Excitement and anticipation filled the room as guests, students and staff members eagerly awaited the launch of NJIRA – The Kikuyu Version,  of ‘The Way’ written by Opus Dei Founder St. Josemaria Escriva.

 

NJIRA is the second translation of The Way, into a local language in Kenya after one translated in Kiswahili- the national language. Its publishing process took over 9 years to be completed. Speaking at the launch, Ms. Sarah Mwangi representing Scepter Publishers and Mr. Kago, translator of Njira, described the journey towards achieving the final copy as long but fruitful one. 

 

Written in a conversational style, the 999 points of meditation of ‘The Way’ help transform the everyday incidences and struggles of our daily life into topics of conversation with God.

 

It covers aspects of Christian life starting from personal character and ending with the apostolate which means bringing our relations closer to God. The book’s purpose is laid out in the prologue: “I will only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in the end you will be a more worthy soul.”

When he was interviewed in 1966 about The Way St. Josemaria said “I wrote most of the book, in 1934, summarizing my priestly experience for the benefit of all the souls with whom I was in contact, whether they were in Opus Dei or not… It is not a book solely for members of Opus Dei. It is for everyone, whether Christian or non-Christian. The Way must be read with a minimum of supernatural spirit, interior life, and apostolic feeling. It is not a code for the man of action. The book’s aim is to help people to become God’s friends, to love him, and to serve all men and women.”

The Way has sold 4.5 million copies and has been translated into 44 languages, thus becoming a true “classic” of spiritual literature, it was St. Josemaria’s first book. Opus Dei (Latin for Work of God) – is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church. Its key message is to spread throughout society a profound awareness of the universal call to holiness and apostolate through one’s professional work carried out with freedom and personal responsibility.

 

“St. Josemaria teaches that for most people the best way to serve God and country is by doing one’s work very well, honestly and with a spirit of service” stated the Chief Guest, Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria – Bishop of Kitui diocese, during the launch. ‘ Njira provides bits of wise counsel to all its readers, it is a treasure that helps one to achieve sanctity,’ he added. 

 

The launch of this book in the Kikuyu language represents a great milestone for the family of Opus Dei in Kenya, where apostolic activities started in 1958, in Nairobi. Since then, Opus Dei activities have taken root in Kisumu, Mombasa, Thika, Eldoret, Bungoma, Nyeri and Nakuru Counties.

 

Strathmore University was founded under the inspiration of St. Josemaria. It seeks to become a leading outcome-driven entrepreneurial research university by translating excellence into a major contribution to culture, economic well-being and quality of life. Strathmore aims at providing all round quality education in an atmosphere of freedom and responsibility in teaching, research and scholarship, ethical and social development and service to society.

 

More information about Strathmore University can be found here.