HABARI NEWS NAIROBI PRIORY Year of the Lord 2015

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1 HABARI NEWS NAIROBI PRIORY Year of the Lord 2015 Pp. Francis to Kenya. I myself was privileged as Chairperson of AOSK to give a brief talk regarding religious life of women in Kenya. A most blessed event. We are so very grateful for this year of the Lord 2015 with all its gifts. From the Prioress Desk The year of 2015 held many special events for the Church and the people of Kenya. Beginning with the first ever canonization of a saint on Kenyan soil, that of Irene Stefani in May. The next big event which took place in July was the official visit of the President of the United States. For the people of Kenya they felt that it was their son coming home. Closer to home were the events stemming from the year dedicated to the Consecrated Life. In September a symposium on various aspects related to religious life was held at the large amphitheater of the Catholic University of East Africa with over 5,000 women and men religious in attendance. It was organized by the association of male [RSCK] and female [AOSK] religious organizations of Kenya along with Tangaza University a University created by a consortium of male religious communities in Kenya. The presence of His Eminence Joáo Cardinal Bráz de Aviz, the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life was of special account. Following the 5 day symposium an ongoing formation program of one month was offered to the nuns of Kenya of which there are 18 congregations. This was held at our Subiaco center. Of special note Sr. Jania of Norfolk and Sr. Jeana of Ferdinand Benedictines were among the lecturers for this course for nuns. And the most significant event was the visit of CHRISTMAS DAY May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!!! This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. The celestial choir is proclaiming the glory of God. All the saints angelically tell the wonder of the Lord. They sung Gloria in excelsis Deo proclaiming the birth of a greater King in Bethlehem. We all converged in the Chapel for the first solemn vespers for Christmas. Already the whether had changed and even the sisters way of dressing symbolizes a great event which was now at hand. The singing was so fine with harmonized voices as never before. The Church was well decorated and the lights and stars were all brightly shining. the alter could also speak by itself Who had appeared on earth. After vespers we proceeded to the Chapter room raising our voices in joyous praise striving to awaken the world for the Son of Man was with us, in a manger with arms widely opened ready to receive us as we are. Our Prioress Sr. Michael Marie welcomed us to the solemn feast by sharing with us the Christmas message from Mother 1

2 Angela and her own Christmas message in which she reminded us of the Popes request during his visit to Kenya He whispered to her pray for me. She invited us also to pray together with her for Pope Francis. The postulants performed a small skit symbolizing the birth of our Lord. This was followed by some Christmas Carrols following which we proceeded to the refectory for supper then in wait for the vigil mass that was to be presided over by our chaplain Fr. Gregor. As usual the Mass was colorful with Christmas songs, lights all over and glittering stars not mentioning the liturgical dances from our Novices and Postulants. The aromatic smell of the incense filled the chapel. Fr. Gregor was keen enough to recognize our neighbors who year after year join us for Vigil masses of Christmas and Easter. The choir was so vibrant you could think it was morning mass no one could miss any note because of sleeping. Who could sleep when Christ has come among us in flesh and blood? After the Mass there was great joy as sisters very happily greeted and wished each other Merry Christmas while enjoying snacks in the refectory. I could not believe that it was approaching midnight for the night was as clear as the day and so were my eyes. As we are known for great silence this is one of the exceptional days in which the great silence is not observed because of the great joy that comes with the new born Christ. We departed to our cells one by one to rest for the few hours waiting to welcome the dawn of glory and join the angels in singing the Gloria during the shepherds-mass. Every morning a bell is usually rung to awaken us in preparation for morning prayers, but on this day being a great day we were awakened by Christmas music; which was loud enough that everybody could hear. In a short while we were already gathered for Morning Prayer and this was followed by the shepherds mass. On the evening of this great feast we gathered in the refectory after the evening prayer. It usually happens that each gathering in the refectory is preceded by common prayers in the church. We dined together and shared the joy of the love of Jesus whose birth we were celebrating. The floor was full of merry singing and dancing; it was a time to exercise whichever gift and talent one has including the gift of our vocation. We had entertainments, Novices on stage, one of them taking the part of Christ, asks, Young lady, where are you going? Don t you see this battered tent; A tent full of holes? My daughter don t be troubled, come with me for this is my dwelling place. You shall see how beautiful and wonderful it is to belong On your own you can t make it but the son of man can. If you trust and believe in him, he shall take a way the battered tent and fashion you with a new one. The battered tent is likened to our wounded hearts Many are times when our hearts are torn but the compassionate and merciful Father accepts them and renews them once again through the love he renews by the birth of his son in our midst. The Postulants also entered the stage like John the Baptist preparing us for the great poem they recited in unison and conviction with joy radiating from their faces. Nobody wanted to be left out and so the juniors also had a skit depicting how the message of the new born King was received by different people in different ways. Some accepted it for the sake of saving their lives. The little and yet called the Mighty King is already welcoming us. 2

