In an international gathering of prayer and remembrance held on January 9, 2026, the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) celebrated the life of Rev. Sr. Susan Kajuju Thiruine. The Palaver Prayer Service served as a collective testimony to a woman who seamlessly integrated high academic scholarship with a profound commitment to the unsung voices of the African Church.
Sr. Susan was a huge tree of solace—one whose life provided shade to many and whose death, though painful, unites the community because such a life never dies.”
The service opened with an invocation by Professor Clement Majawa, who described Sr. Susan as a “huge tree of solace” that provided shade to many. He noted that her life was a testament to the African philosophy in which the death of a virtuous person, while painful, serves to unite a community because their exemplary life “never dies, but becomes refreshing waters.”
The Scholar of “Theology in the Kitchen”
Sr. Susan was a PhD candidate at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), specializing in Educational Administration and Planning. However, her academic colleagues emphasized that her intellect was always guided by her faith.
Father David Mbugua, who had known Sr. Susan since her noviciate days, shared specific excerpts from her research that defined her worldview. He quoted her writing:
Theology is not just for those who preach but for those who mature, heal, and build peace. African women have always been doing theology in their kitchens, on the farm, and in the community.”
According to Father David, Sr. Susan believed that women have been the bedrock of African Christianity, not by sitting in the pulpit, but by walking in faith.
A “Student-Teacher” to Her Peers
The depth of Sr. Susan’s character within the university halls was shared by Sr. Elizabeth Nduku, her Head of Department and academic supervisor. She recalled Susan as a “humble, respectful, and loving religious” whose constant, gentle smile offered hope to the faculty.
Sr. Elizabeth highlighted Susan’s selfless approach to her studies, noting that she often waited for her classmates to choose their assignment topics first, accepting whatever remained. In her final days, Susan had been entrusted with preparing comprehensive notes intended to guide her entire class through their doctoral examinations. Her classmates, Sr. Elizabeth noted, viewed her not merely as a peer, but as a teacher, model, and support.
Documenting the Unsung
The service also focused on Sr. Susan’s leadership in the PACTPAN research project, “Unsung African Women Heroes of Faith.” Colleague Jane Nambiri testified to Susan’s extraordinary dedication and her ability to build personal connections during fieldwork.
Nambiri recalled how Susan participated wholeheartedly, uncovering stories of women with extraordinary experiences. While the project required documenting five stories, Susan’s passion drove her to document seven. She narrated these stories, Nambiri said, with a “gentle voice but deeply touching narratives.” Beyond research, Susan consistently cared for her team, frequently calling colleagues in the field to check on their well-being.
Ambrose Kilonzo, who moderated the service and worked closely with her on the project, described her as a woman of “intellectual honesty and quiet courage.” He observed that her life offered a vital lesson: that “faith must listen carefully to stories at the margins.”
Faith must listen carefully to stories at the margins. Sr. Susan lived a theology that paid attention—patiently, humbly, and courageously”
A Final Commendation
The global reach of Sr. Susan’s impact was evident in the participation of clergy from across Africa, including Bishop George Muthaka, O.F.M. Cap., of the Diocese of Garissa, Kenya. The Bishop reflected that while the human heart may see a life taken too soon, Sr. Susan had already “accomplished what the Lord brought her here to do.” He urged the community to recognize her faithfulness as her greatest achievement.
In his condolence message, Fr. Stan Chu Ilo, Coordinating Servant of PACTPAN, reminded participants that while we do not choose when or how we die, we do choose how we live. He praised Sr. Susan’s total commitment to the service of God, the Church, and African society, calling on members to honor her memory by continuing her work among the forgotten and the unheard.
As the service concluded, the shared sentiment was clear: Sr. Susan Kajuju Thiruine had lived the very theology she studied—a life sincerely given to God and others, becoming its own enduring testimony and a living inheritance for the African Church.
