The Congregation of the Sisters of Emmanuel is a local and diocesan religious institute of Women in the Catholic Church based in the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a-Kenya. It was founded in 1989 within the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, Kenya. The official name is Sisters of Emmanuel of Murang’a. The congregation was established under the guidance and vision of Bishop Peter Kairo, now the Emeritus Archbishop of Nyeri, who was then serving as the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a. Bishop Kairo sought to create an indigenous congregation that would respond to the spiritual and social needs of the people, particularly in rural Kenya.
The birth of the Congregation of the Sisters of Emmanuel is thus, as old as the Diocese itself. Catholic Diocese of Murang’a was curved from the Diocese of Nyeri in 1983. By then, Christians were so much devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.The Congregation of the sisters of Emmanuel started with five young women from different backgrounds and unbeknown to each other who expressed the desire to serve the Lord in the new Diocese. They felt that because the missionaries were leaving the Diocese, their people of Murang’a were left alone with no one to deepen their faith. The young women felt that they are needed to deepen the faith of the people. Therefore, the founding members, felt called to continue with the work of the missionaries by deepening the faith of the people of Murang’a and enhancing the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The young women started their vocation journey in 1984 independent with others.They were inspired by the Holy Spirit to respond to the call of Jesus to follow him in religious life. They all had a calling to assist in the formation of a locally based, Diocesan group of religious women who would help in witnessing the gospel to their own people, more especially through Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. They had several consultations among themselves under the facilitation of the late Rev. Fr. Peter Ngarĩ the then Murang’a Diocesan Director of vocations. They approached the Right Revered Peter Kairo, first Bishop of the recently established Diocese of Murang’a in1984, sharing with him individually their sense of a call from God to serve the Diocese in a new religious Congregation. The Bishop surprisingly and joyfully responded to their aspiration and so he took the initiative to direct them and entrusted them to Fr. Cecil McGarry, a Jesuit who took them through a journey of discernment. Fr. Cecil guided them through the process of establishing the ground rules for the formation of a congregation. Through him, they were able to learn a lot about prayer life, contemplation and discernment. For five years, between 1985 and 1989, Fr. McGarry would meet with the four founding members every once a month. In March 1986 they were able to present and discuss with Bishop a first expression of their Charism. Blessing their endeavours, he encouraged them to continue their search and to deepen in further prayer and reflection individually and together what the Lord had given them. Led, as they firmly believed, by the Holy Spirit they continued their discernment until they felt ready to start their religious formation proper. The aim of establishing this congregation was to work closely to the people and deepen their faith. This is done through pastoral work, social work, health care, teaching, counseling and spiritual guidance.
The founding charism of the Sisters of Emmanuel is centered on the name “Emmanuel,” meaning “God with us.” This reflects their commitment to living out the presence and compassion of Christ among the people. Their mission emphasizes working closely with other agents of evangelization to deepen the faith of communities and promote holistic development, particularly within families.
The congregation’s motto, “Manifesting the love of God in service to humanity,” captures the essence of their work. Inspired by the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the sisters dedicate themselves to embodying Christ’s love in practical and transformative ways.
In January 1989 the first novices; Mary, Beth, Judy and Auxilliah started their proper formation in Gatanga Parish. Bishop Kairo, now the Archbishop of Nyeri requested Sr, Augustine Wanjiku (Gus), a little sister of St. Francis (L.S.O.F) to journey with the three ladies as their first Novice Mistress. Bishop Kairo formally inaugurated the Novitiate of the Sisters of Emmanuel at Gatanga Mission in the Diocese of Murang’a on February 25, 1989. Fr. Bernard Mc Guckian (SJ) gracefully accepted the role of Chaplain to the group. These two wonderful and gifted individuals made a great impact on the lives of the young women. Their presence, guidance and prayer saw them through a very difficult period in not only their personal lives, but also in the life of their fledgling congregation. The four girls are the founding members of the Sisters of Emmanuel. However, the quartet of Judy, Auxilia, Beth and Mary were not to be as Judy soon found that her call was in a different direction. They however, maintained contact and Judy has continued to be supportive, beloved sister and an encouragement.
In 1991, Beth, Mary and Auxilia took their first vows in a packed Gatanga Catholic Parish compound. They could not contain their excitement as they were adorned in white veils and a sparkling blue habit of the first Sisters of Emmanuel of the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a. For them, it was God working miracle as they experienced His benevolent hand guiding them to be founders of a brand-new outfit that He Himself had formed. This year of their profession is an important one for the sisters because this was the time the Congregation was officially established with its three members.
