The Franciscan family came together on September 7, 2024, at the Franciscan Family Centre in Karen, Nairobi, to celebrate Franciscan Family Day and officially launch the Season of Creation under the theme: “To Hope and Act with Creation—The Franciscan Way.” This special occasion was graced by Archbishop Emeritus Peter Joseph Kairo of Nyeri, who presided over Holy Mass, emphasizing the urgency of ecological conversion and our shared responsibility for the Earth.

The event drew around 600 representatives from various Franciscan communities, including the Secular Franciscans of Kariobangi, Capuchin Sisters and Brothers, Franciscan Missionary Sisters of St. Joseph, Franciscan Elizabeth Sisters, the Little Sisters of St. Joseph, Glorious Cross Ministries, Franciscan Gioventù Francescana (YouFra), the Franciscan Girls’ College (FGC), and the Harmony Institute, among others.

Reverend Father David Kamau warmly welcomed Archbishop Kairo, noting that although the Archbishop is not a Franciscan by order, “he is a Franciscan because of his humility.” This sentiment resonated with the theme of the day—unity and a shared mission to care for creation.

During the Mass, Archbishop Kairo called for a deeper commitment to protecting Mother Earth. Reflecting on the ecological teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, he highlighted the urgency of action, pointing to visible environmental changes such as the diminishing snow on Mount Kenya and the reduced flow of its once-abundant rivers.

“Mount Kenya no longer snows as it used to, and the rivers that once flowed freely from it have significantly reduced,” the Archbishop noted. “These are signs that we must heed the call to care for our common home.” His words were a sobering reminder of the real and immediate impacts of environmental degradation, urging a collective response.

Archbishop Kairo also reflected on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, noting that its message extends beyond Franciscans, Catholics, and Christians. “Laudato Si’ is a call to every human being to recognize their role in protecting our planet, both for today and for future generations,” he said.

After Mass, Archbishop Kairo, alongside other clergy, led a symbolic tree-planting ceremony on the grounds of the Franciscan Family Centre—an act of commitment to ecological justice and sustainability.

The day concluded with group discussions and a shared meal, fostering a strong sense of community and purpose. This celebration was more than a gathering; it reaffirmed the Franciscan mission to ‘rebuild our common home’, a vision of St. Francis of Assisi, now carried forward by Pope Francis.