Mass in honour of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo

Alvaro del Portillo, the first successor to St. Josemaria as the head of Opus Dei was beatified in Madrid, Spain in 2014. His feast day was established on 12th May. On 7th May, a public Mass was celebrated in Strathmore University in his honour.

Many faithful attended the Mass in honour of Blessed Alvaro that was celebrated by the Vicar of Opus Dei for East Africa, Rev. Fr. Silvano Ochuodho.

In his homily, Fr. Silvano spoke on the good shepherd for the flock of Opus Dei that St. Josemaria was. Blessed Alvaro collaborated in this task for many years, and following in St Josemaria's steps, was for all those present also a good shepherd who tended the sheep entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd par excellence, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fr. Silvano also commented on how back in a letter in 1962, St. Josemaria asked for prayers for an ill Alvaro. In that letter, he mentioned that among all his spiritual children - many of them very heroic - Alvaro was a role model.

Drawing lessons from the feast and life of Blessed Alvaro, the congregation was invited to examine themselves and give Our Lord a chance: "maybe a daily 15 minutes of mental prayer. Give the Lord a chance. Study, reflect on Pope Francis' recent exhortation - The Joy of Love... specifically chapters 3 and 7... [which] are very beneficial. We will enjoy it. Be fruitful! Bear fruit! Indeed, the Lord is my Shepherd, there's nothing we shall want."