My Dear Brothers and Sisters; May the Lord  grant you Peace!

Our great joy of celebrating this year the eight centenary of Founding the Order and twenty five years of our presence on Kenyan soil, invites us, the Conventual Franciscan Friars, to express our gratitude to God for the gift of St. Francis who, by his lifestyle was preaching the Gospel of peace, joy, love and forgiveness to the whole world. Each life, yours and mine, has the power to transform the world. Our lives lived in harmony with the Gospel can affect and influence so many lives which are waiting for our joy and peace.

This is the message of St. Francis who changed the entire world, by changing only one person - himself. He did it in non violent manner, calmly using only one weapon, which was Love. Both of us, you and I, do have that weapon in our hearts. Just use it or lose it.

Today Francis invites us here in Kenya to begin the journey of touching lives of the people who desperately need hope. Francis is encouraging us to surrender our broken lives to Jesus who can use our gifts and talents in the best possible way. Together with St. Francis we can say - Yes we can!