KENYA, Sr. M. Joanne Petersen. The Father symbol visited the Schoenstatt Movement in Kenya from 12 Jan until 24 Jan 2011. The Father symbol left Cape Town, South Africa on the morning of the 12 Jan and arrived in Nairobi, Kenya on the evening of 12 Jan. On 13 January, a welcoming Mass was held in Nairobi. Leading members of the Schoenstatt Movement of Nairobi and Murang’a then gathered around the Father symbol to finalise the plans for its 10-day journey around Kenya. It was a joyful family that gathered and this experience of a happy family united around the father continued throughout the pilgrimage of the Father symbol.
He really came to visit Kenya Schoenstatt Family
For the next two days, the Nairobi Schoenstatt family met around the Father symbol. On Saturday, the Schoenstatt members both youth and adult, gathered at their monthly meeting place for a day’s seminar around the Father symbol. Each one had a private moment with the father symbol during this time. For many, it was a deeply spiritual experience. One youth leader remarked that Fr Kentenich had, right from the beginning, marked in his diary: Jan 201- visit Kenya Schoenstatt family! And in his experience, now we can truly say that he has indeed come and visited us. Another youth member, when asked to share his experience, said that he had been so eagerly waiting for this moment that now that it had come, he was so full, he was speechless.
“He sometimes journeyed a whole day to visit one parish priest”
On Sunday 16 January, members of the Nairobi Schoenstatt Movement accompanied the Father symbol over the equatorial line to the diocese of Meru on the North East side of Mnt Kenya. There is no Schoenstatt Movement here but a loyal group of 8 Schoenstatt Diocesan priests and one religious Brother. The priests gathered around the Father symbol on Monday 17 January at Laale parish in the Nyambene Hills. Once again, it was a deep experience for all concerned. On the way back to its overnight resting place at Kariakomo parish, the Father symbol visited the presbyteries of two of the Schoenstatt diocesan priests. One remarked that just as Fr Kentenich had, during his lifetime, sometimes journeyed a whole day to visit one parish priest, so he felt that Fr Kentenich had done this for him too. The Father symbol was also respectfully received by the pupils of a number of Catholic High Schools who have received regular visits by Schoenstatt members.
In Murang’a
On Wed 19 January, the Father symbol travelled to the diocese of Murang’a, where Schoenstatt was initially introduced about 17 years ago. On Thursday, 20 January, about 70 League and Pilgrim Mother Schoenstatt members gathered for a Mass with the Father symbol in the parish of Mugoiri, where Schoenstatt was first started. That evening, the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother group at the Medical Students College of the local town, were also extremely happy to receive a visit from the Father symbol.
National celebration
Saturday 22 January was a national celebration with the Father symbol for all Schoenstatt members. Schoenstatt members came from as far as the diocese of Nyeri which is on the NW side of Mnt Kenya. The venue was the MTA wayside Shrine at Mbo-I-Kamiti, in the diocese of Murang’a, where the Schoenstatt members have a small area where they gather for their monthly pilgrimage. It is known affectionately as the Mango Shrine since the MTA picture resides in the shade of an avenue of very tall mango trees.
For unity in Africa
Over 300 pilgrims gathered on the side of the main road to form the rosary procession. From there they walked for 1 hour to get to the wayside Shrine, praying all four mysteries of the rosary as they walked. People took turns to carry the Father symbol at the head of the procession. The Father symbol was carried in true African fashion- on their heads. Once everyone had arrived at the Shrine, the MTA was crowned with a wreath of roses and the Father symbol was greeted with ululation and great rejoicing. The Mass was concelebrated by two Kenyan Schoenstatt diocesan priests and two Schoenstatt Fathers from Burundi and the Congo respectively. The intention was for unity in Africa as well as in thanksgiving for our world-wide Schoenstatt family. At the end of the Mass, the Father symbol was officially handed over from the Kenyans to the delegation of four Burundians who had come to fetch it.
Visiting Cardinal John Njue
That afternoon, the Father symbol travelled back to Nairobi by bus, together with the Nairobi Schoenstatt Movement and the Burundian delegation. On Sunday 23 January, the Father symbol was introduced to the Cathedral congregation of Nairobi. Afterwards, the Schoenstatt youth of Nairobi diocese gathered for their monthly meeting. The youth are made up of students from the different universities and colleges and technikons in and around Nairobi, as well as a Schoenstatt Boys’ group at a Secondary High school for boys that is close by to the cathedral.
On Monday, the Burundian delegation together with leading members of the Nairobi Movement, were blest to be able to visit Cardinal John Njue in his office in Nairobi and to explain the Father symbol to him. He kindly consented to have his picture taken together with the members and the Father symbol. Then the Father symbol visited the home Shrine of the Nairobi Schoenstatt Movement co-ordinator, Mrs Monica Kimani where the Kenyans, Burundian delegation and South African Schoenstatt Sister who had accompanied the Father symbol to Kenya, said good bye. Both South African and Burundians left early the next morning for their respective countries.
Gratitude
The Kenyan Schoenstatt Family would like to thank Fr Kentenich and his representatives for this wonderful and blessed visit. It has truly been a blessed time and also an experience of unity. In particular, we thank God our Father and Fr Kentenich for all the graces and blessings we have received. As the Father symbol prepares to go, it is leaving graces in the form of rain, behind. Kenya has been experiencing drought since the November-December rains did not come. On Saturday, the day of the national pilgrimage, a few drops started to fall and on Monday, all 3 dioceses where there are Schoenstatt members, are experiencing good rains.
We greet all our brothers and sisters of our world-wide Schoenstatt Family and hope to meet you at the Mother Shrine in 2014! Our prayers go with you.
