HABARI NEWS NAIROBI PRIORY Year of the Lord 2015
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Pp. Francis to Kenya. I myself was privileged as HABARI NEWS Chairperson of AOSK to give a brief talk regarding religious life of women in Kenya. A NAIROBI PRIORY most blessed event. We are so very grateful for this year of the Lord 2015 with all its gifts. Year of the Lord 2015 From the Prioress’ Desk CHRISTMAS DAY The year of 2015 held many special events for the Church May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love and the people of Kenya. Beginning with the of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be first ever canonization of a saint on Kenyan soil, with you all!!! that of Irene Stefani in May. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us The next big event which took place in July was rejoice and be glad in it. The celestial choir is the official visit of the President of the United proclaiming the glory of God. All the saints States. For the people of Kenya they felt that it angelically tell the wonder of the Lord. They sung was their son coming home. “Gloria in excelsis Deo…” proclaiming the birth of a greater King in Bethlehem. Closer to ‘home’ were the events stemming from the year dedicated to the Consecrated Life. In We all converged in the Chapel for the first September a symposium on various aspects solemn vespers for Christmas. Already the related to religious life was held at the large whether had changed and even the sisters’ way of amphitheater of the Catholic University of East dressing symbolizes a great event which was now Africa with over 5,000 women and men religious at hand. The singing was so fine with harmonized in attendance. It was organized by the association voices as never before. The Church was well of male [RSCK] and female [AOSK] religious decorated and the lights and stars were all brightly organizations of Kenya along with Tangaza shining. University a University created by a consortium of male religious communities in Kenya. The presence of His Eminence Joáo Cardinal Bráz de Aviz, the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life was of special account. Following the 5 day symposium an ongoing the alter could also speak by itself Who had appeared formation program of one month was offered to on earth. the nuns of Kenya of which there are 18 congregations. This was held at our Subiaco After vespers we proceeded to the Chapter room center. Of special note Sr. Jania of Norfolk and raising our voices in joyous praise striving to Sr. Jeana of Ferdinand Benedictines were among awaken the world for the Son of Man was with us, the lecturers for this course for nuns. in a manger with arms widely opened ready to receive us as we are. Our Prioress Sr. Michael And the most significant event was the visit of Marie welcomed us to the solemn feast by sharing with us the Christmas message from Mother 1 Angela and her own Christmas message in which she reminded us of the Popes request during his Every morning a bell is usually rung to awaken us visit to Kenya…He whispered to her “pray for in preparation for morning prayers, but on this day me.” She invited us also to pray together with her being a great day we were awakened by for Pope Francis. Christmas music; which was loud enough that The postulants performed a small skit symbolizing everybody could hear. In a short while we were the birth of our Lord. This was followed by some already gathered for Morning Prayer and this was Christmas Carrols following which we proceeded followed by the shepherds mass. to the refectory for supper then in wait for the On the evening of this great feast we gathered in vigil mass that was to be presided over by our the refectory after the evening prayer. It usually chaplain Fr. Gregor. As usual the Mass was happens that each gathering in the refectory is colorful with Christmas songs, lights all over and preceded by common prayers in the church. We glittering stars not mentioning the liturgical dined together and shared the joy of the love of dances from our Novices and Postulants. The Jesus whose birth we were celebrating. The floor aromatic smell of the incense filled the chapel. Fr. was full of merry singing and dancing; it was a Gregor was keen enough to recognize our time to exercise whichever gift and talent one has neighbors who year after year join us for Vigil including the gift of our vocation. masses of Christmas and Easter. The choir was so vibrant you could think it was morning mass no We had entertainments, Novices on stage, one of one could miss any note because of sleeping. Who them taking the part of Christ, asks, “Young lady, could sleep when Christ has come among us in where are you going?” “Don’t you see this flesh and blood? battered tent; A tent full of holes?” “My daughter don’t be troubled, come with me for this is my After the Mass there was great joy as sisters very dwelling place. You shall see how beautiful and happily greeted and wished each other Merry wonderful it is to belong… On your own you Christmas while enjoying snacks in the refectory. can’t make it but the son of man can.” If you trust I could not believe that it was approaching and believe in him, he shall take a way the midnight for the night was as clear as the day and battered tent and fashion you with a new one. The so were my eyes. As we are known for great battered tent is likened to our wounded hearts… silence this is one of the exceptional days in which Many are times when our hearts are torn but the the great silence is not observed because of the compassionate and merciful Father accepts them great joy that comes with the new born Christ. We and renews them once again through the love he departed to our cells one by one to rest for the few renews by the birth of his son in our midst. hours waiting to welcome the dawn of glory and join the angels in singing the Gloria during the The Postulants also entered the stage like John the shepherds-mass. Baptist preparing us for the great poem they recited in unison and conviction with joy radiating from their faces. Nobody wanted to be left out and so the juniors also had a skit depicting how the message of the new born King was received by different people in different ways. Some accepted it for the sake of saving their lives. The little and yet called the Mighty King is already welcoming us. 2 The sisters on the other hand took over the roles and tasks done by the workers and the workers were like Kings and Queens. It was really a special scene to observe how sisters and novitiate members gathering their efforts running up and down to make the day wonderful and great for their guests. Those in the kitchen made sure that they put forth all their skills so that every stomach was well cared for; The sisters in the refectory also made the glittering Christmas tree symbolizing the Great sure that the guests are warmly welcomed and light which has shown on us!!! each had a placed to comfortably sit; not A quiet evening to welcome the New Year forgetting the most important place the church, it approached. We all gathered in the Church, was like heaven on earth yet we were still in silence prevailed; adoration was at hand. advent season. Those who might have forgotten Intercessory prayers began, one could experience what was to take place thought that we were the Spirit of God moving among us. All of us mistaken by celebrating Christmas earlier on 12th received favor in the sight of the Almighty one, Dec. instead of 25th Dec. The sisters did not only we were fully touched. This was a moment to pour care for the stomachs of the employees but also out our hearts to him for he had worked wonders for their souls and those of their families and in our lives during the year. Welcoming another friends. year was not an easy task as it calls us to a time of The celebration was opened officially with the atonement and purification of sins. Adoration Holy mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Raphael, a ended at 12:00 Midnight everyone was a wake Redemptorist. He really prepared very wonderful ready to usher in the New Year 2016. Silence was food for the soul and served it well. I was moved broken and all over the area could be heard by his homily as he said, “All of us are stewards fireworks and jubilation neither were the sisters being entrusted with something and God will left out. demand an accountability from our stewardship. So came another session of merriment, we had Nobody is a boss! The sisters, priest or the seen anew day with a difference…another phase employees, we are all God’s stewards in his of the moon and another face of the coin. Things vineyard.” were to restart. The joyfulness of the New Year He went on to say that the employees should was to be put on by all of us expressed with cheers always be appreciative to the work God has given and dances in the refectory.