The Fish Group

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Candle light memorial is an activity marked to remember thos who have died due to HIV. I have been participating in this activiti since 1999 when we were working with James Okal at Pandi. This idea of organizing candle light have never left me. This year I organized on at Kangundo Friends you do not know how powerful this activity is. People are touched to the core of their being.The ccildren ate the ones who realy get touched most followed by women. as fro men ....... I dont know but I know that I have so much personally. This is the group of community members I worked with. We are working on the Lords farm in a different way.

Martin Opondo

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The Fish Group Profile

(a) Historical Background:-

The Fish youth group was founded in the year 1985 in Kisumu City by two catholic missionaries, Rev Fr. Anthony Chantry MHM and Rev. Sr. Mary Ellen Howard SND

Their main goal was to bring the catholic youths together to strengthen their common faith, become strong members of the church and grow into responsible adults.

The group was officially launched on 21^st April, 1985 when the first 22 trained youth leaders were sent out, two by two to start their groups.

Today after twenty three years of existence, the group is posed to take the next level of growth by a storm.

(b) Why the FISH?

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the apostles began the work of evangelization amidst persecution and execution of the followers of Christ. The early Christians agreed on a secret sign for identification so to avoid unnecessary sufferings. This sign was FISH which in Greek is ICHTHUS (IXOYZ) an acronym for

I = Jesus

X = Christ

O = God’s Son

Y = And

Z = Saviour

The sign of Fish is not only relevant to the early Christians but is also very relevant amongst the community in which the group was founded. Fish is the stable food for the inhabitants of Kisumu and the natives are revered for their expertise in eating the commodity withal the bones intact.

(c) Aims of the Fish group

1) To get to know each other as brothers and sisters of Christ.

2) To hear the word of God and by sharing and answering questions, find out how to apply it to our daily lives.

3) To pray for the coming kingdom of God.

4) To do a group ACTION to serve the local communities especially by helping the poor, the sick, the elderly and the suffering.

5) To arrange social and educational activities for the group such as sports, music, seminars/trainings etc

(d) Duties of the Fish members

1) To attend the HOLY MASS every Sunday and on holy days.

2) To attend all Fish meetings, taking full parts in them, and the activities of the group, co-operating with the leaders of the group.

3) To do the agreed ACTION of the group.

The three stones on which the Fish is cooking-(the tradition Luo-kendo

(e) The Fish Prayer

God our Father,

We have gathered here together in the name of your son Jesus Christ.

He has promised to be present among us now, and will speak to us through your word, help us to do what you want us to do in our lives, so that through our good works all people will know you.

We ask this in the name of your son Jesus Christ.

Amen!

(f) A small Christian community for the youth?

The Fish group was founded on the principles of the small Christian communities. The motto of the group is SHARING which enables the members to grow and nourish their faith by encouraging each other to be faithful to God as they fellowship continuously. At least here, the youths have a church group they can call their own.

Compiled by: - Steve Owiti for the updates of the blog.