KENYA: Archdiocese of Nairobi Marks the end of Diocesan Phase in the Beatification Process of Cardinal Otunga
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| The Servant of God Maurice Cardinal Otunga |
The
Archdiocese of Nairobi last Saturday (28 September 2013) concluded the Diocesan Phase in
the beatification process of Cardinal Otunga in a colorful ceremony attended
by hundreds. The celebration began by a walk aimed at raising funds for the beatification process and ended with the celebration of the Holy Mass at
Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi.
Archdiocese of Nairobi last Saturday (28 September 2013) concluded the Diocesan Phase in
the beatification process of Cardinal Otunga in a colorful ceremony attended
by hundreds. The celebration began by a walk aimed at raising funds for the beatification process and ended with the celebration of the Holy Mass at
Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi.
The
completion of the Diocesan Inquiry of the Cause of Beatification and
Canonisation of Cardinal Otunga has lasted 22 months. More than 160 witnesses
from Nairobi, Bungoma, Kisumu, Kisii, Mombasa, Kakamega and Homa Bay were
interviewed on the life and times of Cardinal Otunga. Thousands of pages
containing his writings have also been combined.
completion of the Diocesan Inquiry of the Cause of Beatification and
Canonisation of Cardinal Otunga has lasted 22 months. More than 160 witnesses
from Nairobi, Bungoma, Kisumu, Kisii, Mombasa, Kakamega and Homa Bay were
interviewed on the life and times of Cardinal Otunga. Thousands of pages
containing his writings have also been combined.
“All
documents detailing his life and virtues are to be sent to the Vatican for
scrutiny. The Vatican officials will evaluate them and if satisfied that he
merits sainthood, they will compile a biography which will be studied by
Theologians, Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation of Causes of Saints who will
then judge whether or not Cardinal Otunga had heroic virtues during his
lifetime,” Cardinal Njue said.
documents detailing his life and virtues are to be sent to the Vatican for
scrutiny. The Vatican officials will evaluate them and if satisfied that he
merits sainthood, they will compile a biography which will be studied by
Theologians, Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation of Causes of Saints who will
then judge whether or not Cardinal Otunga had heroic virtues during his
lifetime,” Cardinal Njue said.
He
urged believers to follow in the Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal
Otunga’s footsteps saying that his humble life needs to be emulated by both
members and non-members of the Catholic Church.
urged believers to follow in the Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal
Otunga’s footsteps saying that his humble life needs to be emulated by both
members and non-members of the Catholic Church.
“All
of you must remain faithful all the time and ensure the spirit of true love,
charity is inculcated among you always”, said Cardinal Njue.
of you must remain faithful all the time and ensure the spirit of true love,
charity is inculcated among you always”, said Cardinal Njue.
Cardinal
Njue said that the investigation process had been very encouraging and thanked
all those who were involved in to ensure its success. He added that even though
the Diocesan Phase is over the entire Church members in Kenya and the Nairobi
Archdiocese will still remain open for consultations on Cardinal Otunga’s life.
Njue said that the investigation process had been very encouraging and thanked
all those who were involved in to ensure its success. He added that even though
the Diocesan Phase is over the entire Church members in Kenya and the Nairobi
Archdiocese will still remain open for consultations on Cardinal Otunga’s life.
Br
Reginald Cruz, Vice Postulator in the Cardinal Otunga’s beatification process
said that the tribunal had gathered a lot of information on the Servant of God
Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga’s life and has a strong case to present to the
Congregation of the Cause of Saints in Rome.
Reginald Cruz, Vice Postulator in the Cardinal Otunga’s beatification process
said that the tribunal had gathered a lot of information on the Servant of God
Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga’s life and has a strong case to present to the
Congregation of the Cause of Saints in Rome.
Speaking
to journalists shortly after the end of the Cardinal Otunga walk on Saturday
September 28, Br Cruz said that the tribunal as well as the historical
Commission had successfully gathered all the necessary documents that would be
used during the final phase to argue that the servant of God, Cardinal Otunga
lived a holy life.
to journalists shortly after the end of the Cardinal Otunga walk on Saturday
September 28, Br Cruz said that the tribunal as well as the historical
Commission had successfully gathered all the necessary documents that would be
used during the final phase to argue that the servant of God, Cardinal Otunga
lived a holy life.
