Nakuru Bishop Calls For Digital Fast As Lent Begins
The bishop singled out social media platforms, including TikTok, saying excessive use is undermining family dialogue and weakening relationships at home.
By Staff Writer
Christians should treat Lent as a time to step back from social media and rebuild family and spiritual life, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru has said.
Speaking during the Ash Wednesday Mass at Christ the King Cathedral in Nakuru, Bishop Cleophas Oseso Tuka urged the faithful to embrace discipline in fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
“Fasting is not about the absence of food, but it’s about starving your flesh so that your spirit may be healthier,” he said.
He told congregants that fasting should create space for God and reduce attachment to habits that distract believers from spiritual growth.
The bishop singled out social media platforms, including TikTok, saying excessive use is undermining family dialogue and weakening relationships at home.
“Social media is preventing us from having dialogue in our families because these days the father, the mother, and children are all on social media,” he said.
He said Lent offers a chance to detach from online routines and refocus on prayer, reflection and shared time within families.
On almsgiving, the bishop said the practice extends beyond financial donations. He encouraged Christians to offer their time, skills and attention to those in need.
“Alms giving is not how much you give but what you give out of love,” he said.
He added that genuine charity flows from compassion and attentiveness to the struggles of others.
Turning to prayer, Bishop Oseso described it as a call to open one’s heart and realign personal life with God’s will.
“Prayer is opening our hearts to God. Most of the time, we close our hearts to God,” he said.
He also encouraged repentance and confession during the Lenten season, describing the period as a time for self-examination and moral renewal.
Reflecting on the ashes imposed on Ash Wednesday, he reminded the faithful that they symbolise humility and human frailty, not public display.
He urged Christians to confront personal failings, including pride, greed, anger and envy, and seek spiritual growth during the 40-day season.
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