It was eleven o’clock in the morning when the Nuncio of His Holiness, Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin, together with the diocesan bishop of Wote Makueni, Martín Kivuva Musonde and the bishop of Kitui, Antonio Muiya en-tered the convent. The Superior General of the Augustinian Recollects, Javier Guerra Ayala, had arrived two days before with the Augustinian Recollect, Raul Buhay who had come from the Philippines not only for the opening but to give a course in formation to the young novices and postulants. The president of the federation Sor Maria Cruz Aznar, together with Sor Beatriz Álvarez had arrived in the community two weeks before. The parish priest John Makewa with some twenty more priests had also wanted to take part in the opening. A good number of other religious sisters were also there with about one thousand people. It should also be mentioned that the Consul for Spain in Nairobi, Bruno García Dobarco came with his wife.



In his homily the Nuncio spoke of the reason for the celebration. Mother María Cruz Aznar, the President of the Federa-tion of Augustinian Recollects explained “how the Prior General and Fr. Bu-hay had been present in the celebration and buffet together with the bish-ops as representatives of our Order and people very linked to the commu-nity. We were very happy with their presence and are profoundly grateful to them. It meant a lot to us and the young women who are beginning to know the Order”.

The blessing and consecration went smoothly. The parish choir of Wote sang hymns in their own language. The chanting of the litany of the saints with its solemn rhythm and tone for the occasion was especially emotional.

Contemplative Life

In his homily the Nuncio spoke of the reason for the celebration. Through the words of the Nuncio, the other bishops and the General after the Eucha-rist, the reason for contemplative nuns and the peculiarity of their enclosure became clearer.

Mother María Cruz Aznar directed a few words to the people, thanking all those gathered there and then presenting the community to the people and the reason for their being there and establishing themselves in Africa.

The Eucharist and blessing took some four hours and afterwards the thou-sand or so people shared a meal. The VIPs were able to be seated the gal-lery of the convent. The central patio was filled with family and friends of the novices and postulants who were very happy indeed. The community who served everybody were then able to have some refreshment in their own dining room.