The Vatican News Agency – Agenzia Fides – reports that a Mass was celebrated on Saturday last, 16 April, in the Holy Family Basilica, Nairobi, to remember the four Missionaries of Charity killed in Yemen. A large gathering of priests, sisters, brothers and lay faithful gathered to pray for their eternal rest.
One of the four sisters killed, Mary Judith Kanini, 41, was Kenyan. “Born in a family of eight to a single mother”, Sister Mary Judith Kanini left her home in Machakos, as Anastasia Kanini to join the Missionaries of Charity”. In 2002 she started her mission in Yemen, and she last visited her family in Kenya in 2011. “Kodogo (her nickname used in the family) told me that life was difficult in Yemen and that at the nursing home the nuns lived in constant fear of attacks” her mother, Ms. Agnes Kasangi, said.
The other three nuns killed alongside Sr. Judith were 44-year old Sr. M. Marguerite and 32-year old Sr. M. Reginette both from Rwanda and Sr. M. Anselm, 57, from Jharkhand, India. The total toll of the assault to the nursing home for the elderly and disabled run by the nuns is at least 16 victims, while there has been no news of Indian Salesian priest Tom Uzhunnalil, who resided at the convent of the nuns. “We will pray also for the salvation of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil”, says Brother Reginald Cruz, Vice Postulator and in charge of relations with the religious of the Xaverian Fathers.
Please keep Fr Uzhunnalil in your prayers as well as the families of all concerned.