mungu bila kutumwa. Na katika Injili Yohane anelezea juu ya wanafunzi waliomkataza  mtu aliyekuwa anafukuza mapepo kwa jina la Yesu.
Papa alisema kweli  huo unaleta mshangao; kwani Musa na Yesu wote wana uwezo wa kukemea. Yesu alikutana na vizingiti  kutoka kwa watu wake  ambao hawakupokea kile alichokuwa akisema na kufanya. Maneno yake yalipokelewa na watu wale walikuwa wazi na waaminifu na wa kweli katika imani ya wanaume na wanawake wengi ambao hawakuwa  sehemu yoyote  ya wateule wa Mungu.Aliongeza Papa ya kwamba wanafunzi katika sehemu yao walitenda kwa imani yao njema.
Lakini majaribu na mashaka yao yalikuwa kuhusu uhuru wa Mungu ambaye uwanyeshea mvua watu wote wanyoofu na wasio na haki (Mt 5:45), yaani wale wenye  urasimu , wenye madaraka na duru za ndani , wanaotishia ukweli wa imani na kwa hivyo ni lazima kwa nguvu kukataliwa.
Lakini Papa akabainisha ya kwamba Mara sisi tunapolitambua , tunaweza kuelewa kwanini maneno ya Yesu yalileta kashfa miongoni mwao. Ukweli wa Yesu haujali kashfa za kila kitu ambacho ujaribu kuvunja na kuharibu imani yetu katika kazi ya roho! Mapenzi ya baba  hayataisha kamwe ya  kuendelea na ukarimu wake wa kupanda .Yeye utawanya mbegu za uwepo  wake katika dunia yote , kwa maana upendo wake unasisitiza hivyo ya kwamba siyo sisi tuliyompenda Mungu bali kwamba Munga alitupenda yeye kwanza (Yn 4:10)
Upendo wake unatupqtia uhakika ya kwamba Mungu ametuchagua , na anatusubiri .Na hii ndiyo inawapa wanafunzi  wake kuhamasika , na kutoa huduma ya  kutenda mambo yaliyo mema yanayotekea kwa majirani zao wanao wazunguka. Kwani Mungua anataka watoto wake wote washiriki katika sikukuu ya Injili. Ni watu wangapi walioko pale katika madhimisho ya Familia; papa alisema: Hii peke yake ni jambo la unabii , ni aina ya miujiza katika dunia ya leo,  wote wanaweza kuwa manabii, wote wanaweza kufungulia miujiza ya upendo kwaajili ya familia zote za dunia, na hivyo kushinda kashfa nyembamba, upendo mdogo uliojifungia ndani yake yaani ubinafsi.

Mungu awalaze pema waliofariki Hijja Makka

Na Paskal Linda

KUNA taarifa za kusikitisha kuwa mahujaji watano kutoka Tanzania ni  miongoni mwa waliofariki katika tukio la mkanyagano kwenye Mji  Mtakatifu wa Makka, nchini Saudi Arabia.

 

Kwa ujumla, watu 717 wameripotiwa kufa na wengine zaidi ya 800  kujeruhiwa katika tukio hilo.

 

Taarifa iliyotolewa na Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa  Kimataifa jjuzi ilieleza kuwa Watanzania hao walifariki wakati  wakiendelea na ibada ya Hijja kwenye eneo la Mina, ndani ya Mji  Mtakatifu wa Makka.

 

Hakika, huu ni msiba mkubwa. Mimi Paskal Linda  naungana na Watanzania wengine  kuwapa pole wafiwa na pia kuwatakia kheri wote waliojeruhiwa ili  wapate nafuu haraka.

 

Ni imani yangu kuwa serikali yetu, kwa kushirikiana na  Saudi Arabia,  itaendelea kufanya kila linalowezekana ili taarifa kamili ziendelee  kupatikana kuhusiana hatima ya mahujaji wetu. Taarifa zilizopo ni  kwamba mwaka huu, Watanzania takriban 2,700 wamekwenda kutekeleza  ibada hiyo muhimu kwa kila Muislamu mwenye uwezo. Mbali na kwenda  kuhiji Makka, nguzo nyingine kati ya tano za Uislamu ni kutoa  shahada, kusimamisha swala, kutoa zaka na kufunga (swaumu) Ramadhani.

 

Sisi tunaamini kuwa muhimu zaidi kwa sasa ni kwa kila mmoja kuendelea  kuwaombea mahujaji wetu waliosalimika ili mwishowe warejee nchini  wakiwa bukheri wa afya.

