Nairobi, 10 September, 2023 / 9:45 pm (ACI Africa).
Joining and living Religious and Priestly Life is not to be compared to a sport competition that involves medals for the best performers, the representative of the Holy Father in Kenya has said.
In his homily on the Feast Day of St. Teresa of Calcutta at Mother Teresa’s Home of Mercy, Huruma, that is run under the auspices of in the Missionaries of Charity (MC) in Nairobi Archdiocese, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen underscored the need for “passion” in lifelong choices.
“Joining the Religious Congregation of your choice, even the Priestly life, is not forcing yourself into moral heights. This is not an Olympic game; this is not about who gets the gold medal for the best behavior,” Archbishop van Megen said during the Tuesday, September 5 event.
He added, “If at that very beginning there is no passion in your life, passion in your Religious Life, your Priestly life, even in getting into your marriage, it's not going to work,” said the Nairobi-based Vatican diplomat who also represents the Holy Father in South Sudan.
Archbishop van Megen emphasized the need to establish and maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for a fulfilling life that can compare to that of St. Teresa of Calcutta, the foundress of the Missionaries of Charity.
