Celebrating Fr. Francis Rodrigues's Golden Threads of Devotion
By Ms. Maureen Obare
On a luminous Sunday,12th May 2024, the proposed Hekima University (PHU) and The Children of God Relief Fund, Inc. (COGRF) also known as Nyumbani was alive with jubilation as we celebrated the priestly golden jubilee of our beloved shepherd. Fr. Francis Rodrigues currently serving as PHU finance administrator and, a Chaplain and board chairman at Nyumbani (a home taking care of HIV-positive orphans and vulnerable children).
Fr. Francis, now 86 years old, stood tall amidst the festivities, his eyes reflecting a lifetime of service and devotion. A man whose life’s dedication had woven a fabric of love and compassion for over five decades. The atmosphere was charged with reverence and gratitude as Bishop Emeritus Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, SJ presided over Mass, his words resonating with the timeless essence of mission and service. As we listened intently, we couldn’t help but feel the weight of Fr. Francis’s legacy, intertwined with the very fabric of Nyumbani’s existence.
But it wasn’t just the local community that gathered to honor Fr. Francis. In a poignant display of respect and admiration, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, the First Lady of Independent Kenya, graced the occasion alongside her family members. Their presence spoke volumes about Fr. Francis’s impact. After the Mass, the Nyumbani children took center stage, their voices rising in joyous harmony. With each song, poems and dances, they painted a picture of resilience and hope, a testament to the transformative power of love and care.
As the program of the day drew to a close, and the last echoes of laughter faded from the entertainment, Fr. Francis stood amidst the congregation, his heart overflowing with gratitude. For him, this jubilee was not just a celebration of his priesthood but a celebration of every life touched, every soul uplifted, and every dream nurtured. The presence of the Fr. Francis beneficiaries attests to the concept of every individual being responsible for the education and growth of others, that has an exponential benefit in learning and growth. To Fr. Francis, “Teach One, Educate One” is more than just a slogan, it has always been a philosophy that encapsulates his idea of knowledge-sharing and empowerment within communities.