 

Aidha, ni muhimu pia kuendelea kumuomba Mwenyezi Mungu ili awajaalie  pepo yenye daraja ya juu mahujaji wetu waliopatwa na umauti, hasa kwa  kutambua kuwa kilichowapeleka Makka siyo kitu kingine bali ni  kujinyenyekeza mbele za Allah (Mwenye Mungu) ili mwishowe wapate  radhi zake.

 

Katika kipindi hiki, ni imani yetu kuwa ndugu, jamaa na marafiki wa  marehemu watajitahidi kuwa na subira kadiri wawezavyo. Ni kwa sababu,  kwa mujibu wa mafundisho, kila nafsi itaonja umauti. Na hili  lililotokea ni sehemu ya mtihani ambao siri ya kufaulu kwake  kwategemea kiwango cha subira kwa kila mmoja wao. 

    

Pamoja na yote, tunaamini kuwa baada ya shughuli za uokoaji na  mazishi kukamilika, serikali ya Saudi Arabia itahakikisha kuwa  uchunguzi wa kina unafanyika ili mwishowe kubaini chanzo cha  mkanyagano na kuchukua hatua sahihi za kuzuia majanga ya aina hii.

 

Kinachotakiwa kuangaliwa na waandaaji ni taratibu za kutoa fursa kwa  kila hujaji kutekeleza ibada ya Hijja akiwa salama. Rekodi  zinaonyesha kuwa vifo vya aina hii vimewahi pia kutokea mara kadhaa  hapo kabla katika tukio hilo linalokutanisha watu wengi zaidi kwa  wakati mmoja duniani, huku mwaka huu likihusisha mahujaji takriban  milioni mbili. 

 

Kwa mfano, mwaka 1990 walikufa mahujaji 1,426, mwaka 1994 (watu 270)  na pia mwaka 2006 walikufa watu 360. Hali hii inapaswa kuzuiwa kwa  kupitia upya taratibu za kuwezesha waumini kutekeleza ibada hii  muhimu kwa kila Muislamu mwenye uwezo.

 

Mungu awalaze pema peponi mahujaji wote waliotangulia mbele ya haki, AMINA.

Daily Reading for Monday, September 28th, 2015

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Reading 1, Zechariah 8:1-8

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 102:16-18, 19-21, 29, 22-23

¹⁶ when Yahweh builds Zion anew, he will be seen in his glory;
¹⁷ he will turn to hear the prayer of the destitute, and will not treat their prayer with scorn.
¹⁸ This shall be put on record for a future generation, and a people yet to be born shall praise God:
¹⁹ Yahweh has leaned down from the heights of his sanctuary, has looked down from heaven to earth,
²⁰ to listen to the sighing of the captive, and set free those condemned to death,
²¹ to proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion, his praise in Jerusalem;
²² nations will gather together, and kingdoms to worship Yahweh.
²³ In my journeying my strength has failed on the way;

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Gospel, Luke 9:46-50

⁴⁶ An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest.
⁴⁷ Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child whom he set by his side
⁴⁸ and then he said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. The least among you all is the one who is the greatest.'
⁴⁹ John spoke up. 'Master,' he said, 'we saw someone driving out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.'
⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, 'You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you.'

St. Lorenzo Ruiz

Short Cuts

Facts

Feastday: September 28
Beatified By: Pope John Paul II
Canonized By: Pope John Paul II

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Lorenzo Ruiz is the first Filipino saint. He is also the first Filipino martyred for the Christian Faith. Lorenzo Ruiz was a layman, married, and had two sons and a daughter. Born in Binondo, Manila, about 1600's, he was educated in the school of the Dominicans there. He served as an altar boy and later was a helper and clerk-sacristan in the church of Binondo. He was a member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. He made his living probably as a calligrapher, one who renders documents in beautiful penmanship for private or official use. To be sure, that work denoted an accomplished and educated person, especially at a time when many an illustrious personage were far from excelling in this art. An adverse event made him leave the Philippines in 1636. When he was in his late twenties or early thirties, he became involved or was accused of being involved in a criminal case, the circumstances of which are far from clear. Whether he was involved or not, one thing was clear, he was afraid that, as a consequence of a trial or mistrial, he might be given a death sentence. Upon landing in Japan where Christians were being persecuted, he was arrested and imprisoned together with his companions. He underwent inhuman tortures and valiantly confessed his Christian Faith. Refusing to renounce his Faith, he told his executioner that he was ready to die for God and give himself for many thousands of lives if he had them. On September 27, 1637, he was hung from a gallows by his feet, his body falling into a pit. After two days of agony, he died of bleeding and suffocation. His body was cremated and the ashes thrown into the sea. He and fifteen companions, martyred in the same persecution, were beatified by Pope John Paul II in Manila on February 18, 1981 and elevated to full honors of the altar by canonization on October 18, 1987 in Rome. Their feast day is on September 28th.