3 The sisters on the other hand took over the roles and tasks done by the workers and the workers were like Kings and Queens. It was really a special scene to observe how sisters and novitiate members gathering their efforts running up and down to make the day wonderful and great for their guests. the glittering Christmas tree symbolizing the Great light which has shown on us!!! A quiet evening to welcome the New Year approached. We all gathered in the Church, silence prevailed; adoration was at hand. Intercessory prayers began, one could experience the Spirit of God moving among us. All of us received favor in the sight of the Almighty one, we were fully touched. This was a moment to pour out our hearts to him for he had worked wonders in our lives during the year. Welcoming another year was not an easy task as it calls us to a time of atonement and purification of sins. Adoration ended at 12:00 Midnight everyone was a wake ready to usher in the New Year Silence was broken and all over the area could be heard fireworks and jubilation neither were the sisters left out. So came another session of merriment, we had seen anew day with a difference another phase of the moon and another face of the coin. Things were to restart. The joyfulness of the New Year was to be put on by all of us expressed with cheers and dances in the refectory. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!! By Post. Celestine EMPLOYEES CHRISTMASS PARTY THAT LEFT SMILES IN THEIR HEARTS Special and different from the previous years during this years Christmas party the workers were not allowed to step onto the compound wearing their working clothes but in suits and ties. They were to come with their families and friends. Those in the kitchen made sure that they put forth all their skills so that every stomach was well cared for; The sisters in the refectory also made sure that the guests are warmly welcomed and each had a placed to comfortably sit; not forgetting the most important place the church, it was like heaven on earth yet we were still in advent season. Those who might have forgotten what was to take place thought that we were mistaken by celebrating Christmas earlier on 12 th Dec. instead of 25 th Dec. The sisters did not only care for the stomachs of the employees but also for their souls and those of their families and friends. The celebration was opened officially with the Holy mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Raphael, a Redemptorist. He really prepared very wonderful food for the soul and served it well. I was moved by his homily as he said, All of us are stewards being entrusted with something and God will demand an accountability from our stewardship. Nobody is a boss! The sisters, priest or the employees, we are all God s stewards in his vineyard. He went on to say that the employees should always be appreciative to the work God has given them and should avoiding comparing themselves with others by saying why is he/she working in the dispensary, Subiaco and I in the garden or with pigs? Rather, they should praise God for having given them the opportunity to work because there are so many people who are seeking jobs to no avail. By the time the mass ended I was already satisfied by this wonderful food of the soul. Even though it was meant for the staff I found it fitting also for me being that I am also a worker in God s vineyard. 3

4 After mass came the next part, the other sweetest part, which we all enjoy most when we attend a party and that is food. Most interesting, when it came to serving there was no high or low table, the tables for sisters or for employees; all shared the same meal, great and small a like, employer and employee. This made this year s Christmas party for the employees different from the past years celebrations. It showed unity among the sisters and the employees and it symbolizes the heavenly banquet. When Mr. Stomach had received something, now came a time to shake the muscles and for the employees to show that they have appreciated us as there employers. This was accompanied by nice music in which the workers danced in shifts in relation to their respective working areas, that is: Convent, Subiaco and St. Odilia s Dispensary who showed that they not only know how to prescribe and dispense medicine to the patients but that they can also shake their bones in rhythm to the music. When it came to the turn of their children, I wish you could have been there to watch because I have no words to express it. The children showed there parents that they are younger and more flexible than there parents especially Blessing the daughter of Mama Jane. She seems to have learnt the years back and where the parents are the children will be one day be. As Fr. Raphael had said during mass that we should learn to be appreciative, the sisters showed this in action by giving gifts to the employees, Many smiles were seen on the employees faces as they were receiving the gifts. As a sign of gratitude, the employees also in return gave the sisters gifts by making them go through physical exercises. You cannot imagine Sr. Serve going down to the ground dancing without saying ai wai wai wai mama yangu As in any other big celebrations, the cake winds up the day yet it is the climax. As one writer said, something special is always special you don t wash your hands when you are going to eat a cake. It is true, even the doctors that day forgot about the sanitation when they were served with a cake. We all shared the cake with them after which they left at their own pleasure with big smiling faces. The children showing their talents in dancing styles even before she was formed in her mother s womb. As God told Jeremiah that I called you even before you were born it seems that Blessing was given that talent even before conception. The children showed their parents that where the children are the parents were some Thank you Sisters and Novitiate members for making the day very colorful and enjoyable, I wish it could come back, I could have enjoyed double. May God bless you all!!! By Nov. Regina 4

