NAIROBI, NOVEMBER 6, 2019 (CISA)-The Consolata Missionaries in Kenya have launched a book titled ‘Evangelization in Africa’, detailing the arrival of missionaries and spread of faith in the continent.
The launch which was held on Saturday, November 2 at Consolata Shrine in Nairobi was presided over by Bishop Peter Kihara of the Catholic diocese Marsabit.
“On behalf of my brother bishops it is a day of great joy to see that there is something more that we can put and add to our local Church to encourage it and continue being a local Church with a concern of a missionary dimension,” he said.
The book was authored on the proceedings of the International Missionary Conference held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in May 2015.
“I am glad that we have a chance to review what happened 5 years ago at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa guided by the conference of Consolata Missionaries in Murang’a in 1903,” he said adding that the information shared “helped us to be inspired and to contribute and share with all those who were not there.”
Fr Peter Makau, Superior of the Consolata Missionaries Kenya/Uganda region echoed the bishop’s statement encouraging men and women religious to borrow the art of keeping diaries from missionaries, from which the authors were be able to gather information captured in the book.
“With this book launch of the new series of evangelizing in Africa, the generations to come will have something concrete for a reference point. We also have other series of publications on the way especially,” he said.
Prior to the launch of the book, Bishop Kihara led the celebration of Mass in memory of the founder of the Consolata Missionaries Blessed Joseph Allamano and Blessed Sr Irene Stefani Nyaatha who are on course to sainthood.
“We are remembering all our brothers and sisters missionaries that passed through this land and went elsewhere and indeed many other missionaries who went far and wide to bring this spirit of beatification,” Bishop Kihara said in his homily.
Sr Joan Agnes Matimu, the Regional Superior of the Consolata Missionary Sisters Africa Region asked those present during the book launch to support the canonization process of both blessed Sr Irene and Blessed Allamano.
“As we are celebrating her beatification, we are celebrating this woman who lived her calling of faith, who let her life be touched by others, Parish priest and Blessed Joseph Allamano who she met personally and the missionaries who lived with her,” she added.
On October 31, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri led faithful in memorial feast Mass of Blessed Irene Stefani Nyaatha at Our Lady of Consolata Cathedral in Nyeri. Also present during the celebration was Archbishop Peter Kairu emeritus of Nyeri.