Papa awashukuru watawa wa Marekani

Papa akisalimiana na Masista wa Shirika la Mtakatifu Clara - AP

BABA mtakatifu Francisco Alhamisi akiongoza Ibada ya masifu ya Jioni katika Kanisa Kuu la kale la Mtakatifu Patrick, la Mjini New York, alionyesha kutambua kwamba, kanisa hilo ni matunda ya kazi ngumu ya watu wengi  wake kwa waume, waliyoyatolea maisha yao mhanga bila kujibakiza katika utumishi wa kanisa.  Na hivyo ameitaja kuwa ni  ishara nzuri ya kazi ya wahenga,  makuhani , watawa na walei aminifu wa Marekani,  waliosaidia kujenga Kanisa nchini Marekani.
Papa alitazama kwa kina, jukumu lao la msingi katika ujenzi wa jamii ya Marekani, na hivyo akatoa shukurani zake nyingi kwa  makuhani na watawa  ambao  hasa wamejikitika katika mipango ya  elimu na lishe katika taifa la Marekani. Alieleza na kutoa mfano wa mwanzilishi wa kwanza wa Shule Katoliki huru ya wasichana nchini Marekani, Mtakatifu  Elizabeth Ann Seton na Mtakatifu  John Neumann, mwanzilishi wa kwanza wa mfumo wa elimu Katoliki Marekani , akisema kwamba watu wengi kulipwa gharama za kafara ya ajabu na alifanya hivyo kwa kishujaa upendo.

Lakini pia hakuogopa kutaja moja kwa moja kasoro zilizo chafua sura nzuri ya Kanisa nchini Marekani,  kashfa  ya ngono kwa watoto, aibu iliyoletwa na watumishi wabovu wa Kanisa . Papa Francisko,  alikubali mateso ya wake kwa waume, na wale waliokubali kuibeba aibu ya unyama huu uliodhalilisha  ndugu hawa wanyonge  katika  Kanisa na kuwaweka katika mazingira magumu zaidi ... Papa amesema anatolea sala na faraja zake katika kwa wakati huu wa maumivu na uchungu wa moyo.
Na aliwarejea tena  Mapadre na watawa wa Marekani , akiwahimiza n akuwataka wawe watumishi wema, watumikie kwa uaminifu, furaha na kuridhika katika wito wao. Wafanya kazi kwa bidii na kuyaishi maisha ya kujinyima  na uaminifu kwa mujibu wa karama za waanzilishi wa jumuiya na mashirika yao kama  njia ya upendeleo katika kutoa jibu kwa Upendo wake Mkuu Yeye aliyewaita  katika kulitumikia Kanisa.
Kwa namna ya pekee, Papa aliendelea kutambua na kuonyesha heshima yake na shukrani kwa watawa wa kike nchini Marekani akihoji, bila wao utendaji wa Kanisa ungekuwaje hasa nchini Marekani. Alisifu kwamba, Wanawake wana nguvu, na kwa ujasiri huo, huwaweka mstari wa mbele katika kuitangaza Injili .
Alimalizia na shukurani kwa Watawa, masista na wanawake wote walioyatolea maisha yao katika kuifikisha habari njema katika kila kona ya taifa la Marekani na kwingineko duniani.  "Asante Sana ", na “ninawapenda wote”.