5 WASAFI KAREN YOUTH GROUP When it is Christmas season everyone wants to celebrate and no one would like to go without the celebration. The Wasafi Karen youth group as they are known is a group of young men who have decided to change their life for the better. The nature of the work of Sr. Serva part of which is shopping whenever there is need. During her business errands, she came across this group of young men who used to beg from her whenever she passed either to the Post office or for shopping. It is so easy to help a person when he/she approaches you for the first time with a genuine need, but when it becomes continuous it becomes more of a bother. Sr. Serva also felt that the need of these young men was increasing day by day and she could not manage to support them. She challenged them one day that they could organize themselves and support each other because it is not life-sustaining to live by begging. Their idleness and frustration lead some of them to drugs, alcohol and some could even steal so as to have something for the day. Being a missionary and a Christian, Sr. Serva felt for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd this was because they were not officially recognized and even the Police could chase them from where they were doing some poor jobs of washing the parked cars and shoe shining. They themselves sing how their Good Samaritan was united with them when they decided to form a group and have an identity, they went ahead to register the group to make it legal so that they could be recognized. This year s Christmas was of its own kind, they were visited by Sr. Serva and Sr. Jacinta who shared with them the joy of the new King (Jesus) who was to be born for us to unite us. They themselves were also ready to receive the King who was to be born among them because their lives were totally changed and even the surrounding people could recognize their oneness and the love they have for each other. Surely salvation dawned on them in that their Good Samaritan organized for their medication support from the Koreans. At the moment, they are stable and even have an account in which they can keep little savings for any eventuality. This group met Christ through Sr. Serva, let us also make Christ known and be realized in the small activities that we do for our fellow brothers and sisters. Together we are able to see how they are full of gratitude in their hearts as they rejoice at the birth of their Savior. The wasafi youth group posing for a photo together with sisters Serva and Jacinta By Sr. Christine CELEBRATING ST. ANDREAS AHMREIN S DAY 29 TH DEC 2015 The long awaited day now approached, the day when the sisters were to exercise their talents in terms of foot work, hand and so on. The wasafi Karen youth group with Sr.Serva At 2:30 p.m. the bell was rung and indeed this was the hour. We all assembled in the garden behind novitiate block and waited for the instructions from the mistress of ceremony of the day. 5

6 Sr. Helen who was the referee looked at her and threatened the rest saying, someone is going to be defeated right away. Was she John the Baptist of the day announcing from the wilderness that people should tighten their muscles and loosen their joints? God granted us hope because after all we needed strong losers and winners. Sisters enter the field with style as a sign of warming up Who is who?? People were different. Dressed like young men, fully armed to face the opponent. We were already grouped into two teams of Katharina and Ahmrein, two strong teams so to say. Yes, the exercise began solemnly with a word of prayer as St. Benedict encourages that we put God first in all your undertakings. Then the instructions were laid down as to the order of the day. All the games of the day were announced and to open the games ropes were laid in the field in readiness for skipping. This was done in intervals. We were to jump while the referee of the day counted from 1-30, if you manage to jump to the count of 30 gained a score for your team, if you missed a jump you gained a loss for your team. The next game was 100 meters race from goal to goal. This was the moment you could doubt whether the person was really coming or going. People took cover and tried their best. Congratulations to Sr. Loice for emerging the best. This could be eventually seen just by looking at her tall physique. The so called netballers emerged in the field; tall, strong and tough. This was the hardest, toughest and most enjoyed game. Out of its rules, we had to change the referee to one who knows its rules so that justice could prevail. Goal keeping, defending and shooting was not easy. Those who could not make long gallops were disadvantaged. as usual spectators are more worried than the people in the field Sr. Michael Marie being a missionary also wanted to exercise her mission life and decided to lead her team as one of their shooters. To shoot is easy to hit the ring is neigh impossible except for the advantaged Post. Celestine who is also blessed with height, on receiving the ball there was no doubt that she would hit the ring so even before she scored people were already moving to the center to start for the other side and the one responsible for recording scores could automatically give a score. This gave Katharina s team great hope that they would defeat Ahmrein s team which they were almost doing. Katharina had 9 points while Ahmrein had only 4 from the netball; the joy was theirs which later was to turn upside down. Sr. Lucina and Nov. Regina waiting for referee asthey ready themselves to race. At this point another game surfaced from our Mother Michael Marie simple but technical. This one did not need height, built body or strength. 6

