Catholics mark Blessed Irene Nyaatha’s beatification first anniversary

The Catholic Church is set to launch the Blessed Sr Irene Stefani Nyaatha Pilgrim Circuit at the end of May 2016 as it marks the first anniversary of her beatification.

The circuit will entail nine points linked to the Italian nun who served and died in Gikondi, Mukurwe-ini Sub-County in Nyeri County.

Nyeri Archdiocese postulator, Fr Peter Githinji, said the launch will coincide with the day she was beatified at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

The sequence of the course will consist of her grave site at Mathari-Mathari old chapel where she was interred before beatification, Sr Irene Nyaatha Museum, beatification centre at the Dedan Kimathi University, Our Lady of Consolata Catholic Church where she was interred after beatification, Sr Irene Nyaatha Information Centre at Our Lady of Consolata Catholic Church, Our Lady of Divine Providence Gikondi Catholic church where a section of her remains was kept after beatification and also where she lived and served, the prayer centre and Gikondi Shrine which is under construction.

UNDERSTAND HOW SHE WORKED

“This circuit will help pilgrims understand how Blessed Sr Irene worked before she died in 1930.

“However, this is not meant for the Catholic faithful only and we encourage other people to visit it,” said Fr Githenji.

Although there will be no special ceremony to mark the anniversary, the postulator said plans were underway to hold a night vigil mass in her honour.

Fr Githinji said Pope Francis had declared October 31 as the date to celebrate Sr Irene’s anniversary.

“The date the Holy Father set is very appropriate since it concurs with her ‘heavenly birthday’— the date she died after contracting plague from a local teacher whom she was treating.

The postulator was speaking at Our Lady of Divine Providence Church in Mukurwe-ini where he was inspecting the construction of the Sh3 million shrine.

The shrine, which will be completed by the end of July 2016, is located at the small dilapidated house where blessed Sr Nyaatha lived and treated patients.

SPECIAL MASS

Nyeri Archbishop Peter Kairu is scheduled to conduct a special mass this month before he unveils the plaque at the shrine which includes a small chapel where the faithful and pilgrims will be holding prayers.

And as the digging of the foundation was going on, a small ampoule containing a white powdery substance, a stainless cup and a stainless ladle were found.

According to Fr Boniface Kiragu, who is in charge of Gikondi Church, excavation of these items is a clear indication that blessed Sr Nyaatha was a nurse and really treated locals who were ailing.

“We are going to take this ampoule to the lab so that we can identify what medicine it is and what disease (s) she used to cure with it,” pointed Fr Kiragu.

The two priests are now calling upon the county and national government to come to the aid of the completion of the shrine which they say will play a great role in luring in tourists