Let beatification be a unifying moment: Cardinal Njue

The beatification of Sister Irene Stefani was on Saturday described as a unifying moment for the country.

Delivering his homily during the ceremony at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology grounds in Nyeri, John Cardinal Njue, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Kenya, said the event should encourage Kenyans to begin looking beyond the categories of race, tribe, nationality or religion.

“God has provided us with this opportunity to cherish the beauty of a united humanity,” Cardinal Njue said.

The ceremony’s main celebrant said a moment like Saturday’s event is an instance to look back to where one is coming from and where one is going.

“Let this moment be a moment of looking back and also be a moment of renewal when we are able to say that the seed was planted, and now it’s our turn to water it and weed it,” he said.

Cardinal Njue said it would be good for the beatification of Sister Irene to become a moment of renewal and the acceptance of one another without wasting time on backgrounds or origins.

“It is not the place we come from which is important, but it is the person we are. If we can uphold that we shall then become instruments of peace and unity,” Cardinal Njue said.

He challenged the youth to cultivate human values that will help them make their contribution to society.

Cardinal Njue also called on parents to assume their responsibility and status and take their obligation of bringing up their children well.

Nyeri Archbishop Peter Kairo said Sister Irene is a role model for her heroic deeds, adding it was a honour for Pope Francis to allow the ceremony to be held in Nyeri.