First-ever Blind Catholic Priest Ordination in Kenya Appreciation of Capacity: Archbishop

“Many people who may not have the abilities, the normal abilities that we value, are very gifted in so many other ways that make them still very effective in the ministry, in evangelization, and in fulfilling the call that they have received. Of course, it is ours to ensure that they are well prepared,” he said.

Fr. Michael was ordained to the Priesthood alongside five other Deacons during Holy Mass at St. John Bosco Kiamuiru Primary School Grounds in which the Archbishop emeritus of Nyeri, Peter Kairu, members of the Clergy ministering in the Kenyan Archdiocese, women and men Religious, and Laity participated.

In his January 15 audio message, Archbishop Muheria says that the historic Priestly ordination in the East African nation offers the opportunity to recognize the fact that people living with particular disabilities have the capacity to “develop new other gifts” and that they can “enrich our society”.

“It is a moment to also embrace that disabilities are gifts that God gives so that those people can develop new other gifts and enrich our society,” he said, and explained, “When our Lord walked on the streets of Jerusalem, Galilee, Nazareth, where he spoke to the crowds, he always had a special eye for those in need.”

The member of Opus Dei who started his Episcopal Ministry in January 2004 as the Bishop of Kenya’s Embu Diocese says that he finds regrettable that a section of persons living with disability are discriminated against, “not given the dignity due to them”. 

“Many of our children in those places, in schools, are not given the dignity due to them. Toilets are badly done, the caretakers are few, the teachers sent there are very few they can't handle them,” Archbishop Muheria says, adding that there are many hurdles limiting the supervision of special schools and institutions.

Families with children living with disabilities have been forgotten yet they require social and financial support, he laments.

“We in the church, you in the parish, at least take this challenge. At least let us visit the homes of families with disabilities, and the schools of children with disability regularly to help, not just to give food, but to help improve infrastructure, to walk with them, to clean, to give them new shades,” Archbishop Muheria says in his January 15 message shared with ACI Africa.   

He continues, “Let us pay more attention to the people with disabilities then indeed we will see the face of Christ in them. Reach out to those in marginalized areas in ways that you can, don’t pass by. Let us be there because Christ calls us to reach out to our brothers and sisters.”

In an interview with Kenya Television Network (KTN) News published on YouTube Monday, January 16, Fr. Michael traced his Priestly vocation to the grace of God and expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Muheria for giving him the hope he needed to remain focused to his dream vocation.

"I can't forget Archbishop Anthony Muheria who has really journeyed with me,” Fr. Michael told KTN News shortly after presiding over his first Holy Mass on Sunday, January 15.

He added in reference to his Local Ordinary, “He has really encouraged me; at those times when I became sick and fell down as if my vocation, my life, has come to an end, he didn't leave me. He held me very well with his fatherly love that I still remember, words of encouragement and he even dared to give me work to do because he believed that I had something that I could offer."

"I am dedicating everything to God himself because I believe in giving God the best. He is the one who has given me the best I have to give the best and that is the best I'm offering myself," Fr. Michael said.

Asked about what kept him focused to the Priestly vocation, Fr. Michael said, “It is that spirit of God that really kept me discerning my vocation because I believe that having lost my eyes does not mean that I have lost my dream.”

“Through prayer I was convinced that there is a difference between the problem that I'm facing … and the vocation that is within me, that which God is calling me to serve,” he said, and continued, “I convinced myself through prayer that loss of eyesight doesn't mean loss of my vocation.”

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He encouraged persons living with any form of disability not to lose sight of the presence of God in their lives.

“To those people who may be disabled in one way or the other, that doesn't mean the end of life. It is important, it is imperative to know that God is already aware of it, and having God aware of it is enough,” Fr. Michael said.

He continued, “To the disabled, to the physically challenged, my dear brothers and sisters, all is not lost; focus on the strengths you have. If you don't have one hand you have a leg, walk; if you don't have a leg, you have a hand, work. If you don't have or if you have lost your eyesight, you have your brain, use it (to the) maximum.”

The member of the Clergy of Nyeri Archdiocese cautioned against discrimination, saying, “To those people who sometimes discriminate against those who are physically challenged, my dear brothers and sisters, you only forget that you discriminate your brothers and sisters because we all belong to the same family.”