She won the fight and finished the race

Today is a historic day in Kenya, a big day for Africa. Fortunately, this day is made great not by a political event, but by the selfless devotion of a nun, to the service of humanity. Her deeds of charity, many decades ago, have turned world attention on Kenya.

The beatification of Sister Irene Stefani, fondly known as Nyaatha, in Nyeri today enters the annals of history as the first such event to happen on African soil. Kenya is the beneficiary of a decision by the Vatican to hold beatification and canonisation ceremonies in the countries where those approved by the Catholic Church for this rare honour lived and died.

“Nyina wa Tha” (Mother of Mercy), who is today being declared Blessed, worked in Gikondi, Mukurweini, from 1914 when she was posted there by the Consolata Sisters, to 1930 when she died.
When Sister Irene died, 85 years ago, aged only 39, the people of Gikondi had no doubt that they had lost a saint.

They declared it at her funeral and to this day seek her intercession in personal and community prayers. It is humbling that their faith is being confirmed today.

What is it that the people of Gikondi saw in the young Italian nun? Selfless service to the community, as a nurse and teacher, and unfailing love to all, unto her death – these are consistent witness accounts throughout the past month leading up to her beatification.

While many say their prayers have been answered through her intercession, it is a miracle that happened in a Mozambican church in 1989 during the civil war that set her firmly on the path to sainthood. That Nyaatha has begun her journey to sainthood, is sweet reward for Christians in Africa and elsewhere who prayed for various favours through her intercession, believing her to be truly a saint.

Why is the “making of saints” such an important part of the Catholic Church? According to the church, these are individuals, many of them ordinary people, who it identifies as worthy of emulating. They represent the many “saints” who inspire us to live holy lives, but who are not officially recognised.

Societies across the world have men and women – not necessarily pastors, priests and bishops – who in their view, were living saints. Some have referred to Sister Irene as Africa’s Mother Teresa; Kenyans have no doubt that the late Maurice Cardinal Otunga should be declared a saint; while many in Africa also agree that Tanzania’s founding President Julius Nyerere is fit for saintly status.

No doubt the young Sister Irene inspired many people, young and old alike, in rural Nyeri, as well as in Tanzania where she worked as a Red Cross nurse during World War I.

It is this spirit of selfless service, and utter devotion, that we hope today’s youth in Kenya will emulate, particularly during these trying times, when a sense of hopelessness and despair appears to consume our young men and women. Accounts of Sister Irene walking many kilometres, in her famous military-style boots, to attend to sick villagers, by day and at night; or spending countless hours teaching children, or writing inspiring letters (in Kikuyu) to her friends, have been documented by the church in a number of publications.

We, too, record these stories for posterity, and to inspire young people to emulate the life of Sister Irene, and many others like her, to whom personal gain or comfort, had no place in their journey of life; true servant leaders driven by the desire to pursue the welfare of men and women in society.

Kenyans have truly “owned” Sister Irene, and – we hope – the virtues by which she lived.

There are many challenges facing Kenyans today including high unemployment rates, high cost of living, rising insecurity, and high cost of healthcare.

However, should those in authority and those endowed with resources be a little bit compassionate like Sister Irene, they could make a huge difference in alleviating these problems among Kenyans.

And as the Vice Regional Superior of the Consolata Sisters, Sister Linda Hill, aptly remarked: “I am sure Sister Irene is smiling today.”