Little sisters of St Francis remember Mother Kevin
Oct 17, 2018
She also founded educational institutions like Mount Saint Mary’s College, Namagunga and health establishments like Nsambya Hospital and Naggalama Hospital.
The Vicar General of Lugazi Catholic Diocese, the Rt Rev. Msgr Richard Kayondo has asked Catholics and all Ugandans to emulate the good examples of Mother Mary Kevin Kearney.
Mother Kevin, popularly referred to as Maama Keviina, was an Irish missionary nun who founded the Catholic religious institute of the Little Sisters of Saint Francis, popularly referred to as the Sisters of Nkokonjeru, and the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa.
The Mother Superior of the Little Sisters of Saint Francis, Cecilia Njeri (centre) looks on as Msgr Richard Kayondo chats with Sr Miriam Duggan of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa.
She also founded educational institutions like Mount Saint Mary's College, Namagunga and health establishments like Nsambya Hospital and Naggalama Hospital.
Kayondo spoke highly of Mother Kevin's deep faith, resilience, hope, love and charity, which he said helped her to be successful in her ministry in Uganda and Africa.
Students of Stella Maris College, Nsuube, animating mass
Kayondo was delivering his homily during the thanksgiving mass for the 61st anniversary of the death of Mother Kevin at the Mother House of the Little Sisters of St Francis at Nkokonjeru, in Buikwe District on Saturday (October 13).
The Prelate further praised Mother Kevin for her enormous contribution to the development of Uganda through her dynamic involvement in health and the education of the girl-chlild.
Some of the friends of Mother Kevin during mass
The Mother Superior of the Little Sisters of St Francis, the Very Rev. Sr Cecilia Njeri also asked Christians to live out their faith by following the good examples of Mother Kevin, whom she described as an honest and selfless religious leader, who always walked with God and empowered thousands of women through education.
During the function that was graced by hundreds of Christians, Msgr Kayondo laid the foundation stone for the proposed Mother Kevin Centenary Accommodation Block, which will be used as a residence for the nuns. He also launched Maama Kevina natural mineral water (processed and packed by the Little Sisters of St Francis) and the Sisters' Sacred musical album, Tuutuno (Luganda for here we are).
Msgr Richard Kayondo lays the foundation block for the Proposed Mother Kevin Centenary accommodation block
Lugazi to conclude mother Kevin's inquiries
During the function, Sr Antonia Namuli (of the institute of the Little Sisters of Saint Francis) broke the good news that the diocesan phase of the investigations into the life of heroic virtues and intercessory powers of Mother Kevin would be officially concluded at Lugazi Cathedral on November 17 (2018).
The investigations were launched in 2016 as an initial step for the process of the Beatification and eventual Canonization of Mother Kevin.
Pupils of Saint Patrick Girls Primary School, Kigulu (Iganga district), perform a musical item on Mother Mary Kevin
Namuli said that after the ceremony on November 17, the documents containing the information that the tribunal of Mother Kevin has collected will be sealed and taken to the Apostolic Nunciature in Mbuya, from where they will be taken to the Vatican.
The Vatican congregation for the causes of saints will then open up their own investigation, after which a decision will be taken to beatify and eventually canonize Mother Kevin. But at both stages (Beatification and Canonization), the Vatican will demand some proven miracles attributed to the intercessory powers of Mother Kevin.