7 My goodness, throwing and receiving of balloons filled with water. The greatest intercessor and cheerer was prowling around the field, Sr. Pascha shaking the tambourine and swaying like Miriam in the book of Exodus. Nobody knew which team Sr. Pascha belonged, she was half / half. Is it that she was warming the field in readiness for her game of specialization; Walking with an egg carried on a spoon in her mouth and balancing the empty bottle of soda on her head? Thank you Sr. Pascha for your majesty and magic in the game. You did it perfectly right though, you did not win! Nov. Regina won and that is Ahmrein. Back to the balloons since the initiator of the game was of the Ahmrein team, it seems she might have coached the members and so they had the trick and they washed the Katharina s team to the fullest. Break dance followed, whereby each and every one joined the frenzy dance full of joy and gratitude. The time for free dance to close the day This is where you could identify the Congolese in their true styles. After all it was to enjoy and fill refreshed. As the people were dancing and taking refreshing drinks everything was good. The weather changed however when the scores were released. Since Katharina s team had been leading all along they thought they were the leaders forgetting the balloon wash. They started celebrating in advance only to hear that Ahmrein defeated them with one point this was enough to put others into a coma. Thanks be to God the gifts were shared equally at the end. As the day s ending drew near everything was silenced and we all sat down in deep adoration and reverence of Almighty God who had made it wonderful day. Thank you sisters for having the best plans and ensuring that both ends were brought to their meeting point. Supper followed and people dismissed at their pleasure. By Nov. Felistus THE MANIFESTATION OF THE STAR TO THE WISE MEN Epiphany as it is called is the manifestation of Christ to the three wise men known as the Magi. It is rightly observed on 6 th of January every year. The Epiphany of 2016 was the most unique one according to my observation as compared to the past years and I hope others which are still to come will follow suit or will be better than this year s. It began by solemn first Vespers on Tuesday the 5 th, at the entrance to the Church there was a glittering star which symbolizes something special like the star which was seen by the Magi. When I looked at the Manger, the magi had already reached and were now praying and ready to offer their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Our Lady was looking at them with wonder but kept the wonder to herself as usual while Joseph gave them his place so that they could have a good glance at the little boy Jesus, while Jesus himself seemed to have welcomed them with a big smile as if he had been waiting for them. 7

8 We entered in the Church in procession recognizing and acknowledging the presence of the new born Christ in each other by a bow as we usually do in our Benedictine way of life. After prayers we were free being that it was a free evening in preparation of the big day following. After the game and receiving of gifts, we had short night prayers and retired to bed after receiving the blessings all along the day. By Nov. Mildred The material day dawned and we assembled for the solemn lauds of the Epiphany which was then followed by the vibrant Eucharistic Celebration presided over by our chaplain Fr. Gregor in which our novices represented the three Magi and brought to the Community the three gifts of Gold, Frankincense and myrrh during offertory. As our motto of prayer and work we had to break from work as usual for Midday prayers and lunch. At 5:00Pm we were to meet again before Vespers for another special occasion of the day, which was the blessing of the Priory house, the Subiaco Retreat center and hermitages, St. Ocillia s Dispensary, garage and garden. We assembled in groups in which some were given special duties as leaders, Inscribers, Incensers ; others were to sprinkle holy water while those remaining were to lead in singing. We all gathered in the Church for the opening prayer which was led by our Prioress Sr. Michael Marie OSB and then each group took its direction. It took almost an hour, after which we came together for Vespers followed by supper. To crown the day, as Christ received gifts on Epiphany, we also as a community after supper we gathered to receive gifts but, in a special way. We had a game by the name Bingo which was directed by Sr. Michael Marie, so we were to receive these gifts out of luck; you had to win in one way or the other as per the rules of the game then through raffles pick a number; the number corresponded to a pre-wrapped gift which the winner received. One was to open the gift and show to the community what gift was. The naturally lucky ones who won the game several times could then offer the gift to the not so lucky ones, in this way all could receive a gift. 8