On 14 January, Saturday, Kenya witnessed a special ordination. The Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri was in a kind of spiritual celebration while Reverend Michael Mithamo King’ori was ordained as a priest of Christ. Father Michael Mithamo, the first blind priest from Kenya, could witness everything through his eye of the mind. The light of this newly ordained blind priest’s sight is truly Christ.
“This is what I’ve been looking forward to. Those people who might be physically challenged in one way or another, that doesn’t mean the end of life,” shared the newly ordained priest.
Michael urged persons living with disability to focus on their strengths.
Archbishop Anthony Muheria who conferred the holy orders was assisted by Reverend Peter Kairu, emeritus of Nyeri, at Kiamuiru Catholic Parish, St. John Bosco Kiamuiru Primary School Grounds.
Reverend Muheria has been on the front line in defending the church from political attacks.
Sharing the news, Radio Maria, which is owned by the Catholic Church described the event as one of a kind ever held.
“Jubilation and thanksgiving to God as the Catholic Church in Kenya witness the extraordinary ordination of the first blind priest, Mithamo of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri to the priesthood,” part of the report read.
Bishop Muheria, who publicly shared different ordeals during the late Mwai Kibaki burial, was also lauded for making the service a success.
“His is a story of “with God, all things are possible.” Congratulations to Fr Mithamo and gratitude to Muheria for granting such a fete of grace,” the report stated.
Radio Waumini also announced that history had been made in Kenya seeing that Mithamo had raised against all odds.
“Kenya has Received a great gift for the first time in History. The ordination of a visually impaired priest was witnessed today. Mithamo today was ordained a Catholic priest in the Catholic archdiocese of Nyeri by Muheria the Archbishop of Nyeri Catholic Archdiocese. To God Be the Glory,” it noted.
Mithamo had been serving as a deacon at the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri.
He was ordained alongside other priests; Alexander Murage Wanjiku, Joseph Waihenya Kirira, George Gitonga Wamuyu, Mathew Karimi Njogu and John Wanjohi Nyawira.
Their ordination came shortly after Maria Carola was beautified to sainthood on Saturday, November 5, at an event held at Kinoru Stadium in Meru county.