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Kenya’s Male Religious Superiors Call for Prayers for Pioneer Missionaries in the Country

Credit: Courtesy Photo

Members of the Religious Superiors’ Conference of Kenya (RSCK), the forum that brings together representatives of the male Religious Orders and Societies of Apostolic Life in Kenya, have called for prayers for the consecrated persons who first brought the Gospel of Christ in the East African country.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa ahead of the annual World Day for Consecrated life marked on February 2, the chairperson of RSCK, Fr. Robert Karanja, says that those who pioneered missionary work in Kenya faced many challenges to bring good news to Kenyans.

“In our celebrations, let us pray for the consecrated persons who were the first to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Kenya as missionaries,” Fr. Karanja says, and adds in reference to pioneer missionaries in Kenya, “Many of them went through different forms of sufferings and tribulations in order to bring the good news to us.”

The Kenyan Priest urged Consecrated persons to continue with the ministry begun by the pioneer missionaries and to even re-evangelize in different parts of the world.

He further called upon the Consecrated to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to the people by doing the best in the vineyard of the Lord based on the ability God has granted each and every one of them.

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Fr. Karanja made reference to St. Augustine’s question; “You who are poor, what do you lack if you have God and You who are rich, what do you have if you lack God?” and urged Consecrated persons to always turn to God in prayer for what is beyond their human capability.

In the statement issued ahead of the Wednesday, February 2 celebration, the official of RSCK urged Consecrated persons to fully participate in the ongoing preparations for the Synod on Synodality saying that it is key in making pastoral decisions aligned to the will of God.

“This year we celebrate (the Day for Consecrated) at a time when the mother Church has invited us to journey together for a Synodal Church through Communion, Participation and Mission,” Fr. Karanja said, making reference to the theme of the 2023 Synod on Synodality.

He added, “As Consecrated persons we are invited to participate fully in this process where we are called to pray, listen, analyze, dialogue, discern and offer advice on making pastoral decisions which correspond as closely as possible to God's will.”

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has invited Consecrated persons to walk together as a community in the Synodal spirit of participation, where members exercise responsibility for one another through mutual listening, excluding no one.

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The Vatican office makes reference to Pope Francis' message last year during the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life to invite consecrated women and men to the Synodal journey.

“Consecrated life is born, grows and can give evangelical fruits only in the Church, the living communion of the faithful People of God,” the leadership of the Congregation says in reference to Pope Francis’ message.

Officials the Vatican entity add in reference to participation in the ongoing preparations for the Synod on Synodality, “We cannot but be among others and with others ... Synodality begins within us from a change of mentality, from a personal conversion, in the community or fraternity, in our homes, workplaces and structures to expand into ministries and mission.”

In the letter signed by the Prefect of the Congregation, João Cardinal Bráz de Aviz, and Secretary, Archbishop José Rogriguez Carballo, Consecrated persons are reminded about the importance of their vocation and urged to go back to the call.

The leadership of the Vatican Congregation further says that by going back to their vocations, the Consecrated persons “rediscover the enthusiasm, amazement and joy of feeling and being part of a project of love, for which others like them have also made their lives available for the good of humanity.”

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The Congregation cautions Consecrated persons against disdaining their vocational calls, saying “over time it risks losing its strength, especially when we replace the attractiveness of ‘we’ with the strength of ‘I’”.

The world day for Consecrated Life was instituted in 1997 by Pope Saint John Paul II as a day for women and men in Consecrated Life.

The celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2. During the celebration, candles are blessed, symbolizing Jesus Christ as the light of the world.