KENYA: Beneficiaries from Sabbatical Program Urged to “Bring Life to Others”
Beneficiaries from Sabbatical program
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
At the end of a four-month sabbatical program at St. John Paul II Sabbatical Centre in Kenya’s Murang’a Diocese, situated in the central part of the country, beneficiaries have been sent to share what they have gained after renewal and “bring life to others” in the society.
“We are graduating, meaning that we are being resent with a vocation to bring life to others. This is possible because we have been moulded into the kind of people with the heart to facilitate growth in others,” the main celebrant for the 20th graduation ceremony Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa of Dedza Diocese in Malawi, told the 31 beneficiaries who were graduating on Friday, May 12.
The Prelate reminded the beneficiaries who began their sabbatical program in January, that they have been a family in prayerful reflection whose fruits lead to renewal.
“It is an experience of rebirth of our vocation. We were born in body into our respective families so many years ago. Later we were born in spirit at our baptism. We were then born into our respective religious families,” Bishop Chifukwa narrated and continued, “Our experience in the last four months has been a preparation for a birth into renewed persons. It is this rebirth that has to bear lasting impact on what we say and what we do.”
According to Rt. Rev. Chifukwa who is the Ordinary of Dedza Diocese, Malawi, at times people lag behind in human formation hence the experience during the sabbatical period helps beneficiaries to appreciate more God’s purpose in their life.
He explained further, “We have also been helped to realize our weaknesses, to accept them and to learn how to control them so that they may not grow into sin and become a burden for others to bear.”
The Friday event brought together participants from 11 Dioceses and 10 Congregations from seven countries including: Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and the United Kingdom.
At the close of the sabbatical period, Bishop Chifukwa narrated to the participants, “We learn to understand ourselves as clay in the hand of the potter, allowing God to mould us for the vocation to love.”
“Most often we tend to expect perfection in others without us being part and parcel of that perfection. While keeping unchallenged our imperfection, we may have looked for perfection in others,” the Prelate who was appointed Local Ordinary of Dedza in 2021 shared with participants who were just ending their sabbatical period emphasizing, “That is a sign that we might have been our own enemies and that we have imprisoned ourselves through our unevangelical attitudes towards others, when we are too judgmental to ourselves and others.”
The 31 beneficiaries who comprised of 24 Priests, 5 Sisters, and 2 Brothers, graduated with a Certificate in Multicultural, Psycho-Spiritual Counselling, and Human and Personal Development.
Sharing his experience after the four-months sabbatical period, Fr. Austine Radol the former Superior for Kenya Province of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) who was at the helm of the province for six years, said the courses offered in Muranga, “awakens one to rejuvenate himself to continue working in the vineyard of the Lord.”
On his part Fr. Boris Mapili from Ndola Diocese in Zambia appreciated his period of sabbatical saying the program can make one view life in two perspectives, “before sabbatical and after sabbatical.” He encouraged those who have not attended the programs to do so for the fruits are encouraging.
The theme for the 20th session was inspired by prophet Jeremiah: “like clay in the potter’s hand, you are in my hands.”
St John Paul II Sabbatical Centre was opened in August 2013 with the mission to provide a conducive environment for priests, religious men and women to deeper love for God, self and others.
