AN OPEN LETTER ABOUT HOLINESS

Becoming holy is a journey. It entails 'being'  rather than 'doing'-or so did Fr. Ben of DBYES Karen put it on 13th July 2013 at  a Prayer Group Retreat.
We are all called to holiness. Whether it is in our vocations, academics, personal or family lives.

Here at St Paul's, we are not left behind; we are called to be holy in Theatre group, Mission, YCS, CLC, Prayer group, the Choir, Prolife, Liturgical dances and the Eucharistic
ministry. In the various capacities we occupy, holiness is attainable; we can achieve it!

THE NEW LEAF

 




 I saw you,
I saw you seated at the bench,
I saw you.
I looked deep inside your heart
And saw the worry, the cry and the wail
I saw it.


I saw your haggard shoulders, drooping carelessly
Your shaggy hair, boasting of the little acquaintance you had with the comb,
Your blood shot eyes that spoke volumes of the many times you had cried yourself to sleep,
I saw it all child
I saw it.

Getting into my presence, "Your Majesty's palace" as you call it, you knelt
Your shoes you left at the door. You knelt and started crying.
Weeping, mourning and languishing,
I felt you child
Waves of trembling attacked you. 
You shivered, you feared
I looked and waited on you.

Seeing that you were too troubled, compassion took the best part of me
I fished out my butter-soft handkerchief and consoled you.
" In the name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit",
The handkerchief sang sweetly as it wiped  your teary face clean.
" Amen", your eyes responded as they lost the sorrowful dampness.

You started, you started the litany,
A long litany of woes and pleas,
I listened keenly.
You recounted your tales,your deeds, your misgivings.
You told of the number of chicken you had recently stolen,
The number of times you had fornicated, masturbated, hated, lusted, abducted, neglected, coveted
And a host of other ...teds. 
I listened.

I listened still.
Yours was a contrite confession, truthful, genuine, authentic and comprehensive,
I accepted,
I indeed accepted.

"Teacher", you lamented, "this is the paper you gave me. 
It was plain and clean, but my mannerless pen soiled it shameless,
Scribbled and blotted it.
Here it is; not worthy for you to enter down its score, but only give me another leaf and I shall not disappoint"

The sad words bore deep into my heart and I looked straight into your eyes. 
You were like a despondent, innocent toddler having wrecked a TV remote
 And here you were
Pleading, begging, imploring, soliciting and appealing me, your dad, for another.

"Here is another leaf child but be more careful this time", with those words
I dug into my shelf and drew a new book for you. A book that you would write anew.
A book that signified your absolution, forgiveness and acceptance.
A book that I had personally designed, marked out, ruled and calibrated. 
Here is your book

THAT WAS "THE NEW LEAF" FROM SPT TIMU PRODUCTION.

 

By James Njenga

 

ALWAYS ON YOUR MIND

ALWAYS ON YOUR MIND

Mamma, why did you do it to me?

Why? Why did you do it?

Why did you do it to me?

Mamma was it the rejection by your boyfriend; my father?

That he relished the honey with you,

But refused to share the bee’s sting in equal measure?

Was it because he dumped you after calling you a lot of sweet-nothings ?

And eating your sweet potato?

Mamma, my father was to blame, not me.

But you, in your stupidity directed your wrath to me

For this mamma, I will always be on your mind

Mamma was it that you feared your mother’s reproach?

My grandmother, you thought would surely skin you alive.

Was it so?

She would surely call you a disgrace to the family.

Which you actually were!

And so in your ego-centric thoughts decided to do away with me.

For all you minded was you.

But mamma did you at any one time mind about me?

My pain, my cries, my loneliness,

Did you mind that?

For this, I will always be on your mind.

Mamma, you feared your stern dad

And what he would probably do

But mamma did you at any one time pity me?

The drugs you took cut me like sharp razor- blades.

I bled, I cried, I turned, I rolled…..

The seething pain was unbearable.

And after that…

You disposed me into a latrine

A foul-smelling, dark latrine.

There the acids corrode my fetal, soft skin.

I wailed and lamented.

Did you hear my wails?

Or were you busy rejoicing that the burden was gone!

Me? The burden?

Where was your humane?

For this, I will always be on your mind.

Mamma, is it that you feared the torment that you would suffer from your friends?

Their jeers, taunting and boos?

Calling you a teenage-mother?

Was that so?

But did you at any one time, mind about me?

You did not even give me a chance to have friends to boo me.

Why were so unjust?

