He added, “Through the witness of the Blessed Sr. Maria Carola who offered her life in this beloved country as a religious sister, we thank all those who received her and never thought all this would have happened.”
The Local Ordinary of Kenya’s Mombasa Archdiocese recognized the collaborative approach Blessed Carola fostered in her missionary life in Kenya shown in her good rapport with local authorities.
“Let us work together for the Kenya we want, the Kenya we love. We protect it by working together in the line and the sight of our saint who has given us an example Archbishop Kivuva said.
He went on to acknowledge the cooperation between the Catholic Church in Kenya and the Kenyan government in the preparation of the beatification ceremony, saying, “We thank God for this great event, a partnership of the Church and the State, and the county. This is a sign of what Kenya can be if we only join hands to walk and work together.”
In her message during the November 5 ceremony, the Governor of Meru County, Kawira Mwangaza, advocated for unity in the example of the life of Blessed Carola.
(Story continues below)
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“As we celebrate this beatification event, let us celebrate our unity as a people of the same Father. Let us not allow divisions. Instead, let us be united and triumph through the faith, love and hope in the life of Sr. Maria Carola,” Governor Mwangaza said in her message that was read out by her Deputy, Rev. Mutuma M’Ethingia.
The Governor added, “Divine providence has granted the Cottolengo family, Meru and Africa a present that invites us all to the paths of holiness. Blessed Maria Carola has been described as the venerable who gave her life in Kenya.”
On his part, the Governor of Kenya’s Tharaka-Nithi County prayed that the beatification event brings transformation in interpersonal relationships, inspiring in the people of God in Kenya the desire to reach out to the “less privileged” in the example of Blessed Carola.
“It is our hope that as we leave here today our lives will be different in terms of how we relate to others and how we use our positions of privilege to be able to serve those who are less privileged,” Governor Muthomi Njuki said.
“We have learnt a lot from this beatification,” the Governor further said, and added, “It is not the length of life that you live but the quality of life that you live; and the quality of life is depicted in how many lives you touch.”
The beatification ceremony was presided over by Antoine Cardinal Kambanda who had been delegated by Pope Francis.
In his homily, Cardinal Kambanda acknowledged with gratitude “sacrifices and risks” that Blessed Carola made during her 20-year missionary service in Kenya.
“Blessed Sr. Maria Carola represents the holiness of so many missionaries in those days who accepted to endure all sorts of sacrifices and risks to bring the salvation of God to us,” the Archbishop of Rwanda’s Kigali Archdiocese said, adding, “It is the best act of charity that one can do to make the others know the love of Christ.”