When Fr. Isaiah Nyakundi was discerning his vocation, he was drawn by a vision larger than himself. As a student leader in his parish and diocese during high school, he became increasingly attracted to the idea of dedicating his life to sharing the Gospel beyond his own community. It was this missionary outlook that eventually led him to the Comboni Missionaries.

“I found the Comboni Missionaries appealing because of their courage. They are willing to go out, proclaim the Good News, and work with and for the poor and most abandoned, ” he recalled in an interview ahead of the May 8 graduation ceremony of the 26th Session of the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program. 

Ordained a priest on May 18, 2012, Fr. Nyakundi would spend the next 13 years serving outside his native Kenya, primarily in Ethiopia. Much of that time was spent in the country’s north-western region, an area that has experienced conflict and instability in recent years. The demands of ministry in such an environment gradually took their toll.

“This context brought a lot of stress and trauma. I was burning out,” he shared, adding: “I felt very tired and needed a place for refreshment, both physically and spiritually.” 

As he prepared to return to Kenya for a new assignment at the beginning of 2026, the Kenyan cleric found himself at a crossroads. Initially unsure whether to pursue further studies or take time away from active ministry, he eventually chose the latter and enrolled in the sabbatical program.

The four-month residential program provided a bridge between two significant chapters of his missionary journey: more than a decade of service in Ethiopia and the new responsibilities awaiting him back home.

“It was an experience to help me calm down, slow down, rest and pray as I prepared for this new commitment,” he explained

For a missionary accustomed to focusing on the needs of others, the program offered an opportunity to pay attention to something he had often overlooked: himself. Through the various sessions, personal accompaniment and group interactions offered at the 13-year-old Kenya-based ministry, he rediscovered the importance of rest, physical wellbeing and spiritual renewal.

“I have rested. I have reconnected with myself, especially in terms of the things I had ignored, including rest, spiritual life and physical exercise,” he said.  

Among all the lessons offered during the programme, one stood out above the rest. “The input on self-awareness really struck me,” he noted. The lesson prompted him to reflect more intentionally on his own wellbeing and the need for ongoing spiritual support. One practical resolution he is taking home is the decision to seek regular spiritual direction.

“I came to be aware that I need to take care of myself, starting with my spiritual life,” he said. “I made a resolution that I need to find and have a spiritual director whom I can meet regularly. This never crossed my mind before. I had been ignoring it, but this is one of the gifts that came from this encounter.”

The insight  also changed how he views ministry. Too often, he noted, priests and religious become so focused on serving others that they neglect their own wellbeing.

“You know, when we are in the parishes out there, we think that we are the only ones saving the world, and we ignore ourselves,” he reflected. “But when you slow down and take a rest after a certain number of years in ministry, you can become more fruitful.”

Beyond ministry, Fr. Nyakundi enjoys farming, particularly poultry keeping, a hobby he cultivated during his years in Ethiopia. He also rediscovered a love for table tennis while at the sabbatical centre, returning to a sport he had not played for more than two decades.

As he prepared to begin a new chapter of ministry in Kenya after more than a decade abroad, Fr. Nyakundi left the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program refreshed, renewed and better equipped for the mission ahead. 

“As we step out of this program,” he said, “I feel refreshed and renewed.” 

The St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program is a ministry of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Murang’a. Established in August 2013 by Bishop James Maria Wainaina, the program provides priests and religious with a residential space for rest, renewal and personal growth. Through a holistic approach, the program seeks to help participants integrate their physical, spiritual and emotional lives with their apostolate and ministry.

Inspired by Fr. Nyakundi’s sabbatical experience? Apply today for the 27th Session of the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program, set to begin on August 3,. Apply today by visiting: St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program Application Page