Never stop believing in one’s capacity which could rise like bread that rises from simple dough to become something delicious.
On 13th of March 2021, we inaugurated a Bakery at Nariokotome Mission, Turkana.

The celebration was presided over by Fr. Fernando and also present were Frs. Antonio and Denis among the other MCSPA members.

This is a project we had dreamt to initiate for long time. It is in line with the Late Fr. Paco’s dream (founder of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle), of creating as many initiatives as possible in order to avoid that neither children or people would ever go hungry. He used to go around always carrying a basket fully of bread to give to the nomadic children and the elderly in Turkana.

With this project we hope to empower the women through baking bread and pastries at very low and affordable cost to distribute to the children in the Mother and Child Centres.

Baking bread is like a miracle to me. Through the alchemy of fermentation, the dense mass of wheat magically rises and transforms into a fragrant loaf. Bread was the ancient food for our ancestors as seen in the Bible. After all, when the Israelites escaped from slavery into the desert, the Lord rained down bread on them from heaven (Exodus 16). It was a reminder that even if they would go through trials, they were not forgotten.

The same applies to the process of bread baking which is long and slow thus requiring patience. We mix the flour and yeast to make dough after which we pound it and place it in the oven to bake. When ready, we feed as many people as we can. The miracle of bread is like a metaphor in our lives in which we wait patiently for a miracle to unfold.

The women are enthusiastic to participate in this project and we hope to create more initiatives to transform their lifes and that of their families for the better.

Thank you to the entire Cantabria Labs family and many others who have made this dream a reality!

Lenny Jilo and MCSPA Nariokotome team

The Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and and Happy New Year.

On Saturday, the Missionary Community of St Paul the Apostle, the family members and friends together with the faithful from the lake deanery of the Diocese of Lodwar, celebrated a very wonderful priestly Ordination of Fr. Victor Otieno. It was presided by Bishop Dominic Kimengich, currently the Bishop of Eldoret Diocese and the Apostolic Administrator of Lodwar Diocese. The celebration was graced and honoured by all those who attended the celebration in spite of the covid-19 restrictions. The Pontifical Missionary Children (PMC) recited beautiful poems of encouragement to celebrate the newly ordained priest.

Lourdes Larruy, representing all the member of the MCSPA, gave her testimony during the ordination about Victor, highlighting of his patience, calmness and humility during his life in the community. She explained how some years back they got a road accident in Ethiopia and despite the trouble, Victor remained calm. In January, right before his departure to the Philippines after the MCSPA General Assembly, he was involved in another accident that left him badly injured. However, we thank God that after 10 months of recovery process, “the broken Victor” can walk once again. In a nutshell, we can be sure that God wanted Fr. Victor to serve Him as a priest. We are grateful for his life and vocation.

Fr. Victor has come from very far, prior to his Ordination. He discovered his vocation through the invitation of Fr. Alex, and he spend some years in Lobur Mission learning missionary life in practice. He then pursued his philosophical studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA), and later joined Loyola School of Theology in Manila Philippines. During that time, he did several pastoral visitations and experiences in different countries which have made him appreciate the universality of the Church. He is prepared for pastoral duty at Sts. Joachim and Ann Catholic Parish Kibish where he has been appointed while residing at Lobur Catholic Mission together with Fr Alex Campón and Fr Joseph Githinji.

Let us rejoice and be glad!

Fr. Joseph Githinji MCSPA

The MCSPA launched in 2018 a Pump Maintenance Unit (PMU) with the aim to secure the access to water in Turkana North.

The project is run by St. John the Evangelist, Lobur Catholic Mission. Three years down the line, the project has established itself in the area, where about 60 boreholes (30% of the total) are regularly checked, serviced and repaired.

The local communities contribute with a symbolic annual fee while at the same time are trained at the village level on how to maintain these essential facilities.

During 2020 Lobur Mission signed an ambitious three-year contract with a consortium of benefactors, to Improve the security of access to water and the environment management for Turkana North and Kibish sub-counties, with a total land of 17.500 sq. km inhabited by about 100.000 pastoralists.

The contract will now allow to equip the PMU to maintain not only the pumping facilities but the boreholes themselves, providing an integral service. Additionally to this main activity, awareness on rain water harvesting, environmental care, food security and sanitation and hygiene have now been included in the PMU Programme via Capacity Building Activities.

During the first week of December 2020 the first awareness activity took place at St. Eirin’s Nursery School where the following topics were addressed: desert agriculture practices, organic compost making and vegetable and fruits nutritional values, targeting a shift to a more varied and rich diet for the local inhabitants.

31 neo-farmers (23 women), coming from 11 different villages actively participated in a very intense workshop, with the collaboration of the Furrows in the Desert Programme and the Health Department of Lobur Catholic Mission.

Pablo Moñino, Lobur Catholic Mission

Partners consortium: Prince Albert the II of Monaco Foundation, Slovak Aid, UNESCO, Irish News and Emalaikat Foundation.

