KENYA: Order of Saint Augustine Cleric Appointed RSCK Chair, Appeals for Collaboration, Spirit of Service

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

In a two-day Annual General Meeting for members of the Religious Superiors’ Conference in Kenya (RSCK) that concluded Wednesday, October 14, the men Religious leaders not only deliberated on various activities and reports during the meeting but also elected new office bearers who will oversee the running of the conference for the next three years.

The members elected Fr. Robert Karanja Ireri, a member of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) who will take over from Fr. Paul Sila, a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) who has served as the RSCK chairman for the last four years.

In an interview with AMECEA Online on Wednesday after the elections, the new RSCK chairman commonly known as Fr. Bob who is currently the Regional Vicar of OSA, Kenya, confirmed his election saying, “After we did the elections, I have been tasked with carrying the cross of RSCK leadership for the next three years. This is not an easy task really, but I am looking forward to depending on the support of members as they have promised so that we are able to achieve our mission which is also the mission of the Church.”

The Kenyan cleric who will be deputized by Br. Placido Kaburu a member of the Patrician Brothers Congregation, expressed his wish of having a collaborative team for the success of RSCK

“It is my wish and dream and prayer that as RSCK which is a juridical body in the Church we are going to intensify collaboration because today in the world one cannot achieve much without working together with other partners,” Fr. Bob underscored adding, “I look forward to seeing that we try to be united as different Religious Institutes in this endeavors so that we are able to achieve much together because united we stand and divided we fall.”

He added, “I look forward to intensify the collaboration between RSCK and the Church leadership in Kenya more so the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK) and other Church bodies which contribute towards the work of evangelization here in Kenya.”

Other elected members of the council include Abbot John Baptist Imai, a member of the Order of Saint Benedict (OSB), Br. Titus Walela a member of the Brothers of Saint Joseph and Fr. Ray Walsh a member of the Missionaries of Charity congregation.

During the Wednesday interview Fr. Bob the new chair expressed his desire for the spirit of service from the 79 male congregations who are the members of RSCK.

“It is my prayer that as we work in the vineyard of the Lord, God may help us with the spirit to serve because we are just workers and He is the owner of the vineyard. So as God’s workers we need to listen to him as he speaks to us and be ready to be at his service,” the priest explained.

On his part, the outgoing Chairman Fr. Sila congratulated the new office bearers and reiterated Fr. Bob’s message on collaboration saying, “I ask them to collaborate with the Church and other organizations of the Church so that they can have success.”

“Working alone we cannot achieve much but working in collaboration we can achieve a lot. I ask them to collaborate with KCCB, dioceses where we work, with the Nunciature, with AOSK, with other Catholic organizations and institutions like Tangaza University College and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa CUEA). It is important that this collaboration is enhanced,” he said.

Fr. Sila who will be ending his term of office as the Superior of OFM Cap this year after six years of service, encouraged the new RSCK leadership team telling them “not be afraid or fearful,” and promised his continued support whenever he is called upon or consulted.

Highlighting some of the achievements RSCK realized during his reign, the outgoing chair who will officially hand over tools of power on Friday, October 23, narrated that some new Commissions including Canon law Commission, formation Commission and Child Safeguarding Commission were formed to add to the Commissions which were already existing to continue helping RSCK and the Church realize its mission of evangelization.

Besides, “We celebrated 50 years of service last year, a great milestone for RSCK,” the Kenyan cleric disclosed and continued, “In the last three years we also had a project of renewing our Constitution and this has successfully been accomplished and already the Constitution has been approved in Rome. So now we have a new Constitution which continues to helps the RSCK to function.”