Baada ya Marekani Papa kuitembelea Afrika Mashariki na Kati

Rais Kenyata asema ni Papa atakayeiunganisha Kenya kuwa kitu kimoja

Na Paskal Linda -Nairobi, Kenya


NCHI za Kenya  na Uganda zimeeleza shauku ya kumuona Papa Fransisko. Akizungumza na batarokota.blogspot.com, Mratibu wa Mawasiliano Baraza la Maaskofu Kenya (KCCB) David Omwoyo amesema kuwa, wananchi wa Kenya wanashauku ya kumuona Papa Fransisko kwani hiyo ni ziara ya kihistoria kwa nchi hiyo.
“Maandalzi kwa upande wa Kanisa yamekamilika na upande wa serikali imejiandaa vyema kwani hata serikali imetuma ujumbe kwamba imejipanga kumpokea Papa Fransisko ambaye licha tu ya kuwa kiongozi wa Kanisa Katoliki Duniani ni Rais wa nchi ya Vatikani,” ameeleza Omwoyo.
Aidha ameeleza kuwa, licha ya Papa kuitembelea Kenya ataitembelea pia nchi ya Uganda hivyo ugeni huo unageuka kuwa wa nchi za Afrika Mashariki.

Aidha serikali ya Kenya ilituma ujumbe kwenye ofisi za Mawasiliano KCCB ikieleza kuwa, serikali ya Kenya inayoongozwa na Rais Uhuru Kenyata iko makini kumpokea Papa Fransisko ambaye wana matumaini kwamba ataleta hamasa ya umoja na mshikamano baina ya wakenya.
“Baba Mtakatifu anakuja kututembelea kama kondoo zake, kuimarisha imani yetu na kututia moyo wa imani katika kutekeleza majukumu yetu kwa jirani na kujitoa sadaka kwa ajili yaw engine,” umeeleza ujumbe huo.
Omoyo amesema, Papa akiwa Kenya kwa siku hizo tatu, atafanya mazungumzo binafsi na Rais wa nchi hiyo Uhuru Kenyata, atakutana pia na viongozi wa serikali ya Kenya na Maafisa Mazingira wa Umoja wa Mataifa na kuhutubia wajumbe wa kidiplomasia nchini humo.
“Papa atakutana pia na viongozi wa dini mbalimbali wakiwemo wakristo, waislamu, Hindu na viongozi wa jadi, vijana na kuongoza Ibada ya Misa Takatifu ambapo atahutubia taifa la Kenya.
Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Uganda Askofu John Baptist Odama ameeleza kuwa, Kanisa nchini Uganda limejiandaa kwa ujio huo Mtakatifu.“Akiwa nchini Uganda, Papa ataungana na waamini kusherehekea Yubilei ya Dhahabu ya kutangazwa watakatifu Mashahidi wa Uganda 22.”

Baraza la Maaskofu Kenya laweka mikakati ya ujio huo.
Kamati ndogo ya Tume ya Mawasiliano na Matangazo ya Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Kenya, imetoa baadhi ya mikakati mbinu, kwa ajili ya maandalizi ya ziara ya Papa Francisko nchini Kenya, mwezi Novemba mwaka huu.
Mratibu wa Mawasiliano wa KCCB, David Omwoyo amesema kuwa, tovuti maalum kwa ajili ya ziara ya Papa itazinduliwa katika siku chache zijazo. Na pia hivi karibuni, nembo ya ziara ya Papa itazinduliwa hivi karibuni.
Nembo hiyo ina alama 4 muhimu zinaashiria mada mbiu ya ziara: “Simama imara katika Imani … Usiogope.” Vitu hivyo vinne ni Njiwa kama alama ya amani, moto katika nafasi ya Roho Mtakatifu, ramani ya Kenya na Msalaba ambayo ni ishara ya Kanisa.
Na kwamba, kwa ajili ya kuwaandaa watu , katika kipindi hiki cha kusubiri ujio wa Papa, Kamati ndogo ya Mawasiliano imeunda mpango mpya wa utendaji kwa miradi maalum, inayolenga kufanikishaji wa ziara ya Papa kiroho na kijamii.
Miradi inayoendeshwa na Kanisa Katoliki Kenya ambayo itatagazwa kupitia vituo vya Televisheni. Aidha, kutakuwa na mengi yatakayotangazwa na vyombo vya habari kwa wakati huu.
Taarifa zote zitakuwa zinapatikana katika tovuti mpya itakayozinduliwa hivi karibuni, ikiwa wazi kwa mtu yeyote ambaye anayetaka kupata habarii za ujio wa Papa Kenya. 

Papa Fransisko anatazamia kuitembelea Afrika ambapo atatembelea nchi ya Kenya Novemba 25 hadi 27, Uganda Novemba 27 hadi 29 na Jamhuri ya Afrika ya Kati Novemba 29 hadi 30 Mwaka huu.

