Chaplaincy has been defined a service that draws on the experience, wisdom and practices of specific religious communities in order to serve institutions or other settings that may or may not have a religious affiliation or ethos. This service of chaplaincy relates both to the institutions or settings themselves and to the individuals within them.

It has three main dimensions: worship and other specifically religious practices; pastoral care; and ‘raising questions of meaning, value and purpose within the institution.’ (Jenkins, Timothy (2006). An Experiment in Providence. How Faith Engages with the World (London: SPCK), p. 9).

l  The starting point is to create an environment where every person concerned can flourish and grow … [this] involves accompanying all of them (from all faiths), in their search for self and identity, recognising that this search will not always result in following the Christian way.

l  Chaplaincy is a formative process. Joining with God in his mission is an act of discipleship. The gift of time that a chaplain gives creates the space for people to bring whatever they are carrying.

l  The Chaplain create spaces where healing might take place.

l  In the same way that God creates spaces, arenas of potential, chaplains also create spaces that might be filled with life giving conversations and a myriad of activities that promote God’s work to heal and renew.

l  Chaplaincy is a creative act that responds to God’s call to release creation’s potential. Therefore, nurturing people, communities and places is part of the work.

l  Chaplaincy is collaborative work. We join in with what God is already doing and acknowledge that this is always the way in which God has wanted to work; with us, not apart from us.

The road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) is an example of helping people to make sense of what has happened and what is happening. Chaplains help people make sense of their lives and walk with them when things do not make sense.

Purpose and role of a chaplain:

The office of Chaplain is not just to provide a ― religious information to the organization or to offer prayers at meetings. The Chaplain has to do more than that (Galatians 6:1-2 – bearing one another’s burdens – restoration):

1. To help persons grow as individuals and particularly in their relationship with God.
2. To help persons grow in their relationships to one another and become a true brethren to one another.
3. To serve as a reminder of the Transcendent God in life,
4. To create an environment within which brethren are encouraged in their personal and collective moral and spiritual growth.
5. To remind people that God is the source of all rights and privileges.
6. The chaplain make tangible the Presence and Grace of God – A compassionate pastoral presence:

Chaplaincy in Limuru Girls School

Here in Limuru Girsl’ School, the School chaplain, being the overseer of all religious matters in the school on behalf of the Diocesan Bishop, is in charge of but not limited to the following among other things:

1. Organizing and conducting Sunday services for all Christians. In case there is any issue to be addressed concerning the Sunday Mass, the Divine Service and/or Muslim prayers, the chaplain is consulted by the relevant patrons or chairladies of those religious groups because he is the overall “overseer” of all religious groups.
2. Organizing Christian Union Friday and Saturday fellowships and other discipleship programmes as the school routine allows (Bible Study, OMBI, MIZIZI) in conjunction with some of our partners (e.g. Karura Community Chapel, Word of Life International) in the Christian ministry for all students
3. Organizing open sessions (music and exchange programmes) on some Sundays afternoon for all students.
4. Organizing annual challenge weekends for the whole school
5. Organizing the school annual carol service for all students
6. Organizing Ash Wednesday Service as He ushers the Limuru Girls’ Community into the Lenten Season; organizing also other services of the Holy Week (e.g. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday) when it finds students in school.
7. Specific sharing sessions with the Muslim students in their Room of worship
8. Pastoral care and counselling to all members of the Limuru Girls community. This takes place either in the chapel’s office mainly, in the chapel if it is a group, in their respective offices, or in the homes. On this, the chaplain always avails himself during the students’ free time, adjusting to the school routine.
9. Providing a theme for the term and a weekly theme for the school and expounding it throughout that week and the term for the whole community
10. Organizing morning devotion
11. Conducting prayers and preaching and teaching during parades, other assemblies and other school functions
12. Organizing Christian movies screening in order to increase the impartation of Christian morals and virtues which is a challenge to the youth today
13. Organizing yearly Prayers of Induction for Form 1s and Prayers for Form 4s always presided over by the Diocesan Bishop or his envoy
14. Regular Intercessory prayers for the school
15. Preparing candidates for baptism and confirmation through catechism, in addition to baptizing them and presenting them to the Bishop for confirmation. In addition to the ministry of the Word, there is also the administration of sacraments.
16. Before Covd-19 struck, the chaplain use to facilitate Sunday school teaching at the Parish (All Saints Church Kamonde) by students Sunday school teachers while other teachers remain in school to teach the Sunday school children of the members of the Limuru Girls’ community
17. Before Covd-19 struck, the chaplain served as the link between the community and the school administration on religious matters through the Parish Vicar (i.e. All Saints church): for example, we send a class of students every Sunday for English service for them to understand and familiarize with the dynamics of the Sponsor in a parish setup.
18. Any other activity that the school administration feels the chaplain’s input is needed.