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Practice Your Nursing Profession “from the Catholic ethical point of view”: Catholic Bishop to New Nurses

Credit: St. Joseph's Mission Hospital, Migori School of Nursing

By Silas Isenjia

Homabay, 17 May, 2024 / 10:36 pm (ACI Africa).

New nurses, who graduated from St. Joseph's Mission Hospital, Migori School of Nursing under the auspices of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay have been called upon to practice their nursing profession in line with Catholic values.

In his homily during the 5th graduation ceremony of the Catholic health institution on Friday, May 17, Bishop Michael Otieno Odiwa of Homa Bay Diocese also cautioned against the temptation to prioritize financial benefits over service delivery.

“This is a Catholic institution, and having prepared you in all aspects, you may now go out and operate from the Catholic ethical point of view,” Bishop Odiwa said at St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital of his Episcopal See.

He challenged the new nurses to take their medical oaths seriously. The oaths they were taking, the Catholic Bishop said, are not mere "lip service" but need to originate from their hearts and serve as a guide during their medical practice.

The oaths, he further said, “should spring from your hearts to give yourselves wholeheartedly from your love of God and from the voice that is speaking in your heart as the love of God and His people so that you operate in generosity and selflessness.”

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“As we send you out today to serve the people of God, please do not prioritize money; let your service not be about self-benefits; think about humanity,” Bishop Odiwa said at the Catholic health institution that is under the leadership of a member of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSJ/Asumbi Sisters).

He emphasized the need to serve responsibly, saying, “We pray that as you go out there, you will be responsible nurses as you serve humanity because as long as you are responsible, even if the income is insufficient, God will bless you.”

“God called you in this profession for His glory,” the 61-year-old Catholic Bishop who has been at the helm of Homa Bay Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in February 2021 added.

He urged the new nurses to understand and accept that their profession is a divine calling.

“Dear friends, if God did not call you into this, you will find it extremely difficult,” Bishop Odiwa said, and called upon the new nurses to be experts “in the profession; and you have the skills to be able to do that.”

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He said, “It is unfortunate if you are in the field of nursing just for professionalism and for earning a living. In this regard, you will not have a big heart to give yourself to God and to serve humanity.”

Silas Isenjia

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.

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