By Sauline Odhach – CLC in Kenya (original in English)
The Ignatian Leadership Transformation training at Mwangaza Jesuit Spirituality Centre has been a profound gift and encounter of grace for me. Each speaker offered a unique perspective that deeply expanded my understanding of leadership as a vocation rooted in God’s mission.
Fr. Deshi, SJ rooted us again in Ignatian Spirituality as the sure compass: discernment, interior freedom and contemplation in action. In addition, Fr. Terry Charlton, SJ brought us into the life of St. Ignatius as a living school of leadership for today — a witness that remains human, spiritual, grounded and deeply practical. Catherine Waiyaki helped us revisit the story and history of CLC — reminding us of our identity, belonging and continuity as a world body on mission.
Dr. Elias Mokua challenged us to integrate leadership and technology responsibly in today’s rapidly shifting digital world. Dr. Chris Lowney reminded us that great leadership is a daily habit — a way of proceeding grounded in self-awareness, heroism, love and ingenuity — and not merely a position of authority. Caroline Njoki reframed job creation as dignity, participation and co-creation with God. Fr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ led us into the depth of transformative leadership that emerges from interior truth and spiritual maturity. Prof. Eric Di Jong invited us to see transformation through systems, culture and structure. And Fr. Allan guided us on pathways for transformative leadership that are grounded, real, practical, and incarnated in the needs, sufferings and aspirations of our people today.
This journey left me renewed, awakened and more interiorly grounded. It invited me to choose hope over fear, depth over superficial action, spiritual rootedness over performance, and discernment over reaction. I feel strongly called to form leadership cultures that humanize, that listen deeply, that restore dignity, that empower others, and that witness Christ-like presence in our Kenyan reality — especially where leadership is wounded, fragile or contested. I sense God inviting me to lead from the inside out.
As St. Ignatius teaches us: “Ingratitude is the most abominable of sins and is the cause, the beginning and origin of all sins.” Therefore, I choose gratitude — and I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to Fr. Macharia SJ (Ecclesiastical Assistant, EA for CLC in Kenya) for his fatherly presence, tireless organization, generous coordination and deep accompaniment in making this formation possible. His leadership allowed this experience to become a true moment of grace, communal learning and Ignatian mission in action. May the fruits of this training continue shaping leaders who transform, who discern, who serve, who hope — and who make Christ present in our world today.
CLC is Home!