Evening Prayer to God the Father

O eternal God and Ruler of all creation, You have allowed me to reach this hour. Forgive the sins I have committed this day by word, deed or thought. Purify me, O Lord, from every spiritual and physical stain. Grant that I may rise from this sleep to glorify You by my deeds throughout my entire lifetime, and that I be victorious over every spiritual and physical enemy. Deliver me, O Lord, from all vain thoughts and from evil desires, for yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen. (By Saint Macarius)

Daily Reading for Sunday, September 27th, 2015

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Reading 1, Numbers 11:25-29

²⁵ Yahweh descended in the cloud. He spoke to him and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the spirit came on them they prophesied -- but only once.
²⁶ Two men had stayed back in the camp; one was called Eldad and the other Medad. The spirit came down on them; though they had not gone to the Tent, their names were enrolled among the rest. These began to prophesy in the camp.
²⁷ A young man ran to tell Moses this. 'Look,' he said, 'Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.'
²⁸ Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses since he was a boy, spoke up and said, 'My lord Moses, stop them!'
²⁹ Moses replied, 'Are you jealous on my account? If only all Yahweh's people were prophets, and Yahweh had given them his spirit!'

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14

⁸ The precepts of Yahweh are honest, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, light for the eyes.
¹⁰ more desirable than gold, even than the finest gold; his words are sweeter than honey, that drips from the comb.
¹² But who can detect his own failings? Wash away my hidden faults.
¹³ And from pride preserve your servant, never let it be my master. So shall I be above reproach, free from grave sin.
¹⁴ May the words of my mouth always find favour, and the whispering of my heart, in your presence, Yahweh, my rock, my redeemer.

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Gospel, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

³⁸ John said to him, 'Master, we saw someone who is not one of us driving out devils in your name, and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.'
³⁹ But Jesus said, 'You must not stop him; no one who works a miracle in my name could soon afterwards speak evil of me.
⁴⁰ Anyone who is not against us is for us.
⁴¹ 'If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, then in truth I tell you, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
⁴² 'But anyone who is the downfall of one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone hung round his neck.
⁴³ And if your hand should be your downfall, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that can never be put out.
⁴⁵ And if your foot should be your downfall, cut it off; it is better for you enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
⁴⁷ And if your eye should be your downfall, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell
⁴⁸ where their worm will never die nor their fire be put out.

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Reading 2, James 5:1-6

¹ Well now, you rich! Lament, weep for the miseries that are coming to you.
² Your wealth is rotting, your clothes are all moth-eaten.
³ All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be a witness against you and eat into your body. It is like a fire which you have stored up for the final days.
⁴ Can you hear crying out against you the wages which you kept back from the labourers mowing your fields? The cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord Sabaoth.
⁵ On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart's content.
⁶ It was you who condemned the upright and killed them; they offered you no resistance.

St. Michael the Archangel

Short Cuts

Facts

Feastday: September 29
Patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police, and sickness

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St. Michael the Archangel - Feast day - September 29th The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.
Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim. St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness.

Utendaji wa mtu pia huonyesha tabia ya mtu mwenyewe alivyo

Mapema Ijumaa hii 25 Septemba 2015, Baba Mtakatifu alitembelea Makao Makuu ya Umoja wa Mataifa yaliyoko mjini New York, na kuwahutubia wafanyakazi wote wa Ofisi hizo za Makao Makuu ya Umoja wa Mataifa. Katika hotuba yake fupi, Papa aliwashukuru kwa dhati na kuonyesha furaha yake kuwa mahali hapo. Aliwatia nguvu akiwataja kwamba wote wake kwa waume, wao ni uti wa mgongo wa chombo hiki muhimu cha Kimataifa.
Baba Mtakatifu Francisko akihutubia wafanyakazi wa Umoja wa Mataifa mjini New York 25.09.2015 -

