Archbishop Philip Anyolo institutes six brothers as readers and acolytes
On Easter Monday, 18 April 2022, the Archbishop of Nairobi, the Most Rev. Philip Anyolo, made his first visit to the Formation House in Karen, Nairobi. He has been a long-standing friend of the Congregation since his days as Bishop of Homa Bay, and had warmly welcomed the Sons of Divine Providence into the Archdiocese of Kisumu the previous December, before being transferred to Nairobi.
During the morning visit the Archbishop instituted three brothers — Harrison, Kenneth and Anthony — in the ministry of reader, and three others — Austine, Martin and Samuel — in the ministry of acolyte. In his homily the soft-spoken, smiling Archbishop spoke of the joy of Easter and of serving the Lord.
The long journey from the mind to the heart
He spoke of the great urgency shown by Jesus in the Gospel of the day, where Jesus was quickly gathering his disciples in Galilee. He encouraged the students in formation to make the long journey from the mind to the heart, and to explore the charism of our Founder. He brought out the aspect of God reaching us in our vocation: it is he who takes the initiative. He invited everyone to serve the Lord with joy.
He described the Triduum as a crushing programme — a great many things happening from Holy Thursday to the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.
Lightly, he recalled the good memories of the Orionine priests who had lived with him in his house the previous year, on an exploratory mission, before he entrusted the parish of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Nyadorera, to the Sons of Divine Providence.
He mentioned Fr. Raphael Kailemiah, now Parish Priest of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and the way he could read the religious paintings the Archbishop shared with him, especially those of the conversion of Matthew and of Paul. The Archbishop loved the meaning Fr. Raphael drew out of those pictures, and spoke of how he once stayed up past eleven at night simply looking at them.
The Archbishop blessed the newly built Marian grotto in the garden. He thanked the community for its welcome and promised to come back and visit the Orionines from time to time.
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