I remember, some years back, having passed one week at Allamano House,
in Karen, Nairobi. This was during our final retreat as novices in preparation
for our initial religious profession.
Four years down the line, and many miles away from this holy place, I
woke up to find a mail requesting me to say something about this place.
For about ten or so minutes, my inner voice wondered what it could allow
the outer one to utter and my hand went scratching my head due to two simple
reasons.
Firstly, it is historically evident that the longest time I have stayed
there, sums up to just nine days, if am not wrong, ever since I came to being!
And so, I am not the right person to say something about this house, well I
thought so.
Secondly, one principle of life that I find interesting and very helpful
is; never express your opinions on certain things unless you are asked.
Nonetheless, someone of my caliber would never lack something to say, if asked
to.
To be franc, I do not know the history of this holy place. What I am
well conversant with, is that, this is a place to make priests and religious brothers
of Consolata Institute, and is now celebrating 25 years of its existence.
All the same, I have this to say. It is the sitz-em-leben to form and mould church’s servants, the future men
who are to be responsible for the disposition of Christian faith and morals to
the human society. It is the sitz-em-leben
to nature life, the first vocation from God to humanity (cf. Jn 10: 10). It is
the sitz-em-leben where the divine
plan of human salvation finds its authentic meaning in the contemporary society.
In view of the fact that the priest who act in
Christi capitis neither drop directly from heaven nor imported from the
outer space by the angels, this house, is the sitz-em-leben where young zealous men respond to the divine call to
follow Christ closely as his co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord.
Like any other seminary, Allamano House, Nairobi, has its structures and
system to ensure the achievements of its noble goal; the structures that ensure
the gradual growth of what was once a physical attraction to a spiritual conviction.
The structures and system that help the candidate live the principle of
gradualism.
One may wonder and ask why the seminary is all that important. Or,
friends, let us put it rightly. Why should a young man still decide to join the
seminary after all the scandals eating up the institution of priesthood,
shaking it almost to the ruins?
The priesthood formation is founded on the following four pillars. First,
the personal or human element based on authentic self awareness and
relationships with others. Second the spiritual element which is based on a deeper
relationship and friendship with God. The third is the intellectual element, a profound
knowledge of God’s mysteries, ecclesial teachings, humanity and the world. And
finally, the fourth pillar is the pastoral or missionary element, which is an understanding
and getting ready to carry out the mission of the Church.
Does this sitz-em-leben for
nurturing religious vocations hold up to these pillars? If yes, young zealous
men shouldn’t be afraid despite the challenges the Church is facing today ‘to
cast out into the deep’ and savor the sweetness of the Lord (cf. Lk 5: 10-11).
