"Pongezi" (Congratulations in Swahili)
One Hundred Years in Kenya - Past and Present, by Sr Maggi Kennedy MSOLA
Having spent 16 years in Mombasa, Kenya, I feel privileged to reflect back on our Centenary and our place in the history of the Church in Kenya. It is a tribute to all the Sisters who touched its soil: who taught, nursed, cared and were present in so many creative and life giving ways. God has surely worked great things and will continue to do so in the lives of those we have touched.
The Story begins
On the 21st April 1907 the first six Sisters arrived on the exotic Coast of Mombasa - I have often wondered what they felt at that moment. Bishop Allgeyer, Holy Ghost Father, then Apostolic Vicar of Zanzibar requested the White Sisters (Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa) to establish a Mission in Mangu, Thika, 50 km north of Nairobi. In 1909 they would return to Mombasa to transform education for girls on the Kenyan Coast.
Mangu....Holy Family Convent
On the 6th June 1907 the Sisters arrived at Mangu, Thika-the first MSOLA community in Kenya. They bought land on which they planted coffee and fruit trees to provide finance for their new projects. The trees flourished in the ideal climate. The Sisters learned Kikuyu and the local customs. The beginnings were hard. They began to visit people and to teach Catechism. A maternity, dispensary, orphanage and school where basic skills were taught were established. The school developed into Madaraka Primary School with Maria Goretti Hostel. While education was provided for Africans, Asians and Europeans little was done for children of intercultural families. These children were often marginalized. A boarding school began which took children from all three Eastern African countries. This later became Mary Hill Secondary School. Both boarding schools served students of all races. In 1976 they were handed to the Assumption Sisters and Kenyan staff. In Keriko, near Thika, a dispensary was opened and the Sisters taught and headed a Harambee School ( Harambee means working together in Kikuyu). The local community financed the school. We handed the school over in 1989. In 1981, Sr Edmonde became a Kikuyu elder named Nyakio. She remained teaching in another Harambee School for poor children in Thika till 1989.
Other communities were established in Kiambu and Limuru. In Limuru a school was established for boarders. It was later taken over by the Loreto Sisters. Some of these boarders formed the nucleus of a new local Congregation the Sisters of St Joseph in Bura in the now Archdiocese of Mombasa. This Congregation has now spread far and wide and has remained very close to us working in education and pastoral fields.
The Assumption Sisters are born....
In 1955 Archbishop McCarthy, Holy Spirit Fathers, who was Archbishop of Nairobi at the time, entrusted the formation of a new local Kenyan Congregation to the MSOLA. They were to be known as Sisters of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Nairobi. The government of the Congregation was handed over in 1970 under the leadership of Sr. Marie Theresa Gacambi and her Council. Today this vibrant group is no longer a Diocesan Congregation but is of Pontifical Right. The sisters serve in a number of Dioceses in Kenya: in Education, Medical, Pastoral and Administration Ministry where they are in the service of the underprivileged. They maintain a special focus for women. Communities have also been established in Jamaica, in the West Indies and the USA.
Then to Mombasa 1909- the melting pot of cultures:
In May 1909 five Sisters began to teach on the beautiful island of Mombasa amid Temples, Mosques and Churches surrounded by the sparkling azure blue Indian Ocean, swaying palms and distinctive flavour of hospitality. Bishop Alleyer had requested the Sisters to begin an English speaking Catholic school. The Sisters also started a dispensary and visited the Government Hospital. A small farm was started that could provide some income. In 1927 a new project was opened in, Makupa, another area of Mombasa where women were taught sewing, cookery, hygiene, child care, religious instruction and ethics. Classes were given to Kenyan boys and girls (25 in 1921) 40 children made up of the school of 7 nationalities. By 1932 the school catered for 90 children.
The “Stars”.
The Sisters were involved in many activities but the main focus was “The White Sisters Convent School” which in1954 became Star of the Sea School consisting of a Nursery, Primary and Secondary sections. Today, it provides education for more than a thousand girls from all religious faiths and cultures. In 1975, the Sisters handed over the Primary School to the Sisters of St Joseph of Mombasa. The Nursery School was handed over to them in 1976. Finally the Secondary School became a High School and was handed over in the early eighties. The school was famous for its musicals and high educational standards. Being open to all faiths promoted dialogue between faiths, specially Islam. It also created a precious contact with women and families which have deepened over the years. Our Srs Thecla de Souza, Cecilia Commissariart, Vivian de Souza, Edith Quadros, Filo Pereira and Daphne Alphonso are past pupils. Sr Zita Cardozo, originally from Zanzibar, family settled in Mombasa. It was from here that she entered the MSOLA.
Always Reaching Out
There was an urgent need for education for young Kenyans. The Sisters recognized this need and in 1959 opened Marycliff Primary School, Tudor, a poorer part of the island. It was handed over in 1970 by Sr. Vivien de Souza to lay Kenyan leadership.
Women’s groups were founded in a number of areas. Savings and Credit Unions were also seen as a need. On Mombasa Island there were 15 secondary schools in the 1970’s. A hostel for Girls was set up to assist girls who needed accommodation while in school. Sr Zita Cardozo worked on this ecumenical project. The hostel is now Mama Ngina Secondary School and provides a very a high level of education.
Changes in the air....
Religious Education became a priority of the 80's. A Religious Education Centre- as we had handed over the schools- was then established by Sr Marguerite Gemme and her Team. The Centre saw more than 800 teachers passed through the Religious Education Awareness Programme (REAP) as well as the many and varied projects it offered.
