Nairobi, 30 June, 2025 / 10:50 PM
Professing the Evangelical Counsels, the set of three vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience that are at the heart of Religious Life, comes with the benefit of freedom to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to serve the needy and downtrodden, the Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans/CSSp.) in Kenya and South Sudan has said.
In his homily during the Perpetual profession of 12 Spiritans from Burundi, Kenya, and Tanzania at Immaculate Heart of Mary Migombani Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, Fr. Fredrick Elima Wafula lauded the newly professed for their courage to give themselves for the mission of the Lord.
“Your vows are not a loss, but a great gain – the gain of freedom to go wherever the Spirit leads, to serve the poor, the forgotten, the abandoned,” Fr. Wafula said on Sunday, June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.
In professing the Evangelical Counsels, he said, the Religious join the mission of Jesus Christ.
“Like Paul, your mission is to preach ‘Christ and Him crucified’ in word and deed – in Borana, in Pokot … in the world,” the Nairobi-based Spiritan Provincial Superior said highlighting some of the mission territories of the Spiritans in Ethiopia and Kenya respectively.
The public commitment to living the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience means that “you tell the world: I belong to Jesus. I am His. I will go wherever He sends me,” Fr. Wafula told his confreres, and added, “You are now Spiritans, forever missionaries to the ends of the earth.”
There were 2,714 Spiritans present in some 60 countries across the globe according to the 30 April 2024 statistics of the Congregation that was founded in 1703 in France.
Over the years, the Congregation’s membership has undergone a “significant demographic shift” from the Northern hemisphere. For every 10 Spiritans, seven “come from 25 circumscriptions in Africa”, comprising 1,906 members (70.23%), Fr. Alain Mayama, the first African Spiritan Superior General, said in his Pentecost 2024 Message.
Kenyan Spiritans, who took Final Vows during the June 29 event included Peter Mwangi Muthoni, Joseph Lowoi Leakile, Raphael Magwaro Rosana, William Mwaura Macharia, Kizito Boniface, Duncan Muniu Wangui, and Victor Onyango Odhiambo.
Four Spiritans from Tanzanian made their Perpetual profession. They included Joseph Alphonce Mushi, Edward Moshi Simkonda, Straton Honest Ngowi, and Barnabas Joseph Kyara.
Alex Jimmy Bizimana from Burundi was among the 12 Spiritans who made their Perpetual profession at the June 29 Eucharistic celebration, during which four couples celebrated the Sacrament of Matrimony.
In his homily, the Spiritan Provincial Superior described the double celebration of Perpetual profession and Matrimony as a unique convergence of vocations and grace.
Fr. Wafula explained, “Today is no ordinary day. Heaven is rejoicing, and earth is stirred with joy. Twelve brothers are offering themselves fully to God as Spiritan missionaries, and four couples are sealing their love in the sacred covenant of marriage.”
He related the candidates of the double celebration to the two personalities of the Solemnity, saying, “Saints Peter and Paul were not perfect men ... Yet both heard the call, responded, and gave their whole lives to Christ. Like them, our 12 brothers and 4 couples are not responding because they are perfect, but because they are willing to love, to serve, and to follow Jesus.”
“Peter became the rock. Paul became the apostle to the nations. Today, you, our brothers and sisters, are becoming rocks of faith and apostles of love for the Church,” he added.
Addressing the four couples, Fr. Wafula said, “In your love, we see a reflection of Christ’s love for the Church… Your union is not merely emotional. It is sacramental; it is holy.”
He expressed his awareness of the challenges of spouses and emphasized the need to have God “at the center” of the marriage and family institution.
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“Marriage is not easy. It is a daily journey of forgiveness, faith, and self-giving. But with God at the center, your love can become a light for your children, a witness to the community, and a joy to the Church,” Fr. Wafula said.
He continued, “The same Spirit who anoints our missionaries today also anoints your union. He will be your strength in trials and your joy in triumphs.”
The Spiritan Provincial Superior in Kenya and South Sudan went on to call upon parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Migombani Parish to go beyond admiration and nurture vocations to the Priesthood and marriage.
“Migombani Parish, today God is visiting you in power! From your soil are rising apostles and families of faith. Let us not simply witness this moment; let us support, accompany, and pray for these brothers and sisters,” he said, adding, “Let us raise our children with openness to God's call - whether to Priesthood, Religious Life, or Holy marriage.”
Fr. Wafula prayed for continued openness and courage in discerning God’s call and implored, “Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. Holy Spirit of God, send us. Amen.”
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