Br
Cruz further said that they had done a thorough investigation into the late
Cardinal Otunga’s life including interviewing those who were very close to him
such as his brothers and even cooks.
Cruz further said that they had done a thorough investigation into the late
Cardinal Otunga’s life including interviewing those who were very close to him
such as his brothers and even cooks.
“Cardinal
Otunga is the first Kenyan to be proposed as a saint and the rules of the
Catholic Church require us to do a thorough investigation on his life,” said Br
Cruz.
Otunga is the first Kenyan to be proposed as a saint and the rules of the
Catholic Church require us to do a thorough investigation on his life,” said Br
Cruz.
The
Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga died on 6th September, 2003.
Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga died on 6th September, 2003.
On September 5th 2009, during
the sixth anniversary of his death
John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, officially announce the name Fr. Anthony
Bellagamba, a Consolata Missionary working in Kenya as the postulator for
Maurice Cardinal Otunga’s cause for sainthood during a Eucharistic Celebration at
the Holy Family Basilica. Cardinal Njue appointed a team of ten experts who
were to be lead by Fr. Bellagamba.
the sixth anniversary of his death
John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, officially announce the name Fr. Anthony
Bellagamba, a Consolata Missionary working in Kenya as the postulator for
Maurice Cardinal Otunga’s cause for sainthood during a Eucharistic Celebration at
the Holy Family Basilica. Cardinal Njue appointed a team of ten experts who
were to be lead by Fr. Bellagamba.
On March 29th 2010:
Nairobi Archbishop Catholic John Cardinal Njue announced that following a
letter he received from the Vatican, the Catholic Church in Kenya had been
given the go-ahead to begin the process that could lead to the canonization of
the late Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga.
Nairobi Archbishop Catholic John Cardinal Njue announced that following a
letter he received from the Vatican, the Catholic Church in Kenya had been
given the go-ahead to begin the process that could lead to the canonization of
the late Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga.
He
said, “From today we shall refer to Otunga as the Servant of God and not
as the late Cardinal Otunga, as this is what the Vatican has advised us in the
letter.”Cardinal Njue consequently invited all the people with evidence
that could lead to Otunga being made a saint to come forward and present them.
said, “From today we shall refer to Otunga as the Servant of God and not
as the late Cardinal Otunga, as this is what the Vatican has advised us in the
letter.”Cardinal Njue consequently invited all the people with evidence
that could lead to Otunga being made a saint to come forward and present them.
11th November, 2011:
Cardinal Njue chose Dr Waldery Hilgemann, a Dutch national based in Rome, to
continue the process following the death of Fr Bellagamba in August 2011. A
local beatification office at the Holy Family Basilica headed by Brother
Reginald Cruz was established to liaise with the Roman authorities through the
local bishop.
Cardinal Njue chose Dr Waldery Hilgemann, a Dutch national based in Rome, to
continue the process following the death of Fr Bellagamba in August 2011. A
local beatification office at the Holy Family Basilica headed by Brother
Reginald Cruz was established to liaise with the Roman authorities through the
local bishop.
On 11th November, 2011:
A special tribunal was formed to collect evidence from the public over Cardinal
Otunga’s suitability to sainthood. Members of the tribunal took a public oath during
a Holy Mass at Holy Family Basilica before starting their work.
A special tribunal was formed to collect evidence from the public over Cardinal
Otunga’s suitability to sainthood. Members of the tribunal took a public oath during
a Holy Mass at Holy Family Basilica before starting their work.
The
historical oath was administered by John Cardinal Njue, after which members of
the tribunal were to start a thorough, but secret, inquiry into the life of Cardinal
Otunga.
historical oath was administered by John Cardinal Njue, after which members of
the tribunal were to start a thorough, but secret, inquiry into the life of Cardinal
Otunga.
Secret
witnesses were called to the inquiry to give evidence about their
interaction with Otunga. The outcome of that inquiry is what is known within
the Catholic Church as the Diocesan Phase. The inquiry determines whether the
beatification process proceeds to the next stage, the Roman Phase, to be held
at the Vatican.
witnesses were called to the inquiry to give evidence about their
interaction with Otunga. The outcome of that inquiry is what is known within
the Catholic Church as the Diocesan Phase. The inquiry determines whether the
beatification process proceeds to the next stage, the Roman Phase, to be held
at the Vatican.
