Tanzanian cardinal set to officiate beatification

Pope Francis has delegated Archbishop of Dar es Salaam Polycarp Cardinal Pengo to decree the beautification of Sister Irene “Nyaatha” Stefani at the Dedan Kimathi University grounds on Saturday, May 23.

At the same time, the Pope assigned John Cardinal Njue to become the main celebrant in this historic beatification ceremony, the first ever to be performed outside the Vatican.

Initially Angelo Cardinal Amato, Prefect of the Congregation Causes of Saints at the Vatican, was scheduled to represent the Pope at the ceremony.

The changes were announced by Nyeri Archbishop Peter Kairo when he officiated a mass at Giakanja Parish in Tetu District and conferred the Sacrament of Chrism (Confirmation) to 200 Catholics.

Archbishop Kairo also witnessed 270 members of Catholic Women Association (CWA) and 100 members of the Catholic Men Association (CMA) renew their vows to serve in the ministries of the Catholic Church.

The thanksgiving that will be done after the beatification will be held at the St Mary’s Secondary School’s ground following a procession from Mathari Church where the remains of Sister Irene will be removed and taken to the Nyeri Catholic Cathedral.

Bulletproof glass

The remains will be interred in the sarcophagus, a transparent bulletproof glass casket, placed inside the Cathedral between the tombs of late Bishop Caesar Gatimu and late Archbishop Nicodemus Kirima.

The faithful will have free access to Sister Irene’s remains to pray and ask her to intercede for their individual requests.

On Sunday, Kairo, who just returned from Rome where African bishops conferred with the Pope, said the changes were necessitated by other pressing commitments for Cardinal Amato.

He said the Pope “was very concerned about the tragic raid by Al-Shabaab terrorists at Garissa University” where 148 people were killed.

The beatification of Sister Irene will take place between May 22 and 24 this year, and about 300,000 people are expected to attend.

Beatification is the recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person’s entrance into heaven and their capacity to intercede for others who pray in their name.

Irene, previously known as Aurelia Mercede Stefani, was born on August 22, 1891. She joined Consolata Missionary Sisters in 1911 and in 1915 was sent to Kenya by Blessed Joseph Allomano.

Kairo condemned the decision by the courts to grant registration and recognition of the gay rights group and called on the courts to reverse the decision.