Launching of the Use of The New Roman Missal in Kenya, Sunday 15  January 2012
Last year in October, the Catholic Church of Kenya launched the period of the catechesis for The New Roman Missal. This period, came to an end on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. On the 15 January, the Kenya Episcopal Conference Commission for Liturgy officially launched the use of new English translation of the Roman missal (3rd edition) at the Holy Family Basilica at the 11.30 am Mass. After the entrance procession, there was a solemn candle procession as the New Roman Missal was brought forward to the main celebrant, Bishop James Maria Wainaina. The bishop then blessed it and officially proclaimed that from then on, the New English Translation of the Roman Missal would be used in the country.
The Commission gave a six-month’s period for transition from the old translation of the Missal to the new translation of the Missal, taking into account the availability of the Missals in all parishes and schools and the faithful’s acquaintance with the changes in the new translation.
The new English Translation of the Roman Missal is more faithful to the scripture and closer to the original Latin text, which was the original language of the liturgical prayers. Hence it gives our Liturgy a renewed focus on scripture and helps to preserve the Tradition of the Church, since language often carries with it the tradition of a particular culture. In this Missal, the faithful will discover the richness of our Catholic faith and Liturgy, and it will inspire them to take advantage of this moment to deepen our faith and understanding the Liturgy.
The New English Translation of the Roman Missal is available at the Catholic Bookshop in Nairobi and all the Pauline Book and Media Centres in Africa at 130 US dollars.

Below is a text on the new Roman Missal for use in educating Catholics compiled by Fr. Januarius Kioko
I.        THE NEW ENGLISH ROMAN MISSAL (MISSALE ROMANUM, EDITIO TYPICA TERTIA)
The process of implementing a new edition of the prayers of Mass is not new, it has occurred at numerous times throughout the history of the Church, as the Liturgy developed and was adapted to particular circumstances to meet the needs of the Church. In the earliest centuries of the Church, there were no books containing prescribed liturgical prayers, texts, or other Mass instructions. Because the faith of the Church was (and still is) articulated in liturgical prayer, there was a need for consistency and authenticity in the words used in the celebration of the Liturgy.
Collections of prayers contained in Libelli (booklets) developed gradually for use in particular locations and situations such as for a particular monastery, for the Pope, or for other local churches.
The libelli were over the centuries drawn together into larger more organized collections of prayers assembled into “sacramentaries” (liber sacramentorum or sacramentarium), which contained some, but not all, of the prayers of the Mass. The earliest of these sacramentaries were attributed to Pope Leo I, “Leo the Great” (440-461), and Pope Gelasius (492-496), but surviving versions of those sacramentaries date from centuries later.
Other early manuscripts (such as the Ordines Romani) contained detailed descriptions of the celebration of the Mass with the Pope in Rome.
Those written accounts may have gradually served as instructions or rubrics for the celebration of Mass in other settings. Liturgical books grew as they passed from one community (a local church, a diocese, a monastery, etc.) to another, often with prayers added in margins or in blank spaces.
The process of sharing text was by copying by hand. This was a laborious task which at times led to inconsistencies and errors.
“Missals”The first true liturgical books which could be called “missals” were found in monasteries beginning around the 12th and 13th Centuries. A missal contained not only the prayers but the biblical readings, the chants, and the rubrics for the celebration of Mass. It is difficult to trace exact origins of the first missal.
Missale RomanumThe Roman Missal is the book containing the prescribed prayers, chants, and instructions for the celebration of Mass in the Roman Catholic Church. The first book bearing the name Missale Romanum appeared in 1474, perhaps not coincidentally in the same century as the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg (1440).
Published first in Latin under the title Missale Romanum, the text is then translated and, once approved by a recognitio by the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, is published in modern languages for use in local churches throughout the world.
1570 – Pope Pius V: Missale Romanum. It was not until after the Council of Trent that Pope Pius V, in 1570, promulgated an edition of the Missale Romanum (in Latin) that was to be in obligatory use throughout the Latin Church (except in cases where another rite had been in place for at least 200 years).
This marked the first official attempt at uniformity in the celebration of the Mass in the history of the Church.
New Typical Editions of the Missale RomanumSince that time, to accommodate the ongoing evolution and development of the Liturgy, new Typical (i.e. all other printings must conform) Editions of the Missale Romanum were promulgated by Popes for use in the Church:
1604 – Pope Clement VIII: His was a revised Typical Edition of the Missale Romanum of Pope Pius V (1570).
1634 – Pope Urban VIII.
1884 – Pope Leo XIII.
1920 – Pope Benedict XV.
1962 – Pope John XXIII.
International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL).In 1964, the Establishment of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) came up as a result of Vat II decision to allow public celebration of the Catholic Liturgy in vernacular (SC 36).
-         In 1970 – Pope Paul VI: Vat II, published the 1st Typical Edition of the New Missale Romanum.
-         In 1975, Pope Paul VI: Vat II., published the 2nd Typical Edition of the New Missale Romanum. (Order of subdeaconate was abolished, roles of acolytes and lectors were defined (GIRM 142-152).
-         In 2002, Pope John Paul II introduced the 3rd New Typical Edition of the Missale Romanum (editio typica tertia, [since the Second Vatican Council]) for use in the Church. It was printed in 2008. Soon after, the complex work of translating the Latin text into English began. As the Church throughout the English-speaking world prepares to introduce the new edition of the Missal, so does the Church in other countries as the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia is translated into other languages.
Other Minor Revisions to the Text: In addition, there were a number of other minor revisions to the text, published as “reprints” which incorporated minor changes.  The most recent of these were in 1957 after Pope Pius XII’s revisions to the rites of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum in 1955, and in 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI incorporated a number of additional prayers, included those for recently canonized saints as well as for the celebration of an extended Vigil for Pentecost.
Understanding the New English Translation (Edition).The Vatican has revised its principle of revision and translation. The English Texts of the Mass that we are using now are revised and translated in order to make sure that they are in harmony with the Latin texts of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia. The encouragement of Rome to use a single English Version is based on the fact that English has become for many countries the basis from which they make their translations.
This present translation uses the principle of formal equivalence which means that when translating a text you do not have to follow the word order and the structure of the original text: but have to aim at having the same effect on the reader of your translation that the original text had on its original reader. Faithfulness to the original language helps to preserve the sacred language of worship and to pass on the richness which those texts contain. Preserving the original language of the text helps to preserve the language of faith, which in turn passes the tradition from generation to generation. It is a continuity of what the Lord handed on to us.  Hence, this new translation offers a new opportunity for a profound catechesis, a spiritual renewal and a rediscovery of the liturgical treasure that the Church has always possessed from the beginning. Liturgical catechesis is essential for us to appreciate and appropriate what the Liturgy reveals and discloses.
This new text has been brought closer to its original sources:  Scripture, tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers.
Renewed Focus on ScriptureMany of the prayers we pray in the liturgy have expressions and imagery drawn from scripture. The Word that is proclaimed is really that which the Lord is speaking to us throughout the liturgical celebration. This new translation is profoundly a biblical gesture, by its almost radical faithfulness to Scripture, trying to give more importance to Scripture, the Word of God, to the life of the Church. As people begin to celebrate Mass with the new order of Mass, they will gradually realize how scriptural the text of the Roman Missal is. The words used in the prayers are very scriptural. For instance, the third Eucharistic prayer: “from East to West a perfect Sacrifice is made to the glory of your name” translates something from the prophet Malachi who uses, not from ‘East to West…’, but from the ‘Rising of the Sun to its setting…’ this translation has been restored because it is closer to the original text and closer to the scriptural text. In this Missal, there is a richness we will discover which will help and challenge us to take time and read and pray over the texts. This is an advantage because it is a great Catechetical moment.
Tradition:The language in which the prayers of the Church were written was Latin and in that way the new translation of the Roman missal helps us to preserve the language of faith. This new translation has tried as much as possible to be faithful not only to Scripture, but also to the writing of the early Church Fathers; which were mainly written in Latin and which in turn became the language of the Church. Hence, in being faithful to the original text and Scripture, the new Missal helps to pass on the tradition of the Church from generation to generation.
It Is An Up-date:In addition to the above, the new Roman Missal introduces the New Prefaces, Eucharistic Prayers and new feasts or Saints celebrated universally.  Besides, it has the new calendar proper to the Saints of Africa.

