KENYA: Walk Together, be “Prophets of Our Time,” Says Apostolic Nuncio to Religious Men Superiors
Members of RSCK with Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya Archbishop Bert van Megen
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
During the Annual General Meeting of Religious men under their umbrella body Religious Superiors’ Conference of Kenya (RSCK), the participants have been urged to value the life of communion and embrace the prophetic aspect of Religious life.”
Addressing 35 Religious superiors drawn from approximately 35 congregations, the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya and South Sudan Archbishop Bert van Megen reminded the leaders of various men congregations that “We humans are not created to live alone.”
“In order to live a full stature of our life, one of the important aspects of our spiritual life and attitude in facing the challenges of our mission is the communion of life and of intentions,” the Prelate underscored.
He reiterated Pope Francis’ message in his latest Encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti published on October 4 saying, “Nowadays we are more alone than ever in an increasingly massified world that promotes individual interests and weakens the communitarian dimension of life.”
“We may conclude that such individualism is pervading not only the business world or more generally speaking, the secular society: sometimes it risks to afflict also us Consecrated persons,” The Archbishop added during his opening remarks on Tuesday, October 13, in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.
Reminding the superiors that community living is a daily struggle and at times even the Religious find it difficult to adhere to its regulations, the Pope’s representative noted, “It is the type of life the Religious are called to follow” and “it entails mutual acceptance and concern, practicing a communion of goods both material and spiritual, fraternal correction and respect for those who are weak,” thus “It is the mystique of living together which makes our life “a sacred pilgrimage.”
He went on to remind the members of RSCK about good relationship to persons from different cultures, as communities become increasingly international, hence the need to enable each member to speak freely what he thinks, to be accepted with his particular gifts, and to become fully co-responsible.
Speaking to the theme of the Annual General Meeting “The new normal,” the Dutch Prelate encouraged the Religious superiors to realize that “the core element that distinguishes Religious life is precisely its prophetic dimension.”
“I am counting on you to awaken the world, since the distinctive sign of Consecrated life is prophecy,” the Nuncio said adding that “Religious follow the Lord in a special way, in a prophetic way (and) this is the priority that is needed right now: “to be prophets who witness to how Jesus lived on this earth knowing that a religious must never abandon prophecy.”
He referenced the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis to all Consecrated people in relation to unity among institutes and being prophetic witnesses saying, “We are called to step out more courageously from the confines of our respective Institutes and to work together, at the local and global levels, on projects involving formation, evangelization, and social action. This would make for a more effective prophetic witness.”
Encouraging the superiors to be bearers of hope the Prelate said, “Being Religious, we pray each and every day to God that he may inflame hope in us, so that we become signs of hope, and then bring that hope to the brothers in our communities, to the Catholic faithful we assist, and to the entire society of Kenya.”
Making reference to the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, RSCK members were reminded at the start of their two-day annual general meeting that Religious are expected to be Spirit-filled evangelizers.
“Without prolonged moments of adoration, of prayerful encounter with the word, of sincere conversation with the Lord, our work easily becomes meaningless; we lose energy as a result of weariness and difficulties, and our fervour dies out,” Archbishop van Megen noted.
“I am fully convinced that these words should be applied not only to every consecrated person or community taken separately, but also to the overall evangelization work in Kenya,” he said and concluded, “In a special way, I have in mind the importance of the contemplative communities for the local Church. We need to encourage the growth of contemplative life.”