For this, I will always be on your mind.

You feared losing your education.

You were a brilliant student in school.

Teachers praised and saw hope in you.

Was it because of this that you murdered me in cold bloods?

So that you could achieve your aspirations?

But did you at any one time mind my aspirations?

I always wanted to be an engineer.

An adept, skilled and competent Aeronautical engineer!

Fixing aero planes and helicopters!

But you shattered all these dreams!

For this mamma, I will always be on your mind.

It is twenty years since you aborted me, yet

You have no kid.

You are successful but unhappy.

You regret ever killing me.

But did you mind when you did it?

I will always be your nightmare!

I will haunt you, I will torment you!

I WILL ALWAYS BE ON YOUR MIND!


By James Njenga 

SPT DETAILED PROFILE

  

SP THESPIANS- UoN

St. Paul’s Theatre is a church based group. However, it draws its membership from all walks of students ready to sacrifice their time for talent development and self actualization.

MOTTO: Integrating talent with career.

VISION: To use talent as a community development tool.

MISSION: To produce top actors and actresses in Kenya and beyond.

ACTIVITIES:

The group engages in an array of activities that include the following:

1. Theatre Explosion:

This is an annual event where we showcase talents in our group. Always in the kitchen are narratives, solo verses, spoken words, emceeing and songs. Songs range from traditional to secular. We encourage traditional singing since we are always proud of our cultural diversity. The event is always crowned with a play that has been thoroughly trained and directed.

2. Way of the Cross:

This is an event always held during every lent season. After thorough preparations, the enacting is done on GOOD FRIDAY. The event attracts media personalities who would like to cover the day’s proceedings in their news houses.

3. Skit Presentations:

 This is done every Friday at the St. Paul’s Chaplaincy hall.

4. Charity Visits:

 We believe that theatre activities always entertain. We therefore majorly go for this event to keep people off boredom and refresh their minds from all the life stresses they might be going through.

5. School Drama:

 This is a new event that we have started off. The aim is to give the students positive reflections about life.

    

        6. Fun Activities:

 The aim is for bonding purposes, character building, personality and experiencing the outside world among the thespians.

LOCATION:

We are located at the St. Paul’s Chapel next to the UHURU HIGHWAY- UNIVERSITY WAY roundabout.

MEETING:

We meet on a weekly basis on Friday from 5.30 pm-7.30pm.

CONTACTS:

0710260005- Director or 0726420023-Cast Director.

E-mail:- sptimukubwa@gmail.com

CONCLUSION:

 We believe nobody is an island. We therefore cannot operate alone without involving other parties that have the same interest. Any help offered to us will be highly appreciated.

Written by Abednego Birundu Osindi (SPT THEATRE ALUMNI)

Theatre Director Tips

The director in a play reigns all the way from the kick-off of the production to when the curtains finally close. Every action, prop or word you see on a theatre stage has been recommended directly or indirectly by the director. Therefore, as a theatre director, you have to be responsible about the following:

Ø  How your script was written

Ø  How your actors do their thing on stage

Ø  Whether stage lights are working properly and at the appointed time

Ø  Whether proper décor is on set

Ø  Whether proper soundtracks play during the production

Ø  That leading cues are given rightly etc

 In most cases, the director also happens to be the script writer. From the occasions I have observed good directors pay particular attention to the following three things:

1.      Scripting

Scripting needs to be as interesting as possible but at the same time easy to follow. The story line needs to be easy for both a 1 year and a 90-year person to grasp and follow. No audience wants to follow a complicated plot where there are too many conflicts involved. Again, throw in a dash of humor here and there to spice up the script. Even in real life, even the most serious people crack a joke to the mirth of others, don’t they?

Courtesy of Kenya Drama Festivals

2.      Production

Directing requires creativity. Props and décor ought to communicate clearly the setting of the play. You need to improvise but at the same time make the audience understand that which you wanted to convey. Since there are no realias (i.e no real objects used on stage), it is the role of the producer to think outside the box but at the same time not to bring too complicated props on stage. You need not scare people with real guns, real blood, real syringes or real school blackboards but how can you utilize backdrops, your actors and simple things on stage to bring out that setting you want to show?

A director needs to know that people like color and affluence. You might have the best script, the best actors but still fail to communicate clearly since you lack proper décor. The truth is that theatre is about money. Yes, I just said it. You got to spend and sacrifice. After all, are you not interested in emerging the winners and bagging the trophy home? Well, if you are, spend on stage décor.

