Consecrated for Peace, Compassion, and Mission: A Call to Renewal

This past Saturday at Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi, Kenya, men and women of the consecrated life gathered to celebrate the World Day of Consecrated Life. Many participants in the Sisters’ Blended Value Project (SBVP) were in attendance and listened as Archbishop Philip Anyolo delivered a clear and candid homily. Addressing the religious of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, the Archbishop reminded them that consecrated life is not a refuge from the world’s challenges but a “refiner’s fire” designed to purify and illuminate the Church.

Drawing on the rich history of the World Day for Consecrated Life, instituted by Pope St. John Paul II in 1997, the Archbishop linked the identity of religious brothers and sisters to the Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas). Just as candles are blessed to symbolize Christ as the Light of the World, those in consecrated life are called to reflect that same light to all people.

This year carries special weight as the Catholic Church celebrates the extraordinary Jubilee of St. Francis of Assisi. Archbishop Anyolo noted that the world´s yearning for peace, compassion, and mission is not a set of abstract ideas, but the “deepest longing of humanity.”

By looking to St. Francis, the Church is invited to rediscover:

• Simplicity: Stripping away the heavy, unnecessary burdens that hinder our mission.
• Reconciliation: Healing the divisions that keep us from being true witnesses.
• Purification: Embracing the “refiner’s fire” of the Gospel.

Reflecting on the Prophet Malachi and the Canticle of Simeon, the Archbishop challenged the notion that peace is not merely the absence of struggle. “Peace calls for perseverance,” he stated. He reminded the religious that their vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity are not negotiations or negations. Instead, they are proclamations. Peace becomes possible in the world when religious communities choose to forgive rather than divide, and when prayer remains the central pillar of their existence.

Archbishop Anyolo spoke candidly about the necessity of compassion within religious houses. He warned that when consecrated men and women are in serious disagreement, the Church’s witness is distorted. “Jesus did not save us from a distance; He entered into our flesh, our problems, and our humanity.” The religious should not fight but instead try to understand one another to achieve an amicable relationship. The credibility of consecrated life today will not be measured by grand structures or competitive achievements, but by the depth of compassion shown to one another and to the People of God. Compassion, the Archbishop noted, is transformative. It changes both the lover and the beloved.

Finally, the Archbishop characterized consecrated life as a mission that requires three key virtues: courage, creativity, and humility. In a rapidly changing world, the mission calls for individuals who are deeply rooted in Christ yet attentive to the signs of the times. It is a path of sacrifice and suffering, yet also one of profound joy.

The Humble Spirit of St. Francis of Assisi

Echoing this call to renewal, Sr. Caroline, Chairperson of the Association of the Sisterhood of Kenya (AOSK) – Nairobi Unit, drew inspiration from the humble spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. She reminded all present of the saint’s timeless words: “Let us begin again, for up to now we have done nothing.”   She framed this year’s celebration as a formal invitation for every religious person to present themselves once more to God with joyful fidelity.

This spirit of renewal is increasingly visible in initiatives that help religious communities translate contemplation into concrete, life-giving action. Through platforms such as SBVP, Sisters are embracing courage, creativity, and humility as they strengthen their capacity to serve. They are integrating prayer, compassion, and sustainable responses to the social challenges facing their communities. The call to “begin again” becomes not only spiritual, but also deeply transformative for those that consecrated women accompany.