Cardinal Arinze From Francis Card. ArinzeDear Sr Teresa,
The beautiful Roman Missal prepared for countries of the English-speaking parts of Africa does great credit to Paulines Publications Africa. It is prepared in a very suitable altar format. The printing is clear and attractive. The texts are produced with total fidelity to the original. Propers are included for African countries, with details for some. And the price is attractive when compared to similar productions in other continents.
Please accept my hearty congratulations and gratitude and share the same with Father Rinaldo Ronzani and all others who in any way contributed to the production of this fine Missal. I wish all of you God’s abundant blessing. 7th November 2011

Pope Benedict: Africa a reservoir of life

“I ask you to join me in commending all Christ’s followers in Africa to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Africa, so that by their witness of fidelity to God’s word, their commitment to the spread of the Gospel and their efforts to build communion, peace and solidarity they can become protagonists of a new season of hope for that great Continent”, this was Pope Benedict XVI’s appeal Wednesday during his weekly general audience.

From: www.vatica.va

More details>>>

Benedict XVI: A fond goodbye to Benin and Africa

Pope Benedict the XVI has ended his 22nd Apostolic visit to the West African nation of Benin.
Speaking before boarding a flight to Rome the Holy Father said that Africa was a continent for which he had a special regard and affection. He also expressed his gratitude for the three days spent in Benin among the people in joy and friendship. Our correspondent in Benin Father Moses Hamungole reports.

From: www.vatica.va

More details>>>

Pope’s Visit to Benin (Africa)

The Pope is visiting Africa from 18th-20th November 2011. In Benin, the Holy Father will meet with Bishops of the entire continent.
The key moment will be the signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. The signing ceremony will take place in the presence of thirty-five Presidents of National Episcopal Conferences, and the seven heads of the continent's Regional Conferences.
Fr Lombardi explained that the Pope's visit has raised great expectations. "It will certainly arouse an atmosphere of hope for the African Church, and be an encouragement to the continent of Africa as a whole. Naturally, it will emphasise existing problems, but from a positive perspective, underlining commitment to reconciliation, justice and peace, and the announcement of the Gospel as part of man's integral development.”
Another key moment will be the Pope's visit to the tomb of the Beninese Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, who died in 2008 and is still much loved by his people.
During the visit, the Holy Father will also be offered The Roman Missal for the English-speaking Dioceses of Africa.