On the afternoon of Tuesday, 31 March 2026, something quietly extraordinary unfolded behind the walls of Lang’ata Women’s Prison. What began months earlier as a formation program—modest in its ambitions yet bold in its convictions—reached its culmination in a deeply moving Mass of Commissioning. The occasion marked the conclusion of the Psycho-Ignatian Spirituality Formation Program, a collaborative initiative of Hekima University College and the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN), offered to incarcerated women as a pathway toward inner freedom, healing, and restored human dignity.

The celebration gathered a community that reflected the very spirit of the program. Present were Jesuit scholastics from Hekima University College, members of the Prison Apostolate who accompanied the women throughout the journey, staff representatives from both Hekima and AJAN, and catechists who served as steadfast companions from the beginning. A particularly significant presence was that of Maman Viviane, the prison chaplain whose conviction and tireless advocacy made the program possible.

The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Paul Mirin’gu, Catholic Chaplain of the Kenya Prisons Service, concelebrated by Emmanuel Foro and Marcel Uwineza, with assistance from Deacons Bonosa Kwadwo Fosu, S.J., and Chidiebere Mberu, S.J. Though Ismael Matambura, SJ., Director of AJAN, was unable to attend, his message of encouragement and gratitude was shared with the assembly.

Subsequent reflections reinforced the significance of the moment. Fr. Uwineza spoke of the mission of a Catholic university to reach beyond conventional spaces, while Fr. Mirin’gu reminded the assembly that grace moves freely, even within prison walls.

A participant’s testimony brought a deeply personal dimension, expressing gratitude to the facilitators whose presence made the journey meaningful. Her words echoed a central truth: formation is remembered not simply as knowledge gained, but as lives touched.

This spirit of gratitude was further deepened in the vote of thanks delivered by Deacon Bonosa Kwadwo Fosu, S.J., coordinator of the program. Speaking on behalf of the formation team, he described the journey not simply as the completion of a course, but as “the rekindling of hope and the rediscovery of dignity.” He expressed heartfelt appreciation to African Jesuit AIDS Network for its vision and support, to Hekima University College for its commitment to integral formation, and to the Kenya Prisons Service Chaplaincy for creating the space in which this mission could take root.

Turning to the participants, he acknowledged their courage and openness, noting that “your honesty and resilience remind us that transformation is always possible.” He further reflected on the meaning of hope, observing that “while hope may not be considered a strategy in the corporate world, for us as believers, it is the very foundation of our existence.” He emphasized that this hope must be active and sustained through spiritual practices, adding that “through the Examen, prayer, and spiritual conversation, hope is nurtured and our lives become a witness that even in the darkest places, God is still at work.”

He concluded by extending gratitude to all who contributed in various ways, affirming that “your generosity has made this mission not only successful, but deeply meaningful,” and offered a final prayer: “may the light received here continue to burn brightly, within and beyond these walls.”

Reflecting more deeply, Deacon Fosu reminded those present that while hope may not be considered a strategy in the corporate world, for people of faith it is foundational. Yet such hope is not passive it must be lived with courage and sustained through spiritual practices such as prayer, the Examen, and spiritual conversation. Through these, he affirmed, lives are gradually transformed into witnesses of God’s enduring presence, even in places often marked by darkness. He concluded by thanking all who contributed—spiritually, materially, and personally emphasizing that their generosity made the program not only successful, but meaningful. His final prayer echoed the central symbol of the celebration: that the light received would continue to burn brightly, both within and beyond the prison walls.

She reminded the women participants that “you are called to remain a gift to one another, nurturing hope, joy, resilience, and self-acceptance from within, so that your light can shine for others even in challenging circumstances.” To the Jesuit scholastics, she affirmed that “your dedication is a living witness to the mission of bringing the Good News to the frontiers, showing how we can be true keepers of one another.” She concluded with an invitation to all present to continue spreading hope and joy: “be bearers of light beyond these walls, and allow this ministry to grow and transform more lives.”

The recessional hymn brought the afternoon to a close. But the image that lingers is simpler: a row of women, each holding a lit candle, standing in a prison chapel, being told and perhaps beginning to believe that they carry a light that no wall can extinguish. The Psycho-Ignatian Spirituality Formation Program did not promise to change their legal situation. It offered something older and, in its own way, more durable: the possibility of meeting oneself, and God, with open hands. In a world that too easily writes off those behind bars, this commissioning was a quiet act of resistance and of hope.

By, Matama Mputu Venance, S.J.
Hekima University College, Nairobi