St. John Paul II Sabbatical Centre
Beatitudes Formation Centre
20th Session Graduation Ceremony
20th session of the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program
On Friday May 12, 2023 the 20th session of the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program concluded with the graduation of the 31 participants.
In a colorful event held at St. John Paul II Sabbatical Centre in Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, the participants drawn from 11 Dioceses and 10 Congregations in 7 countries graduated with a Certificate in Multicultural, Psycho-Spiritual Counseling, and Human and Personal Development.
In his homily during the graduation Mass, the Main Celebrant, Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa of Catholic Diocese of Dedza in Malawi lauded the Program terming it as “a moment of prayerful reflection” and “an experience of rebirth of the (participants’) vocation.”
“We have also been helped to realize our weaknesses, accept them and learnt how to control them so that they may not grow into sin; that they may not grow into a burden that others may find hard to bear,” the Malawian Bishop who was also the Chief Guest noted.
“We have also been helped to realize our weaknesses, accept them and learnt how to control them so that they may not grow into sin; that they may not grow into a burden that others may find hard to bear,” the Malawian Bishop who was also the Chief Guest noted.
The Prelate who had a participant from his Diocese graduating reminded the graduands that their graduation means “they are being resent with a vocation to bring life to others,” a mission he said is possible because the participants “have been molded into the kind of people with the heart and focus to facilitate growth in others.”
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Fr. George Kaoma of the Catholic Diocese of Ndola in Zambia noted that the four-month sabbatical program that focuses on ongoing formation and renewal has been “a moment of grace” where their lives “have been shaped into new vessels of God’s treasure.”
The Priest also thanked the Program’s founder, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, Rt. Rev James Maria Wainaina saying, “We are grateful to you for coming up with this wonderful program. Our prayer is that the program continues to grow and expand.”
He continued, “We are also thankful for giving us an opportunity to serve in the Parishes of Murang’a Diocese.”
The 20th session comprised 24 Priests, 5 Sisters, and 2 Brothers drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Malawi, Zambia, and the United Kingdom. The participants were from South Sudan’s Archdiocese of Juba and the Diocese of Wau, and Zambia’s Catholic Dioceses of Ndola and Chipata. Others included Kenya’s Archdioceses of Nairobi, Nyeri and Mombasa, and the Catholic Dioceses of Murang’a, Nakuru, Malindi, and Kisii.
The congregations whose members were participating in the 20th session included Sisters of St. Joseph – Mombasa, Loreto Sisters, Brothers of Mercy, Grace & Compassion Benedictines, and Comboni Missionaries. Others included Franciscan Missionaries of Hope, Apostles of Jesus, Presentation of the Virgin Sisters Malawi, Conventual Franciscan Friars in Kenya, and Missionaries of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary.
Intake for the 21st session set to start on August 7 is ongoing. It is open to Priests, religious men, and religious women from across the world who have served for at least five years.