Recent Articles from the Principal

Are you a good Steward?

The gospel for the 25th Sunday of the Year leads us to look at the notion of stewardship and our responsibility to the poor. 

The steward in the parable told by Jesus is a privileged figure, with access to his master’s riches which he wasted.

Here at the College, I think we are privileged, perhaps more so than we may realise.  We have outstanding educational facilities, such as libraries and computers and internet access.  We have excellent basic facilities like water, sewerage, electricity and security.  It is all too easy to take these for granted.  Not everyone is so lucky.

Travelling in to the College each day, we pass by people far less fortunate.  We see people queuing for water or collecting firewood at the side of the road.  We see young children out of school.  We see people looking at the remains of their businesses as their kiosks have been flattened.

Nairobi is a city of great inequality and here in the Tangaza community we are amongst the most privileged.  I think this gives us a certain responsibility.

A Community within another

We must not become an isolated, insulated, “centre of academic excellence.”  This would be to deny the history and the heritage of the College, arising from the missionary and religious congregations which commit themselves to the spread of the gospel. 

Christian faith and ministerial outreach are core components of all our courses.  And in the light of Vatican II we appreciate the call to all baptised Christians to be missionary, to be agents of evangelization.

How we reach out to the less privileged is a question for each of us, staff and students, to confront.  Having received the gift of Tangaza, part of our response must be to use all its facilities, religious, academic and recreational to the full and to enjoy our time here with enthusiasm. 

We owe that to those whose generosity allows us to be here.  Without the generosity of others, Tangaza would not be able to function.  As stewards of these gifts we are each responsible also for the upkeep of the facilities we enjoy.

Our Responsibility

But I think we are further challenged, individually and corporately, to share what we have with the poor in a way that we must each discern. 

There are many ways we might do this, big and small, and I think there is a proud record of service to the community since Tangaza began.  Let us redouble our efforts and see what more we can do.

Tim Redmond, Principal.