Hekima: Best wishes 2019 and prayers for the Former Principal

By Honoré Onana Olah, SJ

The New Year wishes, the reopening of academic activities for the second semester and a Mass for the repose of the soul of Fr. Aquiline Tarimo, SJ, are the major events that marked Hekima University College (Nairobi-Kenya) at the beginning of this month of January.

“We are gathered here today to celebrate Fr. Tarimo’s entry into heaven.” Those are words Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Emmanuel Orobator, SJ, President of the JCAM (Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar) expressed during the Mass he presided over last Wednesday in the Jesuit Chapel at Hekima University College.

Fr Tarimo SJ Funeral at Mwangaza Jesuit place — Fr Tarimo SJ Funerals at Mwangaza Jesuit spiritual center in Nairobi

Indeed, Hekima decided to pay tribute to Fr. Aquiline Tarimo, SJ, Former Principal of the College who died on January 09, 2019. An Eucharist celebration which took part more than fifteen priests including Fr. Deogratias M. Rwezaura, SJ, Rector of Hekima Jesuit community, Fr. John-Okoria Ibhakewanlan, SJ, the current Principal and Fr. Jean Luc Enyegué, SJ, Associate Director of the Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa (JHIA) who said the homily.

Commenting on the readings (Hebrews 2:14-18; Psalms 105:1-4, 6-9; Mark 1:29-39) of January 16, 2019, Fr. Enyegue, SJ affirmed that the healing of the mother-in-law of Peter “reveals that out of his ministry Jesus appears as someone who brings strength to those who are sick, who raises up those who kneeled down because of illness….who restores the margins as full members of the community”.

Referring to the decujus Fr. Tarimo, SJ, the Associate Director of the JHIA added: that like Peter in the gospel “Fr Tarimo, SJ, has a chance to bring Jesus in his life” and “he was a good man, a friend of Jesus, a friend of the poor… and Jesus went to his house and conquered his heart”.

Towards the end of the mass The President of the JCAM said that Fr Tarimo SJ, is the Jesuit who served most as Principal at Hekima College.

Let us remind also that on January 09, 2019, Fr. John-Okoria, SJ, wishes a Happy New Year 2019 to the students, teachers and staff of Hekima College, during the traditional Wednesday school mass. He invited them to love more at Hekima and outside. “Love, he said, is a choice, not a feeling”. Referring to a prayer he added “John of the Cross and Theresa of Avila take this up and invite us to come to a prayer where we let go of our preoccupations and approach God with a singled minded heart of love”.