Papa alitoa shukurani zake kwa wafanyakazi wote tangu kwa maofisa wa ngazi za juu watalaam hadi kwa wahudumu wa kawaida akisema, kazi zao za kila siku ni muhimu katika kuwezesha kazi za mahusiano ya  kidiplomasia, kiutamaduni, kiuchumi na kisiasa, katika juhudi za  Umoja wa Mataifa, ambazo ni muhimu sana kwa ajili ya kukutanisha matumaini na matarajio ya watu wote wanaounda familia ya binadamu. Na alitambua juhudi na uzoefu wa wafanayakazi hao  kama Maafisa na makatibu, wahariri na wakalimani, wahudumu na wapishi, mafundi wa ukarabati na pia kama maafisa usalama.
Papa aliwashukuru wote kwa moyo wa dhati, kwa kila jambo wanalolifanya kwa manufaa ya wote na hasa kwa majitoleo yao  ambayo si tu huchangia katika ufanikishaji wa kazi za  Umoja wa Mataifa, lakini pia zenye kuwa na maana kubwa, pia  kwao wenyewe binafsi.  Papa alisema jinsi mtu anavyofanya kazi zake huonyesha pia heshima ya mtu mwenyewe alivyo.
Na kwamba wengi wao wametoka katika nchi mbalimbali duniani kote. Na hivyo wanakuwa mfano wa jinsi watu mbalibmali wanavyoweza kuungana na kuwa kitu kimoja katika utumishi kwa manufaa ya wote, na hasa kwa jinsi wanavyoonyesha ustawi wa watoto kupitia mipango mbalimbali ya elimu na lishe. Na pia  katika kujali mustakabali wa dunia na vizazi vijavyo.
Papa alieleza na kutoa ombi kwa kila mmoja wao, akimtaka bila kujali hadhi yake, wajenge umoja na mshikamano, wakihudumiana  mmoja kwa mwingine. Kufanya kazi zao kwa ukaribu zaidi na zaidi katika hali za kuheshimiana  na umoja kati yao ili shirika hili liwe  mfano wa familia ya binadamu , yenye kuishi katika hali ya mapatano na maelewano si tu kwa ajili  ya amani lakini katika amani , kufanya kazi si tu kwa ajili ya haki lakini katika roho ya haki.
Papa alieleza na kuwahakikishia kwamba kila mmoja wao yumo ndani ya moyo wake .  Na kwamba atatolea sala zake kwa ajili yao na familia zao na akawaomba wao pia wamkumbuke katika sala zao .Na kama kuna wasioamini basi amewaomba wamtakie yaliyo mema. "Mungu awabariki wote. Asante" alimalizia Papa Francisko na kupigiwa makofi mengi .

Ujumbe wa Papa Francisco kwa New York :” Mungu yu hai katika miji yetu”

Ijumaa, kama sehemu ya ratiba yake katika kulitembelea jiji la New York, 

Na Paskal Linda- New York.

 BABA Mtakatifu aliongoza Ibada ya Misa katika Bustani ya Madison , ibada iliyohudhuriwa na maelfu ya wakazi wa jiji la New York, wakiwemo Maaskofu, Mapadre Watawa wakiongozwa na Askofu Mkuu Kardinali Timothy Michael Dolan wa Jimbo Kuu la New.
Papa Francisko akipeana Amani na Kardinali Dolan, wakati wa Ibada ya misa katika bustani ya Madson

Papa katika hotuba yake aliyoitoa katika lugha ya kihispania na kutafasiliwa kwa Kiingereza, pia aliwakumbusha  kutosahau kuwahudumia watu maskini na wahitaji wa mji huo.
Papa Francisco aliendelea kuzungumzia wajibu waamini Wakristo katika kutumikia amani na kuwa mashahidi na wataalamu wa ujenzi wa amani, kuthibitisha katika maisha yetu, mfano ukuu wa Kristo , aliyetangazwa na Nabii Isaya kwamba ni Mfalme wa amani. Aliwaambia wote waliokuwa wakimsikiliza, “Nendeni  kwa watu wengine na kuwashirikisha  habari njema kwamba Mungu, Baba yetu, anatembea kando yetu. Papa Francis aliyaambia maelfu ya watu hasa vijana walioshiriki katika Ibada hiyo. Na kwamba  Yeye Kristo  Bwana, hutuopoa na maovu yote ya maisha , hali ya utupu na upweke na ubinafsi ,na huturejesha katika shule ya kukutana na wengine. Yeye  hutuondoa kutoka dhambi ya ushindani na ubinafsi, na kufungua mbele yetu njia ya amani. Amani hiyo inayozaliwa kwa kuwakubali wengine kwa  amani iliyojaza mioyo yetu, na kutusukuma kutazama wahitaji zaidi ndugu zetu na dada.
"Mungu," alisema Papa Francis, "anaishi katika miji yetu: Kanisa linaishi katika miji yetu, na anataka kua kama hamira ilivyo ndani ya unga. Ana hamu ya kumwambia kila mmoja , na kusimama kando ya kila mtu, kama Yeye anaye tangaza maajabu ya, Mungu, Mungu  mwenye nguvu, Baba wa milele, Mfalme wa amani.  Papa alieleza na kunukuu tena aya kutoa Isaya "Watu wale waliokwenda katika giza wameona nuru kuu, "- na sisi wenyewe ni mashahidi wa mwanga."
Homilia ya Papa pia ilionyesha kutambua kwamba kuishi katika majiji si jambo jepesi kwa kuwa ni kukutana na watu wa kila tabaki na hata kuna ubaguzi wa kuwaweka watu wengine daraja la juu na wengine daraja la chini. Lakini kwa utambuzi kwamba Kristo  pia anatembea mitaani , na kwamba ni sehemu ya watu wanaishi katika maisha magumu na sehemu ya mpango wake wa wokovu kwetu, tunajazwa na Tumaini . Tumaini linalotuweka Huru dhidi ya nguvu na mashinikizo yote yanayotaka kututenganisha na kutojali maisha ya wengine katika maisha haya ya mjini.

