KENYA: Kenyatta University SCCs set to meditate on the Virtues of Cardinal Otunga
Kenyatta University (KU), a public institution run by the Government of Kenya is set to lead in the promotion of the Beatification Cause of the Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga. The Small Christian Communities at the institution’s chaplaincy will be meditating on the virtues of the Servant of God, Cardinal Otunga, during their weekly meetings.
The decision came after Kenyatta University’s Christ the Teacher Chapel hosted a Eucharistic Celebrations dubbed “Beatification Awareness Day” to promote the Cause of Beatification of Cardinal Otunga. The Mass which was led by the Archbishop of Nairobi , H.E. John Cardinal Njue, was attended by nine universities in Nairobi out of the 16 that had been invited. The event was a plan of Cardinal Njue in collaboration with the Central Committee for the Beatification Process of the Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga.
According to Dan Mokua, Chairman of Kenyatta University Catholic Community (KUCC), the Community is grateful to have been part of the realization of the event’s success.
“We shall be sharing with our Catholic Students community the virtues of Servant of God Cardinal Otunga during our Small Christian Community (SCCs) meetings.”
In his address to the congregation, Cardinal Njue recommended that these kinds of gatherings of Catholic university students take place regularly at the different university campuses in Kenya.
Speaking on behalf of the Central Committee of Cardinal Otunga Beatification Cause, Sr. Esther Gichugu explained that beatification and canonisation processes are usually initiated on three categories of the candidate: a person who has died defending the faith through martyrdom; a person who lived an ordinary life in an extraordinary manner and whose virtues impressed the people he shared life with; and a person whose writings impressed people’s spiritual life in a deep way.
“Cardinal Otunga falls in the second category. He lived an ordinary life in an extraordinary manner; his virtues impressed the people he shared life with. Among his virtues which Cardinal Njue affirmed in his speech at the event included apostolic zeal, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, helping the needy, humility, love and service for the poor, prayerfulness, perseverance, prudence, simplicity, stewardship and visiting the sick, “she said.
These are the virtues which the members of the nine Small Christian Communities of Christ the Teacher Kenyatta University Chapel will be meditation on during their weekly meetings and they will be meditating on one virtue per week.
Established in 1960s, Kenyatta University (KU) is one of the oldest high learning institutions in Kenya. According to Rev. Fr. Lance Nadeau, MM who served as a Chaplain at KU for 18 years, Christ the Teacher Kenyatta University Chapel was officially established in 1984 and Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga, the then Archbishop of Nairobi, entrusted it to the care of Maryknoll Missionary Society members in Kenya who have been in charge until January 2017.
According to the Vice Chancellor of KU Prof Paul Wainaina, Kenyatta University has for chaplaincies taking care of the students as well as member of staff’s spiritual needs. The chaplaincies include Catholic chapel, Adventist chapel, Protestants chapel and a Mosque for the Muslim. Fr. Lance is credited for ensuring the growth of Small Christian Communities at the Chapel which has produced exceptional leaders for the community, nation and the Church.
In his speech during the Beatification Awareness Day, Prof. Wainaina said that they have held many functions at the University’s amphitheatre, however, the beatification awareness event was the height of them all.
“For the first time Your Eminence Cardinal Njue, we are having you among us for a whole day. We sincerely appreciate and don’t take it for granted. Your initiative to come and celebrate Mass with us is timely considering the terrorists attack that happened at Dusit D2 Complex last week and where all the people involved in the evil were young people,” Prof Wainaina said.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
