Colourful fete ends as Stefani's relics are laid to rest in Cathedral

The relics of Blessed Irene Stefani Nyaatha, who was beatified in Nyeri on Saturday, were taken to their final resting place at the county's main cathedral. The interment, adjacent to the tombs of two former bishops buried inside the church, marked the end of the historic beatification ceremony.

The moment of truth came at 3.14p.m. when the special box – the sarcophagus— containing the relics of Blessed Irene were lowered into a special glass tomb inside Consolata Cathedral, where they will be permanently preserved.

Seven bishops led by Archbishop Peter Kairo witnessed every step of the interment that involved a rigorous legal process.

The relics were moved yesterday morning from Mathari Mission Church, where they were preserved since their exhumation in 1985, and escorted by thousands of Christians who walked all the way to St Mary's Secondary School grounds where a Papal Mass was celebrated.

Archbishop Peter Kairo, delegated by Pope Francis to be the main celebrant in the Thanksgiving Mass, conducted the Holy Mass with six other Bishops.

The faithful thronged the St Mary's Secondary School grounds along Kimathi Way, to participate in the Holy Mass. Christians from all walks of life participated in the mass, which is part of the protocol of the Beatification process.

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The clergy, led by Archbishop Kairo, called on Kenyans to humble themselves and emulate the Italian nun who chose to abandon her homeland and come to Kenya and Tanzania to help the poor, weak, elderly and children.

"We thank God for giving us the gift of Sister Nyaatha. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, compassion and humility. Let us all strive to be missionaries so that we can share the love, happiness and compassion," said Kairo.

Notably, the service coincided with the birthday of Kairo, who is also the Nyeri Catholic Archbishop.

The faithful sang happy "Happy Birthday" for Kairo, as leaders, led by Governor Nderitu Gachagua, Nyeri County Commissioner Michael ole Tialal and Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi, likened the Archbishop to Sister Nyaatha.

Murugi also excited the thousands of congregants when she sang another version of happy birthday wishes for the Archbishop, who during all the session sat quietly and constantly waved to acknowledge the wishes.

The service also coincided with the celebration of the feast of Pentecost, a day when Christians remember the descending of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles following the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

The Postulators of the Cause of Beatification of Sister Nyaatha in Kenya and Rome, fathers' Peter Githinji and Gottardo Pasqualetti urged the congregants to celebrate the day with joy, noting that the beatification of Sister Nyaatha was supposed to shower them with happiness.

"It is a day of happiness. Let us all come together and celebrate this day with joy, as we are also reminded to humble ourselves before other people and love them without boundaries," said Pasqualetti.

The service followed a procession of hundreds of faithful who marched with the relics of the late nun from Mathari Central Chapel, some seven kilometres away.

The relics were ferried in a pick-up truck, belonging to the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri.

The faithful walked to St Mary's Boys Secondary School grounds, while others followed the church service from the neighbouring Temple Road Primary and DEB Muslim Primary schools.

Organisers of the event had already made entrances to the two institutions to decongest St Mary's grounds.

A procession comprising Kairo and five other bishops, among them Bishop Kihara of Marsabit Diocese, arrived at the altar at 10.45am, with the Archbishop proceeding to consecrate the altar.

The postulators were then called to explain to the congregants the connection between the beatification service that was held at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology grounds on Saturday and yesterday's mass.

"A day after beatification, the Congregation of the Cause recommends that a thanksgiving service be held so as to recognise the cause and all those who took part in the event," said Gottardo who spoke in Italian. His message was interpreted into English by Githinji.

The priests announced that Pope Francis delegated Archbishop Kairo as the main celebrant in the service of giving thanks to the Blessed gift of Sister Nyaatha.

The service was attended by pilgrims from Italy, Colombia, Liberia and Tanzania, among other countries. Four relatives of the late nun also attended the service.