Pope Francis visits New York City

Pope Francis has arrived in New York City, where he will deliver mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral early Thursday evening. His plans this evening include a motorcade along Fifth Avenue and a vespers service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

He speaks to the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, visits the 9/11 Memorial and goes to Madison Square Garden for a Mass with thousands of attendees. (AP)
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Evening prayerPope Francis leads an evening prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (Photo: Jason DeCrow/AP)

Pope Francis leads prayer
Pope Francis leads an evening prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (Photo: Robert Deutsch/USA Today/AP)

Pope Francis gives a sermon
Pope Francis speaks during evening prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, Sept. 24, 2015. (Photo: Mary Altaffer/AP)

Pope Francis delivers a speech
Pope Francis delivers his speech as he leads an evening prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (Photo: Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Evening prayers
Pope Francis is joined by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, during prayers at the altar of Saint Elizabeth before the evening prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York City. (Photo: Mary Altaffer/Getty Images)

Entering St. Patrick’s Cathedral 
Pope Francis enters St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York City. (Photo: Anthony Behar/Getty Images)

Acknowledges well-wishers 
Pope Francis acknowledges well-wishers outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (L) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) © look on, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York City. (Photo: Damon Winterl/Getty Images)

Arriving at St. Patrick’s
Pope Francis waves as he arrives at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to lead an evening prayer service, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (Photo: Julie Jacobson/AP)

Bird’s-eye view
Pope Francis is viewed from a window at the St. Regis Hotel as he makes his way down Fifth Avenue towards St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York City. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Pope in a handbag 
A picture of Pope Francis peeks out of a handbag along Fifth Avenue before his arrival at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (Photo: John Minchillo/AP)

Pope waves to crowd
Pope Francis waves to the crowd with Cardinal Timothy Dolan as they ride down Fifth Avenue in the popemobile, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (Photo: Julie Jacobson/AP)

On the way to St. Patrick’s Cathedral 
Pope Francis’s motorcade travels down Fifth Avenue, Sept. 24, 2015, on the way to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. (Photo: Richard Drew/AP)

Motorcade on Fifth Avenue
Pope Francis’s motorcade moves through New York City streets, Sept. 24, 2015, on the way to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where he will lead an evening prayer service. (Photo: Richard Drew/AP)

Crowds await motorcade
Crowds watch as the pope’s motorcade moves through New York City streets, Sept. 24, 2015, on the way to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where he will lead an evening prayer service. (Photo: Richard Drew/AP)

Down Fifth Avenue
Pope Francis makes his way down Fifth Avenue towards St. Patrick’s Cathedral Sept. 24, 2015, in New York City. (Photo: Anthony Behar/Getty Images)

Heightened security
A New York City police officer searches nuns outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral prior to the arrival of Pope Francis in New York, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. (Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times/AP)

Helicopter ride to city
Pope Francis boards a waiting helicopter during his arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport Sept. 24, 2015 in New York City. (Photo: Craig Ruttle/Getty Images)

A kiss for Maria
Pope Francis greets Maria Teresa Heyer, a first-grade student from Brooklyn, after his arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP)

Engaging well-wishers
Pope Francis engages well-wishers, including Gerard Gubatan of Brooklyn, after arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP)

Pope blesses children
Pope Francis reaches out to fifth grader Omodele Ojo of Brooklyn, John F. Kennedy International Airport Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP)

A gift for the pope
Pope Francis is given a gift at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Sept. 24, 2015 in New York City. (Photo: Craig Ruttle: Getty Images)

