Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya Urges Religious Orders’ Jointly Owned University to Reclaim Catholic, Christ-centred Identity

Nairobi, 14 May, 2025 / 6:20 PM

The Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya has urged Tangaza University (TU), the Kenya-based institution of higher learning that is jointly owned by some 22 Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL), to reclaim its Catholic identity in every aspect of its mission and academic.

In his homily during the celebration of the Family Day 2025 at the Catholic institution that was made a fully-fledged university in May 2024, Archbishop Hubertus Van Megen emphasized the need for a Christ-centred approach in the realization of the institution’s programs amid a rise in “secularization”.

Making reference to a paper he listened to on the history of TU, Archbishop Van Megen remarked that “the name Jesus Christ, or God, never appears in the entire document.”

“That is, of course, a serious question, because it highlights the problem we, as a Church, sometimes face in trying to accommodate the secular world. We use secular language, speak about gospel values, but never mention Jesus Christ. We talk about servant leaders, but never about serving Jesus Christ. We speak about the Church, but we never speak about the Church of Jesus Christ,” he said during the May 10 event.

The Apostolic Nuncio challenged the TU community to move beyond generic moral language and reclaim its identity as founded on and for Christ.

“I assume, at least, that most of you students, and even formators who are present here, are here to serve Jesus Christ, and if not, I would like kindly to ask you to leave this building immediately, because that is what it is all about in a Catholic institution,” Archbishop van Megen said during the Family Day celebration themed, “Celebrating a New Dawn for Greater Service to Church and Society.”

According to the Holy Father’s representative in Kenya, the Eucharist embodies the mission that TU proclaims: teaching minds, touching hearts, transforming lives. 

“Teaching minds happens through the Word of God. Touching hearts is the task of the homily—if done well—and transformation occurs in the Sacrament itself, where Christ gives Himself to us and makes us His body,” he said.

However, he expressed concern that the Eucharistic dimension at TU is not sufficiently visible or emphasized. 

“Someone walking into this campus would not easily know that Christ and the Eucharist are at its center. That must change,” the Dutch-born Vatican diplomat said.

Turning his attention to the quality of formation at TU, the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya urged both students and formators to embrace excellence and avoid mediocrity.

“Work hard, give everything you have. That is not only true for students, it is also true for formators, for professors. You need to prepare your lessons. You cannot be a routine man. You cannot teach on your automatic pilot. You cannot change your courses once every 10 years. No, you have to continuously adjust and update,” he said.

The Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya since February 2019 said, “Professors must be passionate and attractive in the way they teach—otherwise, students will not listen.”

He praised Pope Benedict XVI as an example of an intellectually captivating teacher whose classes drew students from across disciplines. 

“Real teaching involves both the mind and the heart. That’s what makes it transformative,” Archbishop van Megen said.

He paid tribute to the quiet heroism of parents who daily live out the mission of transforming lives. 

“It is fathers and mothers who truly embody self-giving. They live each day for their children, often unnoticed, uncelebrated, and underappreciated,” the Apostolic Nuncio said.

He encouraged Clergy, and Women and Men Religious to emulate that level of presence and sacrifice in their own ministries. 

“Imagine if Priests, Bishops, and Religious loved and served their communities with the dedication of a mother or father. What a beautiful Church we would have!” Archbishop van Megen said.

The May 10 event also served as a platform for a fundraising initiative in support of the Learning Resource Centre — a flagship project designed to enhance academic infrastructure at TU.

In his address during the fundraising, the Vice Chancellor of TU, Fr. Prof. Patrick Mwania laid out the university’s vision, linking the new Learning Resource Centre directly to Tangaza’s Vision 2030 Development Strategy, amphasizing TU’s goal of increasing its student population to 6,000 and aligning with national regulatory standards in higher education.

“Tangaza needs a Learning Resource Centre that will be one of its kind—featuring an ultra-modern library, a conference center, a postgraduate floor, innovation and incubation hubs, and administrative facilities,” Fr. Mwania said in reference to project expected to cost 500 million Kenyan Shillings (US$3,881,286).

He added, “This project is envisioned to create a serene and conducive environment for teaching, learning, and research, while also opening up space to launch new academic programs and community initiatives.”

The Kenyan-born member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans) reflected on the project’s eco-friendly design, aligning it with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 13, promoting responsible consumption and climate action.

(Story continues below)

“This initiative reflects our mission — not for profit, but for impact. Our fees remain among the most affordable in Kenya because we are committed to forming servant leaders for the Church and society,” Fr. Mwania said.

He said the 2024–2025 academic year was officially designated as a fundraising year, themed “Donate to Educate, Transform Lives.” 

Over the past months, the University has organized several activities, including fundraising dinners, a sponsored walk, and alumni-driven initiatives. Local and international donors have also played a key role, with partnerships expected to continue throughout the fundraising journey.

“As we celebrate our identity and mission today, we call on all friends of Tangaza to join us in making this Learning Resource Centre a reality,” Fr. Mwania said.