AMECEA: At Launch of Bakanja Seminary Silver Jubilee Year, Nuncio Encourages Multiculturalism
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
At the launch of the celebration of 25 years of Blessed Bakanja AMECEA College (BBAC) a seminary located in Kenya’s Nairobi Archdiocese, the Apostolic Nuncio for Kenya has called upon seminarians who are from different countries within the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) region and beyond to appreciate the cultural diversity of the seminary and at the same time be role models in their way of living.
Archbishop Hubertus van Megen was addressing the congregants on Saturday, December 17, as he presided over the Eucharistic celebration to mark the commencement of one-year preparation towards the seminary’s 25 years of service to be celebrated Saturday, December 16, 2023.
“Bakanja being an international seminary means that it shapes and forms you to understand the different cultures and how you need to respect other people’s way of life and how to be careful in your own reactions in the presence of others who come from other cultures,” the Nuncio said while addressing the seminarians adding that the international aspect of the seminary in a way shapes also the future of the universal Church.
In his message, Archbishop van Megen disclosed that “many congregations have problems attributed to lack of spiritual identity, lack of religious identity and lack of discipline,” and called upon the Bakanja seminarians to be faithful to their vocation, to the rule of life and to the constitution and the statutes of their different congregations.”
Additionally he said, “Formators and superiors must live exemplary lives and I also call upon all of us to live committed and transparent life, the life in which we give Christ the first place in our life.”
Archbishop van Megen who doubles as representative of the Holy Father in South Sudan emphasized the need of having Christ who is our inspiration at the centre of life.
In his sermon during the Eucharistic celebration, Archbishop van Megen noted that celebrating 25 years means that the seminary has a lot to look back on, a lot to pray for, and a lot to look forward to especially in thanksgiving God for the many gifts it has received.
He then unveiled various items to be used during the one year preparations including the Jubilee prayer, theme, logo, and organizing committee members who were commissioned to spearhead the activities for the upcoming Jubilee.
The Silver Jubilee year has been themed “Looking at the past 25 years with gratitude, living the present with passion, moving to the future with hope.
