Lobur Mission marked a memorable day on February 27 when the faithful celebrated the blessing and official opening of St. Irene’s Primary School by Rt. Rev. John Mbinda, Bishop of Lodwar, who arrived a day earlier to performances by pupils from the school. The MCSPA members gave an animated and interesting account of the historical trajectory of this mission.

St. Irene’s Primary School was initiated in 2018 with only a small number of children. It has progressed from nursery to Class 1, and now reaching up to Class 5 and with a total intake of 207 pupils with the support of well-wishers from Spain who generously funded the entire project under the supervision of Maque Falgas, a member of the Secular Branch of the MCSPA. The construction of the new buildings commenced in 2021 involving the participation of the villagers. The school is expected to bring about a significant change in the education sector within the parish and also to act as a peace-building initiative in the Ilemi Triangle, a border region shared by Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

After the blessing of the school, Bishop Mbinda also conferred the sacrament of Confirmation on 150 candidates from the different out-stations within Sts. Joachim and Anne Parish. This number attests to the vibrant and growing Christian community in the area, serving as an optimistic indicator of a successful endeavour of evangelization. Special thanks go to Fr. Joseph Githinji, the Parish Priest, and Fr. Andrew Yakulula, the Assistant Priest, for dedicating their zeal and energy to the missionary work taking place at Lobur Mission.

The bishop expressed his appreciation for the large number confirmands and for all the initiatives that led to the construction and opening of St. Irene’s Primary School. It is our hope that the faith may continue to grow among the people of this region and that peaceful co-existence may become a reality.

By Louis Mkweza, MCSPA Apprentice
St. John the Evangelist Lobur Mission, Turkana, Kenya.

Monday the 26th of February 2024 was a special day for the Christians of Nariamawoi Outstation under Nariokotome Mission. They waited excitedly for the arrival of Rt. Rev. John Mbinda, Bishop of the Diocese of Lodwar. Very few had seen him in person. Thus expectations were high … what significance would this visit bring? They had been singing and praying for close to 3 hours before the bishop arrived and when his car finally pulled up the dusty tracks, it was all ululations, singing and dancing!

The visit was important as some members of MCSPA at Nariokotome Mission had spent years attending to this desolate community. A water dam had been built, a bore hole dug, a nursery school built and a thriving Christian community established. The Christians however still thirst for more. They thirst for a more permanent presence of pastoral agents in their area, they thirst for more education for their children, they thirst for the Word of God on a more regular basis.

The bishop was happy with the progress made thus far and gave his blessing for the construction of a primary school, the establishment of a sisters’ convent and the building of a permanent church structure. Support will be sought from friends and benefactors to help provide these structure that will help quench the “thirst” of this community. On their part the Christian community of Nariamawoi have provided land for these developments and are very supportive of these initiatives.

A religious sisters’ congregation, the Mensa Domini Sisters from the Philippines, has been approached and they have shown great interest for this mission at Nariamawoi. The sisters are willing to run the future primary school, establish a formation house at Nariamawoi and take care of the pastoral needs in the area.

We pray for the success of this project and look forward to transforming the lives of the people in Nariamawoi, and in so doing help quench their thirst.

By Fr. Denis Odongo, MCSPA
Parish Priest, Nariokotome Mission, Turkana, Kenya