Novice

(1979-2003)

John was the son of Joseph Wairiuko and Teresia Wanjiru and was born on August 29, 1979 in Nyandarua (Kenya) He entered the Institute in 1998 at the Consolata Seminary in Nairobi where he studied philosophy and did his year of postulancy. On December 29, 2002 he left for Maputo (Mozambique) for his novitiate.                                           

(On September 25, 2003 – a national holiday – he went with his companions and other young religious to the beach at Macaneta for a picnic outing. He went in swimming and soon was swallowed up by the sea – he drowned. His companions’ efforts to find him were to no avail.  Fishermen found his body two days later and brought it to shore.  He was twenty-four years old and had completed nine months of novitiate.

His body was brought back to Kenya for the funeral (October 7) in Ol Kalou near his father’s house.

Father Luigi Brambilla, the Regional Superior, writes, “The funeral brought closure to a sad and tragic event. On the morning of October 7, 2003 we met at Lee Funeral Home to retrieve his body. There were priests, philosophy and theology students, Kamande’s mother and a group of relatives and friends. We viewed the body in an atmosphere of subdued emotion and then left for Ol Kalu – about 150 km. from Nairobi.

At 11 AM we reached the parish where we were met by the pastor and many parishioners.  We prayed briefly, thanking God for Kamande’s return and then went to his father’s house – a further ten km. into the countryside.  Everything was prepared for the burial.  Close to 100 people were present including diocesan priests, sisters and our novices along with their Master, Father Githinji.

Shortly afterwards the Bishop of Nyahururu, Msgr. Luigi Paiaro arrived. He shared our sadness and offered to officiate at the funeral service.

There were several short, dignified and faith-filled speeches thanking the Consolata Missionaries for all they had done for Kamande.  The speakers  spoke of his first calling, his vocation and his second calling, death and the sacrifice of his parents – it was a moving display of deep faith.

The bishop spoke about God’s plan and our place in it; he then asked the writer of this article to say a few words. I spoke briefly and read a beautiful letter I had received from the Maputo Community – it moved everyone.

His body was buried in a field near his house.  Through all of this his parents maintained an air of dignity and courage… everyone offered their condolences and promised to pray for them. One heard often, “Kamande has come back to us. He is here with us – and not just his dead body!”

After the service the Parish Women’s Association served food to everyone on the large lawn in front of Kamande’s house.”

Father Luigi Brambilla

He followed the Lord

In his homily the bishop thanked Kamande’s parents for allowing him to follow his vocation. His death, although painful, was a definitive response to God’s will. The bishop urged the seminarians present to follow John’s example and do the work he would have done had he lived.  He then turned to the children and young people in attendance and urged them to follow the right path and work hard – God still needs people as willing as John had been.

Father Brambilla read a moving letter of condolence from Mozambique. He then compared John’s parents to Our Lady at the foot of the Cross who received her dead son’s body on her lap. God’s will is mysterious; he alone knows what is important in our lives.

After the burial the Consolata Missionaries formed a circle around Kamande’s grave and sang “O Consolata” – a final farewell to their friend and confrère. John will be remembered for his openness and sense of humor. He was friendly and made easy contact with people in all walks of life – he was a sign of consolation for all. We loved John and pray for his eternal rest.

Michael Miano