3.      Acting Quality

Good directors relate well with actors. They motivate them with small gifts and praises. They also have actors learn acting from an early age. Great actors have been in the trade for quite some time. They are creative and can do multiple characters and still stand out as convincing as possible. Again, actors need to occasionally be shown video clips of real good stage plays so that they may try and up their game.

Courtesy of Kenya Drama Festivals

When actors own a production, they become committed and really enthusiastic about it. However, when you make them feel as though they are acting for you, you will have the most lousy team.

Language is crucial in acting. If you are to do an English verse/play, select actors who can articulate the language in the most comprehensive, fluent and audible way. Do not pick one who mixes all the ‘r’s and ‘l’s in the wrong places. They make the play boring and inauthentic. Why not choose a script that favours them instead?

Author of 'Fashioned For Life' Releases His Second Book ' The Ultimate Recipe for a Wholesome Student'

NAIROBI, KENYA---  Ernst & Young Auditor, Vineyard Magazine Editor and author of Fashioned for Life, Mr. Samuel Kanja, released his second book 'The Ultimate Recipe for a Wholesome Student' on Thursday, 9th April 2015. The Evangel Publishing House book targets on a youthful audience and candidly speaks about education on how students can achieve their academic goals and be successful in life.

Some of the key contents in the book are:

1. Key facts about time.
2. Powerful Exams tips for all students.
3. Tackling Exams to Get ones Best Score.
4. Differences between a talent and a career.
5. Implications of Exam Grades in ones Life after School among others...

Speaking during the release of his book, Kanja was all smiles as he thanked God for the much that he had achieved. “ I give all glory to God,” Mr. Kanja said. He also acknowledged all the people who had made the book writing and publishing seamless and possible. “ This book is a product that has been moulded by many hands and reframed by many minds.” he said. “ I acknowledge John, Graduate Student-University of Connecticut-USA for his invaluable input towards the writing, Peninah, Bsc Medicine-UoN for narrating her moving story and Wanjiku Ngigi Bsc. Information Science for editing the book. Many hours were spent on the book by Mr Muthee (Mt. Kenya Senior School), Mr Muchiri (Principal, Kiandu High School) and Mr. Kelvin Ritho (Urban Planner at Nyeri Town),” the elated author continued.

The book which sells at Shs. 400 a copy will soon be in many bookstores in Nairobi. Currently, one can order for their copy straight from the author. “ The cost of Shs.400 applies if you want one copy. In case you want many copies, economies of scale will apply,” the author said responding to a question raised by one of his potential readers. “ You do not have to be a student to buy it. The book contains mind-boggling maxims that will apply even in life after school. It's a compelling, educative, informative text. An almagamation of hardwork, zeal, passion blend with a quest for God's purpose in a student's life,” one of book editors wrote. 

Mr. Kanja's second book

 

About the Author

Born and raised from a humble background in Kiandu village in Nyeri, Kanja is a true testimony that hardwork pays. The Bsc. Statisics graduate from the University of Nairobi and KASNEB CPA(K) holder has had it rough in his educational voyage and only attributes his success to God, zeal, passion and focus for everything he has gone through.

Having schooled at the local Kiandu Primary, proceeded to the prestigious St. Marys Nyeri High School where he emerged the best in KCSE 2006, taught at Trikha Girls Secondary school and summing it all with being a motivational speaker, Kanja has met a myriad of students who have awed him by their attitude towards education. Such experiences are what Samuel writes in this new book.

Contact Information

Mr. Samuel Kanja

Cell Phone No: 0729368307

Facebook Address: Samuel Kanja

5 Things I Wish Someone Told me When I Was First Selected Into a Theatrical Official Post

It's on a Friday evening. Am seated at my table chatting with friends on Whatsapp. I then receive tidings of the newly elected St Paul's Theatre officials. I am an old dog now-- one year after I left campus and most specifically after I ceased being part of SPT. I look at the names of the officials and all look familiar though it is a long time since I visited the team. Well, if you really need to know, I feel guilty that I just vamoosed from the team and rarely pay them courtesy calls.

“ I will go there when I get freer. I will go when things start looking up. I will go...,” are the thoughts that criss-cross my mind any time I get the feeling of visiting my theatrical alma mater's meetings. Anyway, that is not what am writing about now. I want to touch on what I first felt when I was elected into the team as a leader.

