The Bishop of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, Rt. Rev. James Maria Wainaina, on Monday, September 8, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Centre.
The project will see the diocese construct a 45-room multistorey facility that will permanently host the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program. Currently, the Program is hosted by Beatitudes Christian Formation Centre, a pastoral facility owned by the diocese.
During the ceremony held at Beatitudes, Bishop Wainaina who is the founder and vision-bearer of the Program, nostalgically recalled its humble beginnings in 2013. He shared how he reached out to seven partner and funding organisations for support in setting up the centre but received no response. After two years, he resolved to move forward without dedicated infrastructure, hosting the program at the Formation Centre.
“I said we are not going to give up just because help was not forthcoming from the organisations we had approached,” the Bishop shared with those gathered, among them board members, staff, priests, religious men and women, well-wishers, and participants in the current Sabbatical session.
Beyond financial and infrastructural hurdles, Bishop Wainaina also faced the challenge of convincing fellow Bishops and religious superiors of the value of sabbatical rest and the need to send participants. To promote the initiative, he recalled personally sponsoring participants from various dioceses, hoping to create awareness and encourage wider adoption.
Reflecting on the journey, the Bishop acknowledged the encouragement received along the way, which kept his vision for the Program alive: “We have had a lot of support, prayers, and good words from people, especially the participants. That has been enough to make us continue.”
Now, 22 years and 25 sessions later, the four-month residential Program has become an oasis of peace and serenity, offering personal renewal and growth to priests and religious seeking quality time in prayer and rest. It has welcomed thousands of participants from around the world, with the current session recording its highest number yet – 37 participants.
The new centre, to be built adjacent to the Formation Centre, is expected to be completed within a year. Its construction is supported by the diocese, friends of the Bishop, and well-wishers both locally and abroad.
“May the Lord bless this project we have started today and bring it to a fruitful completion,” the Bishop prayed.
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