Murang’a, 11 February, 2020 / 4:52 pm (ACI Africa).
In a bid to guarantee continuity in the priestly ministry of the Church in Kenya’s Diocese of Murang’a (CDM), financial assistance is being sought from Christians and well-wishers to facilitate the training and formation of seminarians, the Vocations Director of the diocese has told ACI Africa and explained the reasons behind the initiative.
One of the reasons the Kenyan diocese is seeking the support of Christians and well-wishers to fund the formation of seminarians, Fr. Samuel Murichu said, is due to an increase in the number of priestly vocations over the years, which has made it difficult for the diocese to meet the costs through ordinary subsidies.
“The vocation’s office under the Bishop has been having a strain in managing the increment of seminarians for a number of years. The number is going up and up each and every day,” Fr. Murichu who doubles as the youth Director of Murang’a diocese told ACI Africa Sunday, February 9 on the sidelines of the Eucharistic celebration organized for CDM members in Nairobi and its environs who support the training and formation of seminarians from their native diocese.
The diocese had a total of 30 candidates in the Kenya-based Major Seminaries in 2010, Fr. Murichu recalled and revealed that the number has now doubled, with 60 seminarians spread out in various years of their formation – 13 in Spirituality studies, 23 in Philosophy, 23 in Theology and one in his Pastoral year of experience.
Referencing applications received for consideration in August 2020 intake, the Murang’a cleric told ACI Africa, “This year we have 21 candidates who have applied, but critically after scrutiny, I might be left with 15, which is the highest number for a number of years to be admitted to the seminary.”