“Let it be a community of love”: Kenyan Catholic Bishop Urges Mutuality among Pauline Sisters as Two Celebrate Jubilee

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“Sisters Mary and Rosemary, ask yourself what you are doing to make your community a community of love. Is it a community of infighting and discord?” the pioneer Catholic Bishop of Wote Diocese since his installation last September challenged the two FSP members.

He continued, “Embrace dialogue and make your community a community where Christ lives; a community where there is joy and fulfillment.”

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“Let us not hear that there is a Sister who is so stressed because their community is not working,” he said, and urged Sr. Mary and Sr. Rosemary to persevere in their vocation. 

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Bishop Kariuki also called upon the two Kenyan Daughters of St. Paul, who are part of the leadership of recently established East Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe (EAMZZ) Province to live their Evangelical Vow of obedience in humility.

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“Whenever you are sent, go in humility. It is God who sends you to that hardship mission, and not your superior. Go, even if it means suffering. Do not dwell on lamenting from morning to evening,” he said.

The Catholic Church leaders, who started his Episcopal Ministry in July 2009 as Bishop of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Embu urged the two FSP jubilarians to “be strong in faith”, noting that many people are growing weak in their faith in God in the 21st century.

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“Be strong in faith especially in this 21st century when the world is teaching us to compromise our faith so that we remain relevant to the world. We cannot be true witnesses when we are weak in faith,” Bishop Kariuki told Sr. Rosemary, who is the EAMZZ Provincial Superior of FSP, and Sr. Mary, a member of the Provincial Council.

To remain strong in faith, he said, the people of God must strengthen their communion with Christ through prayer. 

Sr. Mary Kioko (left) and Sr. Rosemary Mwaiwa who celebrated their Silver Jubilee on Friday, June 14 pose for a photo with their mothers. Msgr Peter Makau, Bishop-elect of Kenya's Catholic Diocese of Isiolo, Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Wote look on. Credit:ACI Africa

“Do not be too busy that you have no time for (Holy) Mass. Do not be too busy that you have no time for prayer. Do not be too busy that you have no time for God,” Bishop Kariuki emphasized, and added, “Prayer strengthens our faith and our communion with Christ.”

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Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.