During the celebration, held under the theme “Come to the fountain of life and growth” (John 10:10), the participants drawn from 5 archdioceses, 7 dioceses, and 10 congregations across 7 African countries graduated with a Certificate in Multicultural Psycho-Spiritual Counseling, and Human and Personal Development.
In his speech, the Chief Guest, Very Rev. Fr. Charles Kibe, Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, congratulated the graduates and expressed his admiration of their humility, which he noted was evident in their decision to prioritize rest and self-care.
He also thanked them for choosing the 11-year-old Program that focuses on ongoing formation and renewal and urged them to be “good ambassadors” by “preaching the good news about sabbatical rest.”
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Fr. Joseph Wahome of Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri shared that the four-month residential sabbatical program, which focuses on ongoing formation and renewal, had become a “fountain of life and growth” for them.
“In the four months of the sabbatical program, we have realized the importance of self-care, self-knowledge, relaxation, and inward journey,” Fr. Wahome said and added,” All these we owe to the expertise of all the facilitators both internal and external, who journeyed with us.”
On her part, Sr. Ongera Regina Achan Aniceto from South Sudan found the sabbatical program became “a true fountain of life and growth,” enabling her to undergo self-transformation by processing her past, embracing her present, and preparing for the future.
Reflecting on her experience during the December 6 graduation ceremony, the member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Sisters congregation for the past 50 years shared, “I feel that I have been set free from trauma, anger, unforgiveness, fatigue, and ignorance because there were things I did not know and only heard about here for the first time.”
“We leave this place healed spiritually, mentally, and physically,” she affirmed, referencing the sabbatical program founded by Bishop James Maria Wainaina of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Murang’a.
For Br. Godfrey Mwangi Wambugu, a member of the Kenya-based Brothers of St. Joseph for the past 24 years, the program was a journey of “self-discovery, healing, and self-awareness,” one he was leaving “enriched, awakened, and well-rested.”
“How I wish all priests, religious men, and women can get a chance to be part of this Program,” he reflected and in his testimonial during the graduation ceremony and challenged his fellow 23rd Session graduates to be good ambassadors of the program by attesting to its transformative nature.
The 23rd session comprised 16 Priests, 6 Sisters, and 1 Brother drawn from Kenya (20), Uganda (1), Tanzania (1), South Sudan (4), Zambia (2), Cameroon (4), and DR Congo (1).
The sending dioceses/archdioceses were Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa (4), Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (1), Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri (1), Catholic Diocese of Murangá (4), Catholic Diocese of Kericho (1), Catholic Diocese of Kakamega (1), and Catholic Diocese of Embu (1). Others were South Sudan’s Catholic Archdiocese of Juba (2) and Catholic Diocese of Rumbek (1), Zambia’s Catholic Diocese of Mpika (1), and Cameroon’s Catholic Archdiocese of Bamenda (3) and Catholic Diocese of Kumbo (1)
The sending congregations included Consolata Fathers (3), Missionaries of Africa (1),Apostles of Jesus (1), Brothers of St Joseph (1), Teresian Sisters of Chipata Diocese-Zambia (1), Evangelizing Sisters of Mary (1), Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1), Incarnate Word Sisters (1), Assumption Sisters of Nairobi (1), and
Sisters of St. Joseph Mombasa (1).
Applications for the 24th Session, starting on January 6, 2025, are now open. This session is available to priests, religious men, and religious women from around the world who have served for at least five years. To apply, please visit https://stjohnpaul2sabbaticalcenter.com/application/.
