In Kenya, Sr. Jacqueline Githiri Restores Families Through Counseling and Faith
In western Kenya, where many families face the strain of poverty, unemployment, domestic violence and emotional distress, Sr. Jacqueline Githiri of the Visitation Daughters of Mary has dedicated her religious life to restoring hope and healing wounded hearts. Through counseling, spiritual accompaniment and pastoral outreach, she works quietly to strengthen families in the Archdiocese of Kisumu.
The Visitation Daughters of Mary are a diocesan congregation founded in 2020 with a charism centered on the spiritual restoration of families. Sr. Jacqueline explains that the community recognized how deeply modern family life is affected by divorce, depression and unresolved trauma. Many struggles, she says, are rooted in spiritual emptiness and a lack of support systems. Their mission therefore seeks to address problems at their foundation, combining prayer with professional counseling and social engagement.
Sr. Jacqueline’s calling to counseling emerged during her early formation. After completing a catechetical course, she found that many people approached her with complex emotional and psychological needs. Realizing the limits of her preparation, she prayed for guidance and later enrolled in a postgraduate diploma program in individual and group counseling to better serve those entrusted to her care.
Her ministry now reaches a wide range of people, including young adults, married couples, religious sisters and priests. She accompanies individuals struggling with domestic violence, depression and personal crises, helping them rediscover dignity and inner peace. One of the most meaningful experiences in her ministry involved a woman who had been abused, divorced while pregnant and left in deep despair. Through steady accompaniment and encouragement, Sr. Jacqueline supported her in rebuilding her life. Today the woman is employed and raising her children with renewed confidence.
In another case, a religious sister suffering from severe depression sought help. With the cooperation of her community, Sr. Jacqueline facilitated a process of healing that eventually enabled the sister to reconnect with her congregation and resume her mission. These experiences have shaped Sr. Jacqueline’s conviction that people are rarely defined by their failures. She believes many wounds are rooted in painful experiences and that prayer and patience are essential in fostering lasting change.
Despite the fruits of her work, the challenges remain significant. The congregation lacks adequate facilities to house individuals in crisis. Sr. Jacqueline recalls situations involving survivors of violence and university students facing acute depression who required close monitoring and safe accommodation. Without proper infrastructure, she has often been limited in the assistance she can provide.
Her vision is to establish a Family Restoration Center that would offer temporary shelter, professional counseling and preventive education. Such a center would also host training programs to promote early intervention and awareness within families. Currently, she conducts sessions in modest conditions, sometimes using a small shipping container as a counseling office. With two trained counselors and another in formation, the congregation continues to offer workshops, seminars and individual support.
Through collaboration with priests, religious and lay leaders, Sr. Jacqueline strives to ensure confidentiality and respect in her ministry. She encourages fellow clergy and religious to embrace counseling as a ministry of presence, reminding them that many people are silently carrying heavy burdens and need compassionate accompaniment.
