The 26th of April 2024 was the day of a special and creative assembly organized by Hekima, following up the path of commemorating the college’s progress and highlighting the journey that the HUC witnessed, especially this academic year. The event was customized as a platform to embrace the many activities and development that took place during the anniversary which was rolled out on the 14, September 2023, and ended on 26, April 2024 under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ who constituted various committees such as the HUC@40 planning, HUC@40 women’s conference, Memorial conference in honor of the Late Prof. Laurenti Magesa, HUC@40 pioneer conference, HUC@40 music CD launch, Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) Research Network and HUC@40 Emergency Committee that have been working in the background to the success of these celebrations.
This public event permitted different parties among the shareholders or even interested participants to watch and partake in the historic moment of the HUC inscription. Among the guests were Rev. Fr. Simon-Peter Kamomoe, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, and Titular Bishop of Thubunae in Numidia, Rt. Rev. Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, S.J., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Soddo, Ethiopia, and Titular Bishop of Vulturia, Ms. Margaret Muhoro, Chairperson of HUC’s Governing Council, Superiors of Religious Communities. They were flanged by many other unseen faculty members and collaborators who worked hand in hand with the organizing committee that was led by Rev. Dr. George Macharia, S.J., Registrar who was the Master of Ceremony to see that the event was successful.
The activities of HUC@40 were highlighted in an introductory speech by Sr. Jacinta Auma Opondo, FSSA – a member of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anne and the first woman Deputy Principal for Academic Affairs (DPAA) at HUC. Dr. Opondo attributed the success of HUC@40 to collaborative and team spirit that culminated in extended fruits in the academic year – from academic achievements to successful events.
“It is because the experiences of this year have enriched us and will undoubtedly serve as a foundation for future growth, that today we, in this celebration, we combine a number of activities: Today, we give thanks to God for guiding us throughout the academic year Today we launch the students’ CD Today we appreciate some of our faculty staff members who will be taking a break from HUC Today we recognize, appreciate and award outstanding performance and excellent academic rigor And today we launch the African Chair in Theological Studies as we conclude the celebrations of HUC@40 Year.”
In his speech the Principal, Rev. Dr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ proudly revealed that the Hekima School of Theology up to the present, has formed close to 2000 priests and other ministerial servants of the Church. “40 Years Ago – Hekima University College was born. Like any other birth, the founders wondered what such a baby would become! What will this child be?” The Principal further explained that HUC in its bid to pursue success has launched new centers of excellence within its setup. These centers are the Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa (JHIA), the Center for Research Training and Publications (CRTP), partnership with the Hilton Scholarship Program, and collaboration with the Jesuits of Eastern Africa aimed at becoming a full-fledged university, HUC also hosts the Jesuit Centre for Safeguarding in Africa (JCSA) and the newly created Center for Interfaith Studies in Africa, a new baby born at forty.
An outstanding moment was also witnessed in the launching of an academic chair under the theme: “Engaging African Studies for Integral and Sustainable Development through Contextual Theological Studies.” The placeholder of the African Chair for this year was bestowed on Rt. Rev. Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, S.J. Rev. Dr. Marcel argues that the establishment of an African Chair puts HUC in the lead of many academic institutions in the continent of Africa because any university that appreciates its roots, traditions, and future invests heavily in its expertise. He validated why Rt. Rev. Rodrigo was chosen citing his love for Africa, publications such as the recent book titled Matatu Theology and Evangelization of Cultures that featured in Hekima Review besides the fact that he is one of the HUC Pioneer students and Administrator. The African Chair will be occupied on a rotational basis by prominent African theologians, both women and men.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Eyeowa, SJ was accorded an opportunity to compose the Hekima Anthem which was sung for the very first time and which will be sung in all Hekima future official functions. In his speech he noted that HUC@40 offered us the opportunity to fully implement Plato’s transcendentals which are truth, goodness, and beauty, pursuit of academic truth, celebration of HUC@40 was a kairos moment in the deliberate search for good, total transition to solar energy ensures the environment is taken care of, space for creativity and expression of beauty and on the other hand, it presented the opportunity for infrastructural renewal, provided and ambiance of relishing sacred music. His speech was punctuated by two lessons that are worth asking: “Firstly, theology in the 21st century must take interdisciplinary inquiries seriously. The activities of Hekima reveal how theology offers substance to anthropology, ecology, socio-cultural studies, history, gender studies, and aesthetics. Secondly, theology in Hekima implies a commitment to Africanised and contextual studies. Here, one sees the relevance of HUC’s facilities and institutes. For instance, while HIPSIR and CRTP help JST to read the signs of the times and to understand contextual realities, JST offers them the opportunity to seek, understand, and implement the appropriate spirituality behind any form of social engagement.”
The sermon is the core component of these celebrations without which they are never finished. Auxiliary Bishop Rev. Fr. Simon-Peter Kamomoe of Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi who was the celebrant at the mass had, however, a very simple message for the congregants. He invited all present to always be aware of the fact that education is supposed to help an individual improve his quality of own system/life, and more importantly help them to understand how to relate with God, oneself, and another. Individuals should continue to invoke the holy spirit to help them have the right motivation. Citing Mother Teresa, he noted that there are many intellectuals in the world today but very few people who have the love of Christ in their hearts. He encouraged the Lecturers and Formators to be driven by the holy spirit in helping students to excel in their studies.
By and large, as we mark the end of the semester this academic year and bring HUC@40 celebrations to a halt by outlining numerous achievements, we have many reasons to say that Hekima University College is moving from better to best. We, therefore, invite you to partner with us as we walk this talk to actualize the bigger dream of the founders of Hekima as captioned in one of the founders’ words ~Very Rev. Fratern Masawe, S.J. “For us, Hekima was the right name for our newly created first Jesuit School of Theology in Africa. It was intentional. It carried the dream, the vision, and the praxis we had in mind then. We knew we needed the ability to be able to use our knowledge and contextual experience, our theory and practice for the good of Africa and indeed for this world. This world. This kind of theology we had in mind could not be done elsewhere.
Geoffrey Obatsa
Admin. Assistant, JHIA
