Centre of Inculturation » Blessing of the Renovated Centre of Inculturation

The Centre of Inculturation and Mariapolis Piero community gathered to celebrate the blessing of the renovated Centre of Inculturation on Saturday, 6th July 2024. This event brought inhabitants and workers of Mariapolis Piero together in a celebration graced with lively interchange, appreciation and expressions of culture that made the day unique.

Holy Mass

The event started with a solemn Mass celebrated by Fr. Joseph Ateh (The Co-responsible of the Inculturation Centre). Hymns and prayers blended well in great harmony, creating a sacred atmosphere in the chapel. Fr. Ateh, in his homily, gave thanks to God the Trinity for inspiring the Servant of God, Chiara Lubich, to found the Focolare Movement in 1943. In 1963, the Movement came to Africa through the invitation of Mgr. Julius Peeters, the Bishop of Buea diocese in Cameroon. In 1975, the Focolare came to Kenya through the work of Missionaries. Then, in 1992 Chiara Lubich paid a memorable visit to Nairobi Kenya where she founded the Inculturation Centre for the whole of the Focolare Movement in Africa, located at Mariapolis Piero in Juja, Kenya. The Centre was completed in 1996/97 and after all these years, it needed some renovation. It was, therefore, an occasion of joy for all the inhabitants and workers to join and celebrate as a family and to ask for God’s abundant blessings on those who have worked here for all these years.

Fr. Ateh emphasized that inculturation of the Faith should be at the heart of all activities taking place at the Mariapolis Piero village. This echoes the importance of using the village as a school for learning about our African cultures in all aspects, growing in our relationship with God, and finding an integration of cultural expressions with those of Christianity and other cultures.

Blessing

Immediately after Mass, the community moved to the newly renovated Centre of Inculturation for blessing. It was a well-done renovation. It speaks of the zeal and energy that the Centre presents to the community and the people who visit. To bless the Centre, Fr. Ateh used holy water, praying for grace and protection from God. This therefore was a very symbolic moment, showing the Centre and its mission as being sacred for the integration of cultural awareness and appreciation. Added to this was the power of united sounds in songs: an expression from within the community members, creating a deep spiritual experience.

Libations at the “Palaver Tree”

The beautiful traditional libations carried out by Fr Joseph Ateh and Mr. George Gadembu. The local drink, Muratina, is a symbol of the cultural identity of the Kikuyu community in Kenya used for the sacred ritual. The libation ritual is one of the oldest sacred practices, respecting the ancestors while inviting guidance and protection from God through them. It also emphasizes and shows regard for cultural heritage. It served as a strong reminder of the rich traditions of the community and attachment to our roots.

“Palaver Tree”

This shed is a symbol of the “palaver tree” in African traditions, a natural gathering space where communities hold festivals, discussions, problem-solving sessions, storytelling, learning of cultural practices and transmitting cultural values from generation to generation.

Cutting of the ribbon at the “Palaver Tree”

His Grace, Archbishop Gervas John Nyaisonga of Mbeya Archdiocese in Tanzania was around to cut the ribbon, assisted by Mary Kristine Ngirwa, leader of the Kenyan Zone of the Focolare Movement for the female side and Fr. Joseph Ateh of the Centre of Inculturation and Chris Onyonka of the Project Office for Focolare in Eastern Africa.

A Tour to the Centre of Inculturation

Soon after the blessings, there was a guided tour of the Centre of Inculturation by Agnes Ngundo and Christiane Bankumukunzi, secretaries at the Centre. Many for the first time, listened to the interpretation and history of some of the traditional artefacts and it filled them with admiration and a sense of wonder.

Inculturation Hall

The Centre has a hall well equipped for seminars webinars and other online sessions.

A Communal Lunch

The other highlight of the day was a community lunch, where all the attendants gathered together to share a meal. Lunch represented various traditional dishes from the communities in Kenya and, therefore, the diversity of culinary heritage that exists within the community. They enjoyed each other's company, which further improved bonds of community and fellowship. It was a moment of rejoicing and solidarity, reinforcing the sense of unity.

Introduction of the Families Present

The families and groups that make up the Mariapolis community introduced themselves moderated by Chris Onyonka. There was dancing of music from various traditional backgrounds, a show of talents and initiatives existing in the community.

Conclusion

The blessing of the renovated Centre of Inculturation was truly a celebration of culture, faith, unity, and community. The atmosphere that characterized the closing moments of this day was a feeling of satisfaction and hope for good things to come. There was inter-generational interaction and the Centre of Inculturation stands as a beacon of hope, reminding one of the relevance of the commitment of the community toward embracing and celebrating cultural diversity, in the context of the collective spirituality that is necessary in the Gen Z society. It was a memorable day that stamped a watermark in this community for its efforts in the journey of promoting living together in a display of cultural diversity and inculturation.

By Irene Kirung’e