Foster Gospel Values “right from within our communities”: Kenyan Archbishop to Consecrated

Pope Saint John Paul II instituted the World Day for Consecrated Life in 1997 as an annual observance to be marked on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. For 2024, the event that brings together members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) was organized under the theme, "Pilgrims of Hope on the Path of Peace".

In his February 3 homily, Archbishop Anyolo called upon women and men Religious serving in Nairobi Archdiocese to “renew our commitment to peace, to reconciliation and brotherhood”, and added, “These are not just ideals but concrete expressions of our love for Christ and his creation.”

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The Local Ordinary of Nairobi Archdiocese since his installation in November 2021 emphasized the need for the Consecrated to live the Evangelical Counsels in “truth and charity”.

“My brothers and sisters in Consecrated Life, our lives must be lived in truth and charity; we understand the meaning of these two words (truth and charity) as applicable in our formation, in our way of life, in Charisms, and in all we do as Religious people,” he said.

Archbishop Anyolo went on to reflect on the readings of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, emphasizing the need for dedication and service in Consecrated Life.

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Simeon and Anna’s “recognition of Jesus Christ challenges us to see and proclaim Christ in our own lives in all that we do, speak and think and in relationship with our charism,” Archbishop Anyolo said.

He added, “Through our commitments and actions, we too are called to be a light for revelation and a source of glory just as Jesus was for the Israelites and the Gentiles.”

In the face of challenges that come with living Consecrated Life, the Kenyan Catholic Archbishop called for “a life of continuous spiritual purification to the vows and the life we have chosen to live.”

“In the refiner’s fire of our daily challenges and joys, we are invited to be ever ready for the Lord’s coming, renewing ourselves in service to God and to His Church and here we do it now again, and to renew our commitment, our pure thoughts and hearts in the service of God,” he said during February 3 Holy Mass that had the Auxiliary of Nairobi, Bishop David Kamau, Archbishop emeritus of Nairobi, John Cardinal Njue, and dozens of Priests among the concelebrants.

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In his remarks at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, Bishop Kamau challenged women and men Religious to be “a sign of contradiction in their lives” as Simeon prophesied about the person of Jesus Christ.

“Our victory, which is the victory of Jesus is the cross; so the difficulty will be there in our lives but that is the way Jesus intended and we should therefore not be discouraged,” the Kenyan Catholic Bishop said.

He went on to acknowledge with appreciation the service of the Consecrated in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, which he said is witnessed in hospitals, schools, and in other social apostolates.

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“We are here as Consecrated people and that consecration is what has put us together,” the Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi since his Episcopal Ordination in March 2000 said, and added, “Despite being very active in various apostolates, what makes us important and united is being Consecrated.”

On his part, Cardinal Njue described WDCL as a unique day for women and men Religious, who he said need to “be proud of whom God has made you to be.”

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“Problems come and go, but you are there to stay,” the 80-year-old Kenyan Cardinal, who started his Episcopal Ministry in September 1986 as Bishop of Kenya’s Embu Diocese said, underscoring the need for women and men Religious to count on God’s graces.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK), Nairobi unit, Sr. Caroline Kariithi, drew inspiration from the theme of the WDCL 2024 to call upon women and men Religious to be “pilgrims of hope”.

Sr. Kariithi added, “It's inevitable then that we listen to the cry of the poor who every day knock at the doors of our homes, who beg on the streets; it is them we must give hope.”

The Kenyan-born member of the Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes (SJT) continued, “Mother Earth is crying that we may become alert and sensitive, taking care of the creation and becoming its true custodian.”

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On his part, the Vice Chairperson of the Clergy of Nairobi Archdiocese, Fr Peter Kaigwa, appealed to women and men Religious to pray for the beatification process of Kenya’s first native Catholic Bishop and Cardinal, the Servant of God Michael Maurice Cardinal Otunga.

In November 2022, the Archbishop of Nairobi urged the people of God to initiate “popular devotion” to boost the cause for the canonization of the Kenyan Servant of God.

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“We want to ask you, my dear people of God, to plan so that even here in your own Parish you have a popular devotion to pray and ask for the intercession of the Servant of God, Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga,” Archbishop said on 20 November 2022, during the Silver Jubilee and Family Day celebrations of Christ the King Embakasi Parish of Nairobi Archdiocese.