Pope Francis arrives at JFK
Pope Francis arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York City. (Photo: Craig Ruttle/Getty Images)

The pope is a doll
Pedestrians take photographs of Pope Francis dolls displayed in front of a 7-Eleven on Fifth Avenue, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York City. (Photo: Bryan Thomas/Getty Images)

Prayer of the Day for Friday, September 25, 2015

The Prayer Thank You God! Dear Loving and Compassionate God,
Giver of all gifts,
we pray especially today for the mercy and love You give us.
Open our hearts and minds to You.
Give us the grace to accept your mercy.
As we live each day,
we pray for those less fortunate,
especially those who are hurting,
and whose wounds need to be healed.
Help us become involved in ways that show them how deeply
we care.
Give us the personal courage to listen to their concerns
and help them find the solutions to which they are
entitled.
as Your children and our brothers and sisters.

Amen.

Daily Reading for Friday, September 25th, 2015

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Reading 1, Haggai 1:15--2:9

¹ In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of Yahweh was addressed through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel governor of Judah and to Joshua son of Jehozadak the high priest as follows,
² 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "This people says: The time has not yet come to rebuild the Temple of Yahweh." '
³ (And the word of Yahweh was addressed through the prophet Haggai, as follows,)
⁴ 'Is this a time for you to live in your panelled houses, when this House lies in ruins?
⁵ So now, Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "Think carefully about your behaviour.
⁶ You have sown much and harvested little; you eat but never have enough, drink but never have your fill, put on clothes but feel no warmth. The wage-earner gets his wages only to put them in a bag with a hole in it."
⁷ Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "Think carefully about your behaviour.
⁸ Go up into the hills, fetch timber and rebuild the House; and I shall take pleasure in it and manifest my glory there -- Yahweh says.
⁹ The abundance you expected proved to be little. When you brought the harvest in, I blasted it. And why? - Yahweh Sabaoth declares. Because while my House lies in ruins, each of you is busy with his own house.
¹⁵ This was on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. In the second year of King Darius,

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 43:1, 2, 3, 4

¹ Judge me, God, defend my cause against a people who have no faithful love; from those who are treacherous and unjust, rescue me.
² For you are the God of my strength; why abandon me? Why must I go around in mourning, harrassed by the enemy?
³ Send out your light and your truth; they shall be my guide, to lead me to your holy mountain to the place where you dwell.
⁴ Then I shall go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy. I will rejoice and praise you on the harp, O God, my God.

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Gospel, Luke 9:18-22

¹⁸ Now it happened that he was praying alone, and his disciples came to him and he put this question to them, 'Who do the crowds say I am?'
¹⁹ And they answered, 'Some say John the Baptist; others Elijah; others again one of the ancient prophets come back to life.'
²⁰ 'But you,' he said to them, 'who do you say I am?' It was Peter who spoke up. 'The Christ of God,' he said.
²¹ But he gave them strict orders and charged them not to say this to anyone.
²² He said, 'The Son of man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.'

Papa Francisko yuko Marekani

Papa akipokewa na Rais Obama mara baada ya kutua katika uwanja wa Kijeshi wa Marekani akitokea Cuba - EPA

Jumanne,Baba Mtakatifu Francisco alikamilisha ziara yake kisiwani Cuba na kupanda ndege katika uwanja wa kimataifa wa Santiago akielekea Marekani Washington D.C , kwa ndege ya Altalia , safari iliyomchukua muda wa saa sita akiwa angani.Hii ni mara ya kwanza katika Maisha yake Papa Francisko kwenda Marekani.
Akipita katika anga za nchi,  kwa njia ya telegramu alipeleka salaam zake za matashi mema kwa wakuu wa nchi akianzia Rais Raul Castro Ruz, akisema “wakati naondoka katika taifa pendwa la Cuba, napenda kutoa shukurani zangu za dhati kwako wewe na watu wote wa Cuba kwa mapokezi mazuri mliyonipatia. Nami nawaombea Baraka za Mwenyezi Mungu, kwenu nyote na ninawahakikishia maombi yangu kwa ajili ya amani na ustawi wenu nyote”.

Prayer of the Day for Saturday, September 12, 2015

Family Blessing at a Gathering Father in Heaven,
We praise You for giving us Your Son
To be our Saviour and Lord.
Bless us all as we gather here today, (tonight)
And let us live happily in Your love.

Hear our prayer, loving Father,
For we ask this in Jesus' Name.

Amen.