Kenya: Pray for Cardinal Otunga to be beatified and then canonised.

CISA – Nairobi, Kenya.

“Let us continue praying for an extraordinary miracle for the cause of beatification and canonisation of the Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga,” Sr. Esther Ichugu FMI, Secretary to the Cardinal Otunga’s Beatification Committee, said.

Prayer, donations for the process, and patience

Sr Ichugu spoke Monday at the Holy Family Minor Basilica in Nairobi during Mass to mark the 18th death anniversary of the Servant of God, Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga.

The 1.00 pm Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop David Kamau, the Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. Bishop Kamau called for continued supplication for a quick process of beatification.

“We, the Archdiocese of Nairobi, are movers of the process; let us continue to uplift the process. Three things are expected of us: 1) prayer for an extraordinary miracle and for the process, 2) donations for the process and 3) patience.

The process must follow the norms and procedures of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints in Rome,” said Sr. Ichugu

Cardinal Otunga is a model of heroic virtues

“We as the Catholic Church in Kenya are privileged to have the Servant of God Maurice Michael Otunga as a model of virtues. He lived in our midst and is living today through his legacy of heroic virtues,” she added.

Born on 31 January 1923 in Chebukwa village of Western Kenya, Cardinal Otunga died on 6 September 2003 at 80. He served the Church for 53 years as a priest, Bishop and Cardinal.

Who can be a saint?

All Christians are called to be saints.

Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonised or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation.

In official Church procedures, there are three steps to sainthood: a candidate becomes “Venerable,” then “Blessed,” and then “Saint.” Venerable is the title given to a deceased person recognised formally by the pope as having lived a heroically virtuous life or offered their life. 

To be beatified and recognised as a Blessed, one miracle acquired through the candidate’s intercession is required in addition to recognition of heroic virtue or offering of life. Canonisation requires a second miracle after beatification.

The pope may waive these requirements. A miracle is not required prior to a martyr’s beatification, but one is needed before canonisation.