Children of the IDP camp.

The other devastation being visited upon Kenya as in other countries in Africa was that of HIV / AIDS. Very many people are afflicted and of course considerable numbers are HIV positive. In a prison which I visited the Governor allowed me to speak to over 200 men gathered together in one of the halls. I think I spoke in an appropriate fashion about “hope”; but for me the most moving part of the visit was when the Catholic visitor to the prison asked the Governor if I could meet with those men who were HIV positive and who literally had no hope either for themselves or their families – and was able to bless each one of them individually. I found a tremendous openness among people who were HIV positive – and this was shown in various ways at open air entertainment provided for me after the Mass and dedication of some of the facilities being extended by the Franciscan Sisters and the Voluntary Missionary Movement (VMM).

Some of the ''Family of God'',  perform a sketch after the mass in Motobo about HIV+

Another increasing worry among peoples whom I met concerned climate change. People indicated that the rainy seasons were not as they used to be; and the spectre of horrible starvation and drought at present in areas of Kenya with the loss of many lives was in danger of being evident elsewhere.

The role of the Catholic Church in Kenya is considerable and I think increasing.

I met one of the Bishops in the area which I was visiting – Bishop Philip Anyolo of the Diocese of Nakuru but unfortunately Bishop Emanuel Okombo of the Diocese of Kericho had to be in Nairobi. The vocation situation is very positive and I was invited to celebrate Mass with over seventy students at the “Pre-seminary” dedicated to St Mary in Molo. These were fine young men aged between 17 and 38 who were being directed by four resident priest staff before deciding eventually or being chosen for the National Philosophy College or the Theological Seminary. The same method of training was being used by the Kiltegan Fathers who have a national house of formation in Nakuru which involves their pre-seminary spiritual years – before all of their students continue their studies at their national College in South Africa studying philosophy there; and then all go together to their Theological College in Nairobi. Incidentally I met a great variety of Kiltegan Fathers – most mature in years having given a lifetime of service to the Church in other parts of Africa or indeed in Kenya itself. One other interesting development which I visited was a house of prayer founded by the Kiltegan Fathers on the outskirts of Nakuru which was used for retreat goers as well as providing days of recollection both for the Kiltegan Fathers and for the local clergy in Kenya. One other group which I met were the Franciscan Brothers of the Third Order Regular of Penance founded in Ireland in the year 1818. They are not the “usual” Franciscan Brothers – but their spirituality and lifestyle is based on the spirituality of St Francis of Assisi and St Clare. Since 1976 Baraka Agricultural College has been under the management of the Franciscan Brothers having initially being founded by the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru to educate and train the newly settled farmers of Rift Valley Province. At the College there are now certificates and diplomas in “sustainable agriculture and rural development” as well as shorter courses designed for farmers, development workers and rural business people including rural youth programmes and bee keeping development programmes. They themselves have six Brothers in formation – and expect brothers who apply to join them to have completed secondary school education at a satisfactory level and also to have had a good professional training or a teacher training certificate or diploma.

However the main purpose of my visit was to visit and dedicate projects coordinated by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Since the Sisters arrived in Kenya in the year 1990 and Kericho in 2000 theirs has been a fascinating growth and development.

Their particular project in the Diocese of Kericho where I was staying was entitled “Live with Hope” with this particular project involving: Home based care for HIV positive adults and children; voluntary counselling and testing for those in need; training in abstinence and behaviour for young people; and projects for orphans and vulnerable children. Consequently a great number of people have helped in a wonderful variety of ways – with 36 people employed in the project with financial help from the USA Government; and many volunteers coming from around the world particularly from Scotland.

At a Mass which I celebrated on All Souls Day at the Convent of the Franciscans Sisters in Molo with a great variety of missionaries present I spoke on the death and awaited resurrection of so many wonderful people who had been our predecessors in the missionary field. I spoke of this same “death and resurrection” occurring both in our Church at large as well as in religious orders and congregations at this present time. I spoke of the form training for people for Priesthood and religious life; as well as of course the tremendous involvement of lay women and lay men sharing the charisms of our religious orders and congregations as well as those young men of course who are entering the Secular Priesthood.

I left Kenya with much “hope” in my own heart for the Church in that country – realising a tremendous awareness of problems which were being faced but also aware that the Church and its members were tackling them with a will.

Children of Motobo

Cardinal O'Brien with Sr Placida and OVC Poject Manager Martin on a home visit to Viola 12 and Dolphine 9, father and aunt, mother away collecting water at the time.

ONGOING HELP FOR THE MISSIONS
SOME THOUGHTS FROM CARDINAL KEITH O’BRIEN 

As is known worldwide World Mission Sunday takes place on the 3rd Sunday in October each year. Shortly after Mission Sunday this year I departed for Kenya to spend the first week in November visiting various projects associated particularly with the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. 

