Hekima College, Origin and Mission
Hekima College, now in its jubilee year, first opened its doors as a Jesuit School of Theology to a handful of students, mainly belonging to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), in 1984. From its inception, Hekima has had as its leitmotif the quest for “truth versus any form of ideology, the struggle for freedom versus any type of oppression, and the promotion of justice and peace versus any form of social disorder.” For the practical realization of the leitmotif, the college decided on two agendas: 1) offering a contextualized and relevant theology; and 2) responding to the needs of the Local Church. These two agendas have dominated Hekima initiatives of the staff and the students in the following concrete ways:
Hekima Review
At their very first meeting with their Dean, the first students of the college proposed having a review through which they could both keep the vision of the college alive and address current political, social, cultural, and religious challenges in contemporary society with a special focus on the Church in Africa through academic research and theological reflection.
Hekima Review has and continues to respond to this initial purpose. Given the international student composition of Hekima College, the article contributions to Hekima Review reflect very diverse socio-cultural backgrounds and worldviews. The current circulation of Hekima Review is very wide with subscribers not only originating from the continent of Africa but Europe, North America, Asia and South America as well. Hekima Review is in a review exchange program with a number of institutions, thus greatly enriching Hekima College Library journal collections.
A Contextualized Theology
To realize its goals of offering a contextualized theology and serving the local Church, Hekima strongly encourages insertion. This is done in two ways: first, all students are involved in a pastoral experience (field-work) between their first and second years of theological studies that form part of their theological reflections during the second semester as part of their course on pastoral theology, second, students are expected to get involved in apostolates at least once a week for the duration of their studies at the college. Among others, these apostolates include: teaching catechism in parishes and schools, teaching regular subjects in high schools, working with street people, animating choirs. Yet another apostolic activity through which students of Hekima College serve the local church is the animation and retreats giving to members of Christian Life Communities (CLC).
Through the efforts of Hekima Students, CLC group in Kenya has turned out to be the fastest growing in the world. In just over ten years of existence, Kenya has hosted a World CLC Forum and has a representative in the World EXCO. In trying to live the Jesuit call of collaboration with the Jesuits in responding to those in greatest need, CLC-Kenya has opened a school that caters for students whose families have been affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The school is growing in size and popularity.
Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations
In the later 1990s, a group of Hekima College students who had worked with refugees prior to starting theological studies, decided to share their experiences of refugee ministry.
They soon saw the need to invite to their sharing sessions experts on issues related to refugees, conflict, and peace. Later conversations revealed a need to address issues of governance, mediation and arbitration. These conversations led to the launching of Hekima Peace Forum. Initial encouragement came from the People of Peace in Africa. It is this Forum that led to the establishment of the Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations in 2004. The institute now offers both a Day and Evening Masters Program in Peace Studies and International Relations. Plans are in place for a Post Graduate Diploma and a certificate in Peace Studies and International Relations.
Course for Junior Religious and Novices
As students of Hekima were searching for ways and means of contextualizing their theological studies, resident teachers focused on how they could support the local Church through sound formation for other agents of evangelization. In collaboration with the Association of the Sisterhood of Kenya (AOSK), a course for junior religious and another course for the novices were initiated and run on the Hekima College premises for several years. When the demand became high, the programs were moved elsewhere. These initial steps have culminated in the creation of Chemi Chemi ya Uzima, an institute founded and run by the AOSK that offers catechetical, formation and sabbatical programs as well as a program for novices.
Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations
In the later 1990s, a group of Hekima College students who had worked with refugees prior to starting theological studies, decided to share their experiences of refugee ministry.
They soon saw the need to invite to their sharing sessions experts on issues related to refugees, conflict, and peace. Later conversations revealed a need to address issues of governance, mediation and arbitration. These conversations led to the launching of Hekima Peace Forum. Initial encouragement came from the People of Peace in Africa. It is this Forum that led to the establishment of the Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations in 2004. The institute now offers both a Day and Evening Masters Program in Peace Studies and International Relations. Plans are in place for a Post Graduate Diploma and a certificate in Peace Studies and International Relations.
Pastoral Leadership and Management
In recognizing the need for effective pastoral leadership, accountability and responsibility among the pastoral workers, Hekima College, in conjunction with Marquette University in Milwaukee and the Jesuit Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (JESAM), runs a three weeks summer biannual program on pastoral leadership and management. Though initially meant for Jesuits, the course now serves members of other religious congregations as well. The beneficiaries of the program, both as individuals and as congregations, have been very appreciative of the content and timing of the program. Soon, the program will be an annual event. There are also considerations of running this program for a longer period.
Challenge
The greatest challenge that Hekima College faces is adequate and qualified personnel to effectively run our programs. To be truly faithful to Ignatian Pedagogy, Cura Personalis, is inevitable. Besides seeking such staff, therefore, Hekima College has no option but to embark on heavy fund raising to build endowment both to cater for this staff and to build up-to-date educational facilities that offer a conducive teaching and learning environment.
