The Archdiocese of Nairobi will be holding a fundraising walk for the Beatification process of the Servant of God (SOG) Maurice Cardinal Otunga on 6thSeptember, 2014.
According to Mr. Cyril Maloba, the coordinator of Fundraising Walk, approximately 12 kilometers will be covered. The walk will be flagged off by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue.
6th September also marks the eleventh Anniversary of the death of the SOG Cardinal Otunga. After the walk, participants will congregate at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi for Eucharistic Celebrations which will be precided over by H.E. John Cardinal Njue.
6th September also marks the eleventh Anniversary of the death of the SOG Cardinal Otunga. After the walk, participants will congregate at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi for Eucharistic Celebrations which will be precided over by H.E. John Cardinal Njue.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News, Fr. Joe Healey MM, the outgoing chairman of the Communications Subcommittee for the beatification process of the SOG Cardinal Otunga, said that the fundraising is important for three major reasons; first, the Archdiocese has to continue supporting financially the office of postulator in Rome where the process has moved to. “Writing the history of Cardinal Otunga, which is part of the Roman phase, is an example of the expenses that have to be taken care of,” he explained.
“The second reason is to continue with the awareness and education process here in Kenya in regards to the beatification process,” Fr. Healey said.
On this he further explained that the communications sub-committee does communication outreach through publicity in local Catholic media outlets. “We provide money to The Seed, New People, National Mirror, Ukweli Video, and Radio Waumini to help promote the awareness process of the beatification. That money comes from the central committee and that is the reason behind the fundraising activities such as the coming one,” he said.
 |
| Br. Reginald Cruz, Vice Postulator |
The third reason is the covering of the office expenses. Fr. Healey explained that the beatification process has an office at the Cardinal Otunga Plaza, in Nairobi where all the activities are coordinated. “On going expenses are very common for the process even though it is at the Roman Stage,” he said.
Br. Reginald Cruz, the vice postulator for Cardinal Otunga beatification process, told AMECEA Online News that in May 2014, the Congregation for the Cause of Saints issued the Decree of Validity to the Diocesan Phase for the beatification process of the SOG Cardinal Otunga.
He said that the Archdiocese of Nairobi continues to carry the financial obligation of the process. “The Roman Phase has more expenses than the diocesan phase,” he said, adding that “For instance it has the panelists who are going to examine the biography of the SOG Cardinal Otunga. Each panelist has to be paid; likewise the costs of the publication of the biography which is produced in limited editions.”
Br. Cruz said that currently he and the Postulator Dr. Waldery Hilgeman who is based in Rome are working on the Biography of the SOG Cardinal Otunga. They will produce 110 copies of the biography which will be examined and evaluated by each panelist in two different stages.
"All in all the beatification process is moving on the right track,” he said adding that “The investigations on the virtues of the SOG Cardinal Otunga are moving so fast. However any beatification or canonization cannot happen without a miracle, it is usually finding the miracle that causes the process to delay,” he said.
Source: Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Social Communications