In the 80's a new project for “Women in Distress” SOLWODI was set up by Sr. Lea Ackerman. It has now grown into an international body based in Germany but still has a centre in Mombasa. This is essential now with the era of “Human Trafficking”. This has been further developed to provide assistance for the children of women in distress.
In 1990 Star of the Sea Convent was handed of to the Archdiocese of Mombasa, though keeping a presence nearby. A new community was established in Changamwe some 10 kilometers off the island. Aids ministry, together with building of SCC and the youth formed a priority. One of the Sisters, Sr. Maggi Kennedy, developed the Social Communications Centre, still in the basement of the former Convent. The Changamwe Community was handed over to the Sisters of Mary the Mother of God in 2003. Incidentally the Star of the Sea Convent is now housing the Catholic Secretariat for the Archdiocese and thriving with life. People still come to pray in the Chapel and the outside area is used for Meetings.
New Dioceses
In 1975 a House of Prayer Community was established in Kisii Diocese in the North West of Kenya. This was welcomed as a blessing by Bishop Mugendi and offered a service of prayer for the local community and beyond. In 1979 three members of the community died in a tragic road accident. The community was closed in the early 90's. Other projects began in Eldoret for Education and Youth. In Eldoret also three Sisters also pioneered Mitume Centre which trained catechists. Again these projects were handed.
Our Presence in Nairobi:
Sr Tini Holscher pioneered the work of the “Association of the Sisterhoods of Kenya” (AOSK) in the area of Renewal and Formation after Vatican II. She was at the heart of the Tumaini -Hope Centre which has now grown into a new Centre: Chemi Ya Uzima-Swahili for “Fountain of Life”. Over the years the AOSK together with “Association for Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa” (ACWECA) have involved MSOLA. This working together with different Congregations is very much part of our tradition. We have formed 24 different local Congregations in Africa which we still support in various ways.
A New Thrust:
Moving from institutions gave a new thrust for the “Option for the Poor”. Communities opened in various areas in Nairobi: Kangemi, Eastleigh, Langata, Kibera - a slum of some 800,000 people. In all these areas the ministry was focused on ways to help the people, especially women, to be able to care of themselves and their families. “Dollicraft” in St Joseph the Worker Parish Kangemi, Nairobi, facilitated by Sr Cecile Peloquin, became an income- generating project for more than 50 women. The project involved making African dolls of the different ethnic groups in Kenya. They became extremely popular with tourists. The group also made Church vestments in African fabric which helped to encourage enculturation.
In St Michael's Parish, Langata, run by the Guadalupe Fathers from Mexico our Sisters pioneered the work of the Small Christian Communities. They were also key in the beginning of the parish as they were in Kangemi with the Jesuits.
In Eastleigh, East Nairobi, the Sisters worked with the White Fathers.(Missionaries of Africa) in Mathare valley, a place of appalling poverty . Sisters tried to raise the dignity of the people in all possible ways, with projects especially for Women. It is hard to imagine what these slums are like. Together with the Fathers they built up the Small Christian Communities which greatly assisted the people to sense that they belonged somewhere and people cared.
Variety is the spice of Life...
Others in Nairobi have been involved with diverse ministries since the 80's such as ministries for those with physical disabilities,Cancer Counseling, HIV/Aids Ministry, Counseling at all levels and Education. For a time a small community was established in Karen. A Cheshire Home was also set up in Limuru. Refugees in Kakuma Camp in the North Eastern Kenya were assisted for two years by Sr. Collette Joubert and Sr Dolores Fortier in conjunction with the Jesuits.
Our African Province Now:
Nairobi is the centre for the 4 regions of the African Province....Eastern Africa, Central, West and North Africa. We cover 16 countries. Sr. Jocelyn Morin is our Provincial.
At present in Kenya:
At present, in Kenya, we are based only in Nairobi. Our four communities are in South B and C, and Guadalupe Parish. Sr. Christine Bahati-Safi is teaching in Laini Saba School, Kibera. Others are concerned with Justice and Peace work, as well as being involved in Interfaith Dialogue. South B welcomes students and there is an involvement in Mukuru Primary School for children from the slums, an orphanage, and another is involved Interfaith Dialogue. South C Community acts as a Missionary/Vocational Community. It provides a contact point for those interested in our way of life. Young Sisters in formation studies assist in the Small Christian Communities. We need personnel so we can continue to reach out to others. The needs are unending.
To express a 100 years in a few words is impossible. We can only say “thank you” to those who planted the seeds and those who continue to plant, water and reap. We are proud to have been part of this vibrant Kenyan Church. Hongera wo wote.
Sources:
Kenya Catholic Centenary Booklet complied by Sr Christine Middlehoff MSOLA in 1989. This was update in 2006 by St Begona Inarra MSOLA. All photos are from Sr Begona Inarra MSOLA. Thanks to Sr Christopher MSOLA for her collaboration together with Sr Vivien Mary MSOLA and her MSOLA Team in Nairobi, Kenya.
Today the Church in Kenya:
Population: 28,763,358.
Catholics: 8,031,698.
Dioceses: 26.
Parishes: 733.
Small Christian Communities.16,880
Catechists: 6,146
Diocesan Priests: 674
Religious Sisters: 3,807
Religious Brothers:1,375
Religious Priests 813
Religious Men 2,20
(Annuario Pontifico: 2005)
