Prioritize Education in “Christian faith” in Fostering Religious Vocations: Kenyan Nun

An appropriate strategy in tapping into vocations to Religious Life in Africa, the Nairobi-based FSP Regional Superior said, is “to start nurturing vocations in our children when they are young and in schools.” 

“The challenge today is that some children don’t want to talk about vocations; they just want to enjoy life,” she said, adding, “If the seed of vocation is planted in a child by God, it will still come out.”

Sr. Mwaiwa (holding microphone). Credit: ACI Africa

Sr. Mwaiwa went on to reflect on the significance of having a Christian background saying that a person grounded in gospel values from childhood grows up striving to foster human values, including loving, caring, and sharing among other values that Jesus Christ promoted.

The Sacrament of Baptism, which makes a person a full member of the Church and also introduces the person to the gifts of the Church facilitates the growth of gospel and human values, the Kenyan Nun who has been FSP Regional Superior since last year told ACI Africa June 17.

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Sr. Mwaiwa congratulating the four Sisters during their perpetual profession. Credit: ACI Africa

“Being a full member of the Church opens one to the gifts of the Church such as charisms that are found among the people of God,” she further said, and added, “Out of these gifts, Religious Life will automatically come out.”

Sr. Mwaiwa regretted the fact that family life today is threatening vocations to Religious Life, with families preferring to have few children.

She went on to link the current family life to the economic constraints caused by factors such as unemployment and the high cost of living. She said, “Families don’t give birth to many children because of the economic situation.”

“The Church needs to keep helping families to understand the meaning of life, so that we don’t emulate what is happening in Western countries by having few children,” the Kenyan Catholic Nun said.

She challenged the notion of couples preferring few children, posing, “What is the value of children? They are the ones who help the Church. If we continue like that, maybe a time will come when families will prefer to have only one child and then what will happen to the Church?”

Sr. Mwaiwa, first from right, during cake cutting with Archbishop Philip Anyolo. Credit: ACI Africa

The Church has a responsibility of helping families understand that vocations to Religious Life come from them, the FSP Regional Superior overseeing communities in Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia reiterated during the June 17 interview with ACI Africa.

Sr. Mwaiwa cautioned young people against joining Religious Life out of compulsion. She said, “Vocation is a gift that comes from God, the lord calls us, and when He calls, we respond. When we say yes, we are not pushed by anyone, parents or siblings.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.