Flowing Kisima!!! -Nairobi, Kenya

From Ngulube Emmanuel George, C.P., one of our 3rd year Theology students. A Zambian, he is a member of the Vicariate of Our Lady, Mother of Africa, St Patrick's Province. (MATAF).

What I want is justice and not fasting"! It has to be mentioned from the very beginning that most of this reflection comes from my own experience in relation to my understanding of the passion of those crucified in our midst.

Almost each and every day we have people who come to our door seeking help in different needs. School fees for children, hungry, thirsty, hospital bills, clothing, HIV/Aids victims etc. Most of these people come from surrounding slums like Kibera, one of the largest slums in Nairobi, Ghataka and Kuwinda. These are very poor areas and people feed on less than a dollar per day, thus depend on begging. It is very unfortunate that very few come for spiritual needs; they are mostly victims of unjust social structures. Kenya tries its best to improve the lives of its people, but it cannot meet the needs of all especially the marginalized due to economic segregation among other reasons.

Like most religious house Kisima Theological House is situated in the midst of well to do people, around the Langata area. Its uniqueness has always been the welcoming of the poor by having an open gate. Wandering poor people feel at home and continue to visit frequently even if very little is given materially; they accept the time offered to them by a few brothers who attend to them and listen. Due to our limited support of these people, we always remember them in our prayers. I personally do find "Him and Him crucified" in these victims of injustice. I have a big desire to improve their status but I realize that only "him crucified" is the one who can do it. It's my Lenten prayer that justice must be done so that the natural resources of the blessed Kenya may one day be shared equally by all. And as the name Kisima suggests, (it means "spring") people come to draw water from outside. But others ask will it continue flowing?

After working on the Door, answering to the door bell, I have found a lot of challenges. But it brings benefits to my growth and enrichment in my vocation to the crucified of today. This apostolate demands a lot of flexibility and readiness to let go of such things like siesta, breaking one's study time and the like. One should be ready to be told a very convincing story but it's all to get something for the stomach at the end of the day. People are hungry and have no employment; thus crime in these slums could be unbearable.

Nevertheless the compassion of Jesus Christ was not passive but a radical option for the poor, "and he answered them, go and tell John what you have seen and heard, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have Good News preached to them" (Luke 7:22) and this is my challenge as a follower of St Paul of the Cross, ultimately of Jesus Christ. Is it by fasting that we can be prophetic in our preaching of the passion of Christ or by justice? During our Lenten campaign, I tend to ask a simple question "is it option for the poor or option with the poor"? We may not be able to help them materially but we can be compassionate. This year students in Kisima house of studies have offered their time to work in the orphanage called Nyumbani Orphanage Center for their Lenten campaign. This could be the start of our practical solidarity with the needy.

Lastly, I would like to end by saying that I believe Kisima shall continue flowing encountering different social problems in different parts of the world. Priests who have passed through Kisima, having experienced the Door Apostolate, shall face different types of Social economical problems about which they can, at times, only pray, joining in the prayer of the Passion.

It is encouraging, and at the same time interesting, that, at the Second Congress on Passionist Life and Apostolate (Conference of Passionists in Africa), most of the proposals which came from groups, about how the church can help resolve conflicts in Africa, mainly covered issues concerning peace and justice starting from international, national and local church. But are we prepared to venture into this Apostolate? Is it time for radical option with the poor.