During the days 28-30th January, the MCSPA, present in the area of Muketuri, together with a Spanish foundation, called “Fundación Harena”, distributed 120 solar light sets to illuminate the homes in 3 villages, Abo Kaso, Gore Ketema and Jebene. These villages are 21 km, 7 km and 17 km away from Muketuri.

The solar sets have 3 points of fixed lights and one mobile, plus a telephone charger point. The families received a training to install the lights and showed their gratitude y happiness for what will change their lives: to have light in their homes, for cooking, living together and with a great impact in their children´s lives who will be able to study when there is no sun light.

At the 3 villages the people organized a party to celebrate the event with a meal, dances and speeches.
In one of the villages an old women expressed her joy saying:
“we don’t know how to thank all this: first the missionaries brought us the water, a well and after this agriculture with the drop system and then a dining room for children under 7 and pregnant women, and today, with these lights they have given us eyes to see all that we have achieved together!”

Many more families have registered to receive solar light for their homes. We hope to get the funds to extend the program to more people.

Lourdes Larruy MCSPA

During the days 28-30th January, the MCSPA, present in the area of Muketuri, together with a Spanish foundation, called “Fundación Harena”, distributed 120 solar light sets to illuminate the homes in 3 villages, Abo Kaso, Gore Ketema and Jebene. These villages are 21 km, 7 km and 17 km away from Muketuri.

The solar sets have 3 points of fixed lights and one mobile, plus a telephone charger point. The families received a training to install the lights and showed their gratitude y happiness for what will change their lives: to have light in their homes, for cooking, living together and with a great impact in their children´s lives who will be able to study when there is no sun light.

At the 3 villages the people organized a party to celebrate the event with a meal, dances and speeches.
In one of the villages an old women expressed her joy saying:
“we don’t know how to thank all this: first the missionaries brought us the water, a well and after this agriculture with the drop system and then a dining room for children under 7 and pregnant women, and today, with these lights they have given us eyes to see all that we have achieved together!”

Many more families have registered to receive solar light for their homes. We hope to get the funds to extend the program to more people.

Lourdes Larruy MCSPA

One of the best things about being in Turkana after the rains is that all the trees blossom and produce. Since October we have been having rains at least once a month, one of the visible signs of climatic change in the area.

As a result we have been eating mangoes at Nariokotome mission for the last three months.

Let’s join hand and plant more fruit trees in our homes, thus contribute actively to save the environment and at the same time have more food to eat.

Lillian Omari- MCSPA

The Source Yubu area in western South Sudan is an immense tropical forest. The annual rainy season lasts for about 8 months, approximately from March to November. And yet the inhabitants of the region endure a number of water-related diseases because many of them depend on open and contaminated water sources.

Following on Fr. Joseph Githinji’s footsteps who drilled several wells in this territory, Fr. Avelino has managed to secure funding for a second borehole at Ave Maria Mission. Today (February 20th), the water aquifer was struck at 92 metres, and the final depth of the well reached 135 metres. We expect a yield between 3,000 to 4,000 litres per hour. 

With the help of a submersible solar-operated pump, clean and sweet water will be brought to the surface for the nursery school, primary school, secondary school, vocational training centre, dispensary and several community supply points at Ngboko village. We thank our heavenly friend, Saint Scholastica, for regularly keeping an eye on our water needs down here!

Fr. Albert Salvans MCSPA

It has been seven years since Father Paco ( the founder of MCSPA) left us and crossed to the other side of life. Yes, it is seven years ago when we were mourning him! but today the Church in Nariokotome was celebrating life. The church was full, with christians from Nariokotome parish, Todonyang, Kibish. Some Christians came from as far as Lodwar, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

We all danced and sang to celebrate Paco’s life because he brought all of us from different cultures, but all with one common goal: #DoGoodAlways.

Mt 25:35-36: “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’”

This is what Paco preached and lived.

We are all called to follow the same. Let the legacy that Fr. Paco started in 1987 in Turkana continue becoming a reality. Let’s join hand to provide water, education, food, health and holistic pastoral care to our people, doing all this with LOVE

Lillian Omari – MCSPA

The ambassador of Spain to Kenya, Javier García de Viedma, visited the MCSPA missions in Turkana. On his arrival he went to Lobur mission where he met all the Spanish missionaries and volunteers working there.

He also visited “Furrows in the Desert” agriculture project, the mission, the school and different other projects carried out at Lobur.

In Nariokotome or “small Spain” or “the Spanish mission” as it is known here, he managed to visit the mission and the church, the school, the dispensary, the farm and the mother and child centres.

He had dinner with some of the members of MCSPA living in Turkana. It was great to have the Spanish Ambassador visiting “small Spain” in Kenya!

Karibu tena.

Lillian Omari MCSPA

The ambassador of Spain to Kenya, Javier García de Viedma, visited the MCSPA missions in Turkana. On his arrival he went to Lobur mission where he met all the Spanish missionaries and volunteers working there.

He also visited “Furrows in the Desert” agriculture project, the mission, the school and different other projects carried out at Lobur.

In Nariokotome or “small Spain” or “the Spanish mission” as it is known here, he managed to visit the mission and the church, the school, the dispensary, the farm and the mother and child centres.

He had dinner with some of the members of MCSPA living in Turkana. It was great to have the Spanish Ambassador visiting “small Spain” in Kenya!

Karibu tena.

Lillian Omari MCSPA

Today we were privileged to have had the visit of Mons. Marvyn Maceda, DD, the Bishop of San Jose de Antique (of the Philippines) at Nariokotome Mission.

Bishop Marvyn has supported the Diocese of Lodwar by sending priests from his diocese to Lodwar as fidei donum (Gift of Faith) priests.

Bishop Marvyn has a missionary vision and says that when one is blessed we must not keep the blessing to ourselves but share it out with others.

At present, there are 3 sisters from the filipino congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Lord’s Table working at Kaaleng Mission and 4 fidei donum priests: 2 at Kaikor from Bishop Marvyn’s diocese and 2 others from the Archdiocese of Jaro for Kaaleng.

The Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle will continue in its efforts to act as bridges between Asia, America and Africa, to bring in different congregations and missionaries to work in the different African dioceses where we are present.

“Go to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to the whole of creation”
[Mark 16:15]

Lillian Omari MCSPA

On Tuesday, January 28^th, groups of youth and choirs from all parishes of the Western Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (South Sudan), arrived in Ave Maria Parish. In total they were 583 people from 8 parishes. Most of them arrived by foot, walking for 30 to 50 km, although some came by bicycle or motorbike. They carried their own food.

In Ave Maria we hosted them in the Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary school. This was the annual gathering. They came escorted by Fr. Mark, the Episcopal Vicar of the Western Deanery and Parish Priest of Tombura, and by Fr. Vairi, the Parish Priest of Mupoi. With them was also the diocesan youth coordinator, Sr. Irene.

During the days in Ave Maria, apart from the daily celebration of the Eucharist in the morning and the prayer of the Rosary in the evening that would take each day about one hour, there were talks during the day attended by all participants, on Peace and Reconciliation, Faith, Liturgy, HIV and self-reliance.

On Friday, January 31^st, there was the celebration of Saint John Bosco, their patron saint. It was celebrated open air with the attendance of government officials from Tombura and Source Yubu and more than 1.500 faithful. The day ended with dance until past midnight.

On Saturday, February 1^st, the various groups returned to their respective parishes.

Fr. Avelino Bassols MCSPA