“Don’t doubt, don’t feel you're alone”: Archbishop to Newly Ordained Kenyan Spiritan Priest after 19 Years as Deacon

Archbishop Kivuva, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the Social Communications Commission of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) recalled the example of Peter, who began to sink when he doubted and urged the Spiritan Priest-elect to hold firm to faith.

Credit: ACI Africa

“When He calls you and says, ‘Come, follow me,’ as He told Peter, Peter got out of the boat and walked toward Him. But at one moment, Peter began to doubt. And it was only when he began to doubt that he began to sink and suffer. Never lose faith, for Christ is always with you,” he said.

The Catholic Church leader underscored the value of obedience, simplicity, and faithfulness for members of the Clergy, and told Deacon Isaac, “Remember, you are not calling yourself; you are called by God Himself. Be faithful to your promises, especially things you do at the level of committing yourself to God.”

“It's easy to say yes now. In the future, you may say, 'I didn't mean it.' But let us be faithful to our promises,” Archbishop Kivuva said, and continued, “Christ wants you to put your life on the line.”

Credit: ACI Africa

“Be ready to be called up even in the middle of the night,” he emphasized.

The Local Ordinary of Mombasa Archdiocese since his installation in February 2015 cautioned the Spiritan Priest-elect against boredom because of routine. He said, “Don't get tired of seeing the same catechists calling you, asking you, many times over. See it as a call, where you don't count the number of times that have come up, but you say, that is the voice of Jesus himself calling me.”

“Never say no to the call of the needy. Even a listening ear, a word of blessing, can be a channel of grace,” the Catholic Church leader said.

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Referring to the multi-year Synod on Synodality that was concluded on 27 October 2024 in Rome, Archbishop Kivuva said that Priests are called to be the voice of the voiceless. “We should be the voice of the voiceless, speaking for the poor and marginalized, for those who suffer and are in difficulty,” he said.

The Kenyan Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in June 2003 as Bishop of Kenya’s Machakos Catholic Diocese called upon the Laity to support Clergy in their ministry, saying, “Help us live our vows, our yes to Him.”

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He emphasized the importance of partnerships across Christian communities, encouraging all to build “an oasis of love” in their various interactions.

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Meanwhile, the Provincial Superior of Spiritans in Kenya and South Sudan, Fr. Fredrick Elima Wafula, announced that the newly ordained Priest had been appointed to the Spiritan Province of Tanzania.

In his speech during the June 28 Ordination event, Fr. Wafula congratulated Fr. Isaac. He termed the commissioning of Fr. Isaac to Tanzania as “very important”.

Fr. Fredrick Elima Wafula. Credit: ACI Africa

“This is very important for us, as a Province, to have a confrere participate in the evangelization of people beyond his culture, outside his own country,” the Spiritan Provincial Superior said, and added, “We are proud, as a Province, that we have an ambassador for us, and the Congregation at large.”

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“We look forward to your great contribution to the Province of Tanzania and the Congregation. We will support you as we seek your support and love to the ends of the earth,” Fr. Wafula told the new Spiritan Priest, ordained a Priest after serving as a Deacon for 19 years.