Nyeri, Kenya: A 600-member mass choir drawn from the Archdiocese of Nyeri will perform during Sister Irene Stefani’s beatification, Father Paul Kimani, the Archdiocese Choir Chaplain, has said.
The choir members are drawn from the 49 parishes that comprise the Nyeri Archdiocese, which has 6,000 registered choir members.
“We have new compositions on Sister Irene that will be incorporated in the programme for the Mass on Saturday and the Thanksgiving ceremony on Sunday,” Father Kimani said.
The 600 choir members will put on uniforms bearing Sister Irene’s portrait. Although the Mass will be celebrated in English, the choir has rehearsed songs in Kikuyu, Kiswahili and Latin
At Papal masses, the “Credo in Unum Deum” (The Creed – of the First Council of Nicea – A.D. 325) and the “Patel Noster” (The Lord’s prayer) are recited in Latin, the language of the Holy Mass of the Catholic Church until the 1963 Vatican II Council, which allowed usage of local languages in the Holy Mass the world over. Other changes included the Celebrant facing the congregation while saying the Mass.
The Choir underwent final tuning for “accent” in Latin mass language by pioneer Consolata Fathers and Sisters who have been in the country since the local clergy took over much of their evangelisation work in independent Kenya.
“The Beatification Mass will be at the Dedan Kimathi University grounds on Saturday 23, May, and will be presided over by John Cardinal Njue. It will be conducted in English,” Father Kimani said.
“The great occasion ahead of us is a lifetime noble event we are going to host as Nyeri Archdiocese, a unique and a great milestone for the Catholic Church in Africa and Kenya for that matter,” he added.
He said the big numbers of pilgrims flocking Nyeri to witness Sister Irene’s beatification will put Kenya on the world map of the Catholic faith.
Meanwhile, additional police officers will be deployed in Nyeri ahead of the fete, organisers said.
Apart from regular police, the State will deploy General Service Unit (GSU), Prisons and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel during the three-day event.
Regional Commissioner Michael ole Tialal also asked residents and pilgrims heading to Nyeri for the fete to remain vigilant as police step up patrols to ensure the event runs smoothly.
GUARANTEED SECURITY
Mr Tialal said there are enough police officers to ensure the safety and security of all visitors and residents who will be within the region for the event.
“I am not at liberty to give an exact number of how many police officers we have deployed within the county for the event, but I can assure residents that there will be adequate security for the event,” he said.
Tialal said that there was an increased number of security officers around hotels, supermarkets, churches and the Dedan Kimathi University grounds where the main event will take place on Saturday.
“We are ensuring that all major installations where we expect large crowds of pilgrims and residents have adequate security ahead of the event and during the ceremony,” he said.
Tialal said the night vigil at Gikondi Village on May 22 will be secured and all routes leading to the vigil area will be manned by traffic police.