I was first elected as the St Paul's Theatre costume director in 2013. By then, I was a second year going to third year. I practically did nothing. Yes, nothing. A whole year in office but I had nothing to show for it after it was over. Nobody impeached me( I wonder why they didn't). Surprisingly, the thespians again elected me as the Cast director in 2014. I wonder why they did it (How the hell do you elect someone who has a proven track record of non-performance, how?) 

Anyway, in 2014, there were threats of impeaching guys from office and because I am the cowardly type, I decided to grow up and do my roles. In the same year, I happened to be part of those who would convene in St Maria Gorretti Hall discussing the future of CSC. Well, the likes of Munywoki, Mila, Mumo, Emucheru, Shiku Kamau would really debate the future of the group while I and like-minded individuals pretended to be contemplating over the future of the group while in actual fact we were waiting for Kemboi to get tea for the CSC 'leaders'. Man, I loved that tea. Plus the cakes. They were delectable. Once Kemboi served tea, we would join the debate and even raise solid arguments. Because of time, Munywoki ( I loved his spectacles) would adjourn the meeting and say the arguments that were raised by 'akina Jammoh' would be put to hold and incorporated into the next meeting's agenda. So you now see why I decide to grow up as a leader in 2014?

All in all, I enjoyed serving the team in my last academic year at the University. But how I wish someone whispered a few wise points before I held the mantle. Because I cannot go back in time, all I have to do now is send some advice to the newly elected SPT officials. 

1. Contribute, contribute and contribute

When you are chosen as a theatre leader, forget how good you are in scriptwriting, acting or directing. Forget it! ( I am sorry if I burst your bubble). Well, the truth is that theatre leadership relies less on the technical details you know but how good you can harness them for the good of the team.

When you are elected as the Creative Director for example, the position is not for you to stun others with how well you can write scripts, act or direct. No, none of the thespians chose you because they want you to amaze them with your skills. No, none ( Hehehe, funny?) The truth is that they want you to tap their skills and use it for the common good of the team.

The best that they can ask from you is that you contribute the little that you have ( you thought you had much to contribute? Nope) which is then pooled together with what others have. Contribution is the key.

2. Every positive thing no matter how small is big

At times, theatrical works can be boring especially when the team that you are working with seems to be making sluggish progress. I say this because I have ever worked as a theatre director and getting actors to do exactly as you please can be one of the most daunting tasks. It tests on your patience and resilience. At times, you feel as though you can wind up the whole production thing and tell them,

“ Well, it was a pleasure working with you guys but you are dunderheads. You simply cannot get what I want. Go home!”

However, with a resilient spirit, you instead tell them,

“ Great... great.. that was beautiful.. you guys are amazing...can you try acting as an angel again Serengeti...yeeeeess... something like that.” 

Deep down in your mind though, you know that Serengeti is acting like a drunk man but you have to encourage him. With time and practice, Serengeti's alcohol will go down and he will start acting like the angel you want him to be. Well, he may not become the angel you wanted him to be because Serengeti is still Serengeti but he will be something close to an angel. 

3. If it haunts you, do it 

Your term in office has just started. You may feel that one year is such a long time and there will always be enough time to suggest a great idea to the rest of the officials. Maybe, you have this idea of having the team acting during weddings alongside the dancers and the choir. However, you keep mum on the idea till the time is ripe.

Well, time will never be ripe. Or have you ever seen ripe time? How does it look like? Does it taste like a mango or orange? Time my friend, will never be ripe. If it haunts you, do it or say it. Tell it to the rest of the officials. They may mull over it or just ignore it. However, you will not feel guilty because you at least said it. You get me?

4. Take control of things

An official has to be in-charge. Whether things are running haywire or smoothly, it is good to stand tall amid the crowds and say, [Insert a deep voice] “ I. Am In. Control.” That assures the multitude. It could be that the theatrical ship is sinking but when you say those words, people tend to respect you more. They see you as an accountable figure who seems to have all the answers. Though they are going to drown in the sea, they are going to drown safely ( I doubt that!)

5. Be there; presence is key

Even if you are the introverted type that rarely talks, as an official, you have to be always there; whether you talk or keep mum. People like it when they see their figure of authority around them. They feel secure that things are going on right though they might not be. Being there for the group also shows that you are concerned and committed. If there is one thing that people get irked with, it is having an official who assumes a non-chalant attitude (read Jammoh, 2013 Costume director).

Ps: Congrats to Ann Nduta, Reagan Otieno, Jack Osoro, Regina Muthoni, and Ndirangu Omondi; take the theatrical flag to the next level.