KENYA: Cardinal Pengo to Officiate the Beatification Ceremony of Sr. Irene Stefani

The
Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, H.E Polycarp Cardinal Pengo will
officiate the Beatification of Sr. Irene Stefani by reading out the Apostolic
Letter of Beatification during the Holy Mass that will be presided over by H.E.
John Cardinal Njue, the Archbishop of Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday 23rd
May at Dedan Kimathi University Grounds – Nyeri.

Until recently
Beatifications were done in Rome by the Holy Father but now the Church has
decided that the Beatifications will be done in the Diocese where the Blessed
had lived and died.

Therefore we
have the honor of having Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, the Archbishop of Dar Salaam,
Tanzania who will read out the Apostolic Letter of Beatification and Cardinal
John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, who will preside at the celebration of Holy
Mass of Beatification.

Information
posted on the website www.irenestefani.or.ke dedicated to the servant of God
Sr. Irene Stefani also known as “Nyaatha:
“Mother of all mercy and love” by
locals stated that on 22nd May 2015 there will be a vigil at Gikondi
parish for the purpose of Spiritual preparation by Christians. The 23rd is the
big day of Beatification at Dedan Kimathi University grounds. Then on Sunday
the 24th, the blessed remains of Blessed Irene will be brought in a big
procession from Mathari church to the Cathedral of Nyeri where they will be
placed in a new tomb which will be a point of reference as a shrine in future
years.

Sr. Irene
Stefani, a Consolata Missionary Sister came to Kenya in 1915 and died at
Gikondi – Kenya in 1930 at the age of 39. Sr. Irene has passed the first two
stages; of Servant of God and Venerable before becoming a Blessed. Following
the canonical procedures, the Vatican through the office of Causes of Saints
raised the status of Sister Irene to that of the Servant of God in the early
1980s. Soon after, Vatican directed two tribunals to be set up to inquire about
her life. The tribunal in Turin, Italy was established to focus on her life
based on her writings while the tribunal in Nyeri, Kenya was to focus on her
heroic virtues as demonstrated by her life in Nyeri, particularly Gikondi
Parish.

The
Beatification of Sr. Irene Stefani and, hence, the recognition of her virtuous
life shall be outstanding as an immeasurable contribution to the development of
the history, culture, and value system of Nyeri, and Kenya at large.

At this
stage of being blessed miracles are expected to be done for people with
sicknesses or any other extraordinary deeds done by God through her
intersession.

The impact
of Her Heroic life and culture or virtues to the youth today. The heroic
virtues of Sr. Irene are relevant to the society today especially to the youth
who are the leaders of today and tomorrow regardless of their religious
affiliations.