“Remain faithful to this journey”: Kenyan Catholic Bishop to ICLSAL Members on World day for the Consecrated

Maralal, 03 February, 2026 / 5:51 PM

The Chairman of the Commission for Clergy and Religious-Liaison at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has encouraged Members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) to remain steadfast in their journey of consecrated life and live out their vocation joyfully.

In his message to ICLSAL members serving in Kenya on the occasion of the celebration of the 30th World Day for Consecrated Life, Bishop Hieronymus Emusugut Joya noted that Consecrated life “is an essential path for the Church today” which emphasizes the living out of the vocation “with immense joy, acting as a ‘living memorial’ of Jesus.”

“I would like to encourage all of us consecrated to God, both men and women, to remain faithful to this journey,” he said in a message shared with ACI Africa on Tuesday, January 2026, adding, “Together we tell the story of communion, of prophecy, and shared mission, rooted in Christ. We are many voices, one call: to walk together for God's mission, bringing light and hope to our time.”

Bishop Joya, who is the Local Ordinary of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Maralal, called upon the ICLSAL members to find “new ways and new expressions” of sharing love, joy, and hope with the people of God.

“Our life is embraced and lived concretely in communion with one another,” the Kenyan IMC Bishop said, recalling Pope Leo XIV’s homily during the 2025 Jubilee of Consecrated Life, in which he invited them to strive “to become, day by day, more and more experts in Synodality.”

The KCCB official encouraged ICLSAL members to view the 2026 World Day for Consecrated Life as an opportunity to renew their commitment and, following the example of “Simon and Anna, to continue offering words of blessing, praise, and awe even amid daily challenges.”

He said, “Let us joyfully renew our consecration! Let nothing rob us of the joy of the encounter with Christ. We are invited to reflect on our vocation and rediscover the enthusiasm, amazement, and joy of being part of a project of love.”

“If we embrace Christ with open arms, we will also embrace others with trust and humility. So, let us open our arms to Christ and to all our brothers and sisters. For that is where Jesus is,” Bishop Joya said.