For Sr. Maureen Naryama Ogundeph of the Sacramentine Sisters of Bergamo (SSBG), the celebration of the Consecrated, marked on “the Feast of the Presentation, also known as Candlemas, holds significant spiritual meaning ... it symbolizes the importance of living a life of faith and obedience to God's commandments.”
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“The feast emphasizes Jesus as the Light of the World, a reminder of my mission to bring Christ's light into the world through my ministry ... Mary's role in the presentation highlights her humility, obedience, and dedication, serving as a model for my own spiritual journey,” Sr. Maureen explained.
She said that “the encounters with Simeon and Anna, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah, inspire me to remain steadfast in my faith and service, embodying patience, hope, and devotion.”
The Kenyan-born SSBG member called upon the people of God in Nairobi and Kenya to “draw strength” from “vibrant” Christian communities, “embracing unity and resilience as we work together to overcome challenges.”
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“To all Africans, let us celebrate our rich diversity and shared history, forging a future rooted in solidarity and progress,” she said, and added, “To the global community, may we recognize our interconnectedness and strive for a world where compassion and cooperation prevail.”
“In every corner of the world, let hope be our beacon, guiding us toward a brighter and more harmonious future. Together, with faith, love, and determination, we can achieve greatness,” Sr. Maureen told ACI Africa on Sunday, February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the temple.
What the celebration of the Jubilee Year for the Consecrated means for Sr. Gladys Karimi Ndege is a recollection of the love of God.
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“It is a special day to me as it reminds me of the love of God as a Religious Sister. It is also a Thanksgiving Day as I thank God for this great gift of Religious Life; a life surrendered to the Lord, accepting His will for me and seeking that will each day. It is a day of my re-dedication to God,” the Kenyan member of the Sisters of Emmanuel (SE) told ACI Africa.
Sr. Gladys shared a message of hope for the people of God, saying, “If there is life, there is hope,” and citing Jeremiah 29:11, added, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future”.
The celebration reminds Fr. Earnest Ahanotu “of the amazing gift of Religious vocation that God gave to unworthy servant like me. It’s also an invitation to treasure the Religious Life and to totally depend upon His grace to live the religious life.”
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In his message for the people of God, the Nigerian-born member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSp./Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans) called for patience, saying, “Our God is still in control, and again He is too faithful to fail us. Let us be patient with God.”
For the Provincial Superior of the Spiritans in Kenya and South Sudan, the celebration of the 2025 Jubilee Year for the Consecrated is an opportunity to see the Church as missionary.
“There are more men and women Religious ready to serve. Let’s keep supporting our Religious, amidst emerging challenges. Women and men Religious will continue offering the hope and change we desire in the world,” Fr. Frederick Wafula said.
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Sr. Celestine Nasiali of the Religious Missionary Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of Assumption (OA) told ACI Africa that the celebration is about a “personal renewal in my journey of faith” with hope, which she said “does not disappoint.”
“Let us embrace this year set for hope together. Let us renew our missionary work, go to the peripheries, and take hope to them. We are empowered, enlightened to share our talents as pilgrims of hope,” Sr. Celestine said, referring to the theme of the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year.
On her part, Sr. Mary Mutahi of the Pauline Sisters said the celebration “is a reminder of my commitment to God, the joy of my vocation, and the call to be a witness of His love in the world.”
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“May God’s love sustain us always,” the Kenyan FSP member implored, and added, “Let us be beacons of hope, peace, and compassion in a world that longs for God’s presence.”
For Fr. Vincent Shumila of the Capuchin Franciscan Fathers (OFMCap), “The day reminds me of my call to serve in God’s vineyard. Just like Jesus, I’m called to carry my daily cross as I contribute towards healing, feeding and embracing the rejected amongst us. Generally, it is a call to be Christ like.”
Fr. Vincent emphasized the call to service, and appealed, “Serve, serve, serve without looking for the rewards. It is a calling to be the hand, eyes, feet, and ears of the Lord.”
On her part, Sr. Mary Santrina Tumusiime of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM/Loreto Sisters) said that in celebrating the 2025 Jubilee Year of Consecrted Life, she recalls her “own consecration which for me is the total self giving to the ministry of Christ.”
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“This was my first time to see and pray with soooooo many fellow consecrated people gathered together which is a sign of hope,” Sr. Santrina said about the February 1 celebration that took place at St. Mary’s Msongari School grounds in Westlands, Nairobi.
She added, “The Lord still draws many people to Himself in Consecrated Life so as to carry on His ministry to the many people in different corners of the world. I was glad to carry the candle that I was given at my Perpetual Vows; that's the one I lit, reminding me of my call to keep the light of Christ burning bright in a world that needs a lot of hope.”
For the Ugandan-born Loreto Sister, “this jubilee of hope is timely given the nature of our world, which is highly and rapidly secularising. The people of God need more than ever, people who can convey a message of hope that despite all the happenings, God still reigns.”
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“It is you and me to give this message to whomever we encounter, by living a life of witness to the values of the gospel,” she told ACI Africa on February 1.
Sr. Zipporah Wawira Njiru of the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi (ASN) described the 2025 Jubilee for the Consecrated celebration as “very crucial”.
“As a Religious, this day is very crucial as it reminds me of the precious vocation that God has granted me and therefore, a re-awakening to continue being faithful to my vocation as a Consecrated person.”
Recalling the homily of the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya during the February 1 celebration, Sr. Zipporah posed, “Why are we fighting in our Religious communities?”
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“Keeping complaining in our religious communities is a sign of foolishness,” the Kenyan ASN member lamented, and appealed, “We should keep striving in our apostolates as pilgrims of hope despite the many challenges we encounter; Religious Life is a sign of hope in society.”
Sr. Zipporah emphasized the need for communion with God in prayer, saying, “Let all commit their daily responsibilities to God in prayer and execute them with commitment, sacrifice and perseverance as a service to God with hope that tomorrow will be better than today.”
“Additionally, let all journey together as brothers and sisters encouraging one another despite the many challenges each might be facing,” she told ACI Africa on February 1.
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