In writing in the Scottish Catholic Observer last week I spoke of the “death and resurrection” of missionaries in my All Souls Day sermon to almost fifty missionaries who had spent lifetimes of service in Africa and in Kenya in particular. I then went on to speak in similar vein of the “growth and resurrection” of our Church in Kenya with particular reference to the religious orders and congregations and their own development over the years. So many of them had witnessed a “death” of the traditional life of priests, sisters and brothers in their lifestyles – while a marvellous new vision of life as a missionary was opening up both with regard to formation as well as to the ways in which religious life and indeed Priesthood was being lived at this present time.

I witnessed “pre-seminaries” run by dioceses I visited and by the Kiltegan Fathers, and also witnessed something of the growth of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, While I was in Kenya I had the privilege of admitting three women as postulants to the congregation as well as witnessing five previous postulants being admitted as novices.

Cardinal O'Brien makes history as the fisrt Cardinal to say mass for reception and 1st time Postulants received in the new Novitiate Formation House in Molo admitting three woman Linnett,Christine and jackline as postulants and five new Novice Sr Mary Gertrude,Sr Mary Susan,Sr John Mary,Sr Pio Maria and Sr Mary Gemma.

Cardinal O'Brien with the Franciscan Sisters and new Novices and Postulants after the mass in the Formation house Molo.

Perhaps one might say that the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception have grasped at every opportunity for growth. Initially founded in Glasgow some 160 years ago – their first outreach overseas was to Nigeria some sixty years ago while the most recent to Africa was to Kenya in the year 1990. In addition to this variety of apostolates the Franciscan Sisters now have a community in Rome residing in the Pontifical Scots College there. One might say that this is a very suitable “half way house” between Scotland and Africa and also a house from which suitable religious can engage in further studies in a variety of Roman universities and colleges. 

Scotland has always been to the forefront in providing help for the missions – both financially and by way of personnel. Our annual Mission Sunday collection is among the highest per capita in the world; and our missionary orders and congregations are supported by the regular deanery appeals which take place throughout each year in each of the dioceses of Scotland. However further help continues in a variety of ways – with specific projects being supported often under the direction of MISSIO Scotland; as well as specific helps being targeted by “friends” of the various religious orders and congregations. A great variety have their own particular magazine selling in our parishes or being obtained directly from the publishing houses – and these all help promote the Order not just financially but by way of personnel. 
  
Almost since the beginning of their apostolate in Kenya the Franciscan Sisters have been responsible for a project entitled “Live with Hope”, a project which helps vulnerable people of all ages and with all types of difficulties.

Sr Placida with Sr Rita and Sr Franca take the Cardinal around the homes to meet some of the families they help.

It was indeed a very satisfactory visit which I spent in Kenya – and one which reassured me not only about the ongoing apostolate of our religious orders and congregations – but also the sheer dedication of so many people in Scotland to help those who are spreading the faith in other countries.

Financial help is given to the Franciscan Sisters – including help from the USA by way of paying their 36 employees; with many volunteers coming for longer or shorter periods of time to help with specific projects.

Cardinal O'Brien Blesses the new IGA mill (Income Generating Agency) dedicated to St Lukes Forgewood Motherwell the main sponsor.

Another great sponsor of the Franciscan Sisters and their work in Kenya is the Staff and pupils of Turnbull High School Bishopbriggs,At their opening mass for their new school building Archbishop Conti handed over a cheque for £6000.00 raised at a Grand Gala Ball.

While I was with the Franciscan Sisters I spent two days visiting their projects following on a wonderful open air Mass of Dedication. A building described as an “income generating agency” was dedicated along with similar dedication of a field to house a sports stadium and an area to be given over to housing for street children now under the wonderful title of “Family of God”. Resources are also being set aside for projects involving intermediate care for those in need; a home for HIV adolescents; a home described as the “Agape Home” for HIV positive children and a variety of other projects were more or less started “spontaneously” where there is a need.

Thankfully the Franciscan Sisters get a tremendous amount of help from Scotland – from individuals, from schools and from priests and lay people who spend a shorter or longer period of time working on specific projects in Kenya.

Sister Placida of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception was my mentor and guide in Kenya and she can be contacted by email at: fsic@africaonline.co.ke; or through Sister Loyola the Mother General of the Franciscan Sisters who can be contacted at: loyola.kelly@btinternet.com.

For more information or to make a donation please contact,

Sr Loyola Kelly

Franciscan Convent (Generalate),

St Teresa's 86 Saracen Street

Glasgow

G22 5AD

loyola.kelly@btinternet.com 

thank you.

All Photographs by and copyright of Paul Mc Sherry.

O7770 393960