Sabbatical Program in Murang’a, Kenya, “an ongoing renewal”, Not Rehabilitation: Director

The Kenyan Catholic Priest weighed in on the perception that the program is meant for errant Priests and women and men Religious, saying, “We don’t know if anyone is brought in as punishment. What we know is that you are a pastoral agent and we offer you the best possible climate for rest and renewal.”

When those who enroll in the program report, “we do not take them as people who need correction but as pastoral agents who need rest and renewal,” Fr. Gatamu said, adding, “None of us is a finished project. There is always something that we need to renew ourselves about.”

The latest beneficiaries of the program, who graduated on December 8 included Priests and women and men Religious from Ghana, Zambia, Cameroon, South Africa, South Sudan, and Kenya, he told ACI Africa.

Beneficiaries of the program are taken through holistic topics touching on spiritual, physical, psychological, and emotional aspects, he further said, and went on to share a typical day at the Centre. 

Participants in the program begin the day with Holy Mass, followed by breakfast. They then have a four-hour session where they discuss various topics, including conflict resolution and the value of a sabbatical program, among others. 

Each week, participants have one-on-one sessions with facilitators to share their experiences, Fr. Gatamu told ACI Africa during the December 11 interview, adding that there are also weekly group meetings, participants and facilitators meeting for mutual sharing of  experiences. 

Other activities at the Centre include monthly recollections, an eight-day retreat, social evenings, and a one-day trip, the member of Clergy of Murang’a Diocese said, and that participants in the sabbatical program are free to leave the Centre on Friday evening and return on Sunday evening.

Launched on 10 August 2013, St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program is a brainchild of Bishop James Maria Wainaina of Murang’a Diocese. So far, 323 Priests, 94 Nuns, 18 brothers, and two Deacons have participated in the program since its inception.

Speaking on behalf of the 30 participants in the program, who graduated on December 8 in what was the 21st sabbatical session, Fr. Robert Omondi said that lessons learned during the four months “were deeply insightful yet fun-filled”.

“Our meals were wonderful; our social evenings merrier. Our worship was spirit-filled; our Sunday supply was enthusiastic. Our field classes were full of play; our afternoon walks were physically nourishing,” Fr. Omondi said.

The member of the Clergy of Kenya’s Archdiocese of Mombasa continued, “We learnt new skills; we learnt new plays, chess, darts, and table tennis.”

He said that they go back to their apostolates “renewed, re-energized, revived, rejuvenated, filled with zeal.”

“Our nets are full. May we go and break the bread. May we go and share the fish. The bread and fish of the Christ who has been our coxswain, driving the boat that has been the 21st Sabbatical group year 2023. It has been a humbling experience,” the Kenyan Catholic Priest said during the ceremony that was preceded by a Eucharistic celebration with the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya and South Sudan, Archbishop Bert van Megen, as the main celebrant.

In his speech at the graduation ceremony, Archbishop van Megen underscored the value of putting “some time aside each and every day, in which you just sit down, reflect, meditate.”

Creating time each day to reflect and meditate helps build a deeper relationship with God, the Vatican diplomat said.

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“Some religious say Jesus doesn’t answer me. Normally Jesus doesn’t pick up the phone but it is something that comes to us the deeper we go into the prayer, the more you give room for the Holy Spirit to be with you,” Archbishop van Megen said at the ceremony that had the first Deputy Console of Cameroon to Kenya, Taleng Aristide, in attendance. 

On his part, Mr. Aristide urged the latest beneficiaries of the sabbatical program to use the insights from the four-month sessions “to build peace and to spread togetherness among our communities.”

In a 2020 interview with ACI Africa, Bishop Virgilio Pante lauded the sabbatical program offered at St. John Paul II Centre for facilitating the “transformation” of members of the Clergy and women and men Religious enrolled in the Catholic institution.

“Now my brothers and sisters will go home to serve, full of energy, refreshed and renewed,” Bishop Pante told ACI Africa on 7 December 2020.

He added, “It is my desire that as many Priests may have the opportunity to undertake this program. We are human and we need to recharge ourselves like you recharge your battery.”