Keywords: kenya nyeri africa roman catholic italy nun sister irene stefani nyaatha mathari gikoni sainthood missionary world war one beatification ceremony soldiers wounded tourism christian nuns faith religion outdoor KENYA, Nyeri: In a photograph taken 23 May 2015, and made available by Make It Kenya, a nun videos proceedings during a ceremony to mark he beatification of Sister Irene Stefani, an Italian nun and missionary who is beloved in Nyeri and its environs for her selfless service to wounded World War One soldiers and ailing locals alike. Thousands of Catholic faithful, clery, government officials, residents and visitors gathered in the Kenyan town of Nyeri today, 23 May, to witness Africa’s first beatification ceremony for Sister Stefani, who was known as Aurelia Jacoba Mercede until she joined the Consolata Missionary Sisters and changed her name in 1911. She arrived in Nyeri in 1915 and gained fame over the years for her genorosity and extraordinary empathy for the sick, wounded and aged. She died in 1930 at the age of 39, after contracting plague from infected patients that she insisted on treating. Catholic authorities say that reports of her kindness and a miracle attributed to her intercession, moved Pope Francis to approve preparations for her beatification in 2014. MANDATORY CREDIT: MAKE IT KENYA PHOTO / STUART PRICE. KENYA, Nyeri: In a photograph taken 23 May 2015, and made available by Make It Kenya, a nun videos proceedings during a ceremony to mark he beatification of Sister Irene Stefani, an Italian nun and missionary who is beloved in Nyeri and its environs for her selfless service to wounded World War One soldiers and ailing locals alike. Thousands of Catholic faithful, clery, government officials, residents and visitors gathered in the Kenyan town of Nyeri today, 23 May, to witness Africa’s first beatification ceremony for Sister Stefani, who was known as Aurelia Jacoba Mercede until she joined the Consolata Missionary Sisters and changed her name in 1911. She arrived in Nyeri in 1915 and gained fame over the years for her genorosity and extraordinary empathy for the sick, wounded and aged. She died in 1930 at the age of 39, after contracting plague from infected patients that she insisted on treating. Catholic authorities say that reports of her kindness and a miracle attributed to her intercession, moved Pope Francis to approve preparations for her beatification in 2014. MANDATORY CREDIT: MAKE IT KENYA PHOTO / STUART PRICE. |