All the event was broadcasted live by Radio Akicha Lodwar.
https://www.facebook.com/101004203273481/videos/373448393754088/
https://www.facebook.com/101004203273481/videos/3570004013067449/
https://www.facebook.com/101004203273481/videos/373448393754088/

Videos:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vtbg6xl0ng5ilgk/VID_20201202_154157.mp4?dl=0

Audios with a description of the Project:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/npas0i11iwqw3ct/Audio%201.opus?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/n35tc2g7u2tx4iy/Audio%202.opus?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8vxsdnjz08vso4i/Audio%203.opus?dl=0

Today we celebrated the 14th Graduation of “Furrows in the Desert” in Lobur Catholic Mission. The celebration was a colourful one and took place in the dinning room of Saint Irine Mother and Child Centre, just at the entrance of the Mission.

The students, now farmers, could not hide the joy after completing their training course. They were all awarded certificates because of their good and hard work, after completing six months, doing both class and field or practical farming studies. During the six months they have been able to eat from the produce they planted while learning.

Despite the covid19 pandemic, the trainees have tried to observe the rules and regulations announced by the Ministry of Health of Kenya. That is why they have achieved their goal of graduating and of being declared as one of the best team since Furrows was started in order to fight food insecurity in Turkana.

We have witnessed real agriculture taking place in our region, we have seen and tasted the sweetness of the products. This year, the trainees came from different parts of Turkana County. In addition, a number of trainees came from Marsabit County, proving that Furrows in the Desert is alive and it is still transforming people’s lives.

The achievement has been thanks to team work, especially supported by the Lobur community, establishing a conducive environment where the trainees have been able to accomplish their goals and become skilled farmers who are ready to transform their land, known to be barren, into a garden of Eden.

Fr. Joseph Githinji MCSPA

Dear friends,

Yesterday, on the Feast of St Andrew the Apostle, our friends and contacts at San Miguel Island are distributing canned food to the 900 families on the eastern part of this island off the eastern coast of Luzon. This was happening even as we were writing this update.

After being battered by typhoons Rolly and Ulysses, help is only still trickling in as the people on the island slowly rebuild their lives.

We provided rice a week ago as an emergency Phase 1 step, and now we organised with the local leaders for Phase 2: the provision of canned foodstuff for all the 900 families. We thought it was going to be logistically difficult but thanks to the responsible leaders and good cooperation from volunteers from the community, the foodstuff was purchased in bulk in Tabaco City and shipped over to San Miguel.

There were volunteers from among the families who spent the weekend packing the food bags for distribution.

And nearer to Metro Manila, we continued to distribute food bags last week to families of Marikina City which was badly flooded by Typhoon Ulysses.

In addition, every alternate Sunday, for the past 5 months, we have been giving out cooked meals for 70 children at Ronas Garden near our Formation House. However, this December, we will make it every Sunday instead, thanks to persons of goodwill!

So on this significant feast of the Apostle who brought his brother Peter to meet Jesus, the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle would like to thank you for your part in making possible this encounter between those in need and God’s mercy and love.

Fr. Francis Teo MCSPA

At times I look at where I am, what I do and ask myself; How did I get here? In my vocation life, the gospel values that I witness among the people of God in the Diocese of Lodwar (Turkana County) is propelled by the motto “For God and Humanity”. It is my maxim, it is the base that holds me and keeps me stronger even in challenging and difficult moments. All that I do, all that I am in my vocation and mission among the people of God is done “For God and Humanity”; that in my mission and works, God’s Kingdom may come to His people and that humanity may enjoy God’s mercy and grace through my little input!
Fr. Wycliffe Ochieng, MCSPA

A few months ago, a group of internally displaced people came to Mizan Town. These people had moved from the nearby rural areas bordering Mizan town. The number of people where about 130, including women with children. They all belonged to the Menit community, one of the minority groups in Ethiopia.

Members of the Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostles in Mizan were informed of the problem and we did not hesitate to help. Instead, we moved to see where they were and what had brought them there. We were touched to see many children crying for food spending nights in the cold, young girls with babies that they couldn’t afford to give them the basic needs, young girls forced into marriage unconsciously and families with attacks of epilepsy without medical support!.

These people were forced to leave their homes in search of medical support, food and shelter among other social problems that were not able to cope with. Unfortunately, all of them are epileptic and with traditions in this community once one is discovered that he or she is epileptic, is forced to leave the family and they are not accepted back. Hence, they move to other places continuously looking for help!

The local administration of Mizan-Aman town took them and put them in one of the primary schools since the schools were closed due to Covid 19 pandemic in order to reduce the increase of the pandemic of letting people to move in and out of the town. This was one way to ease the tension and fear of many social problems that are arising and pushing this people to move from one place to another. Though they had a place to sleep their situation was still precarious and needed urgent intervention for their well-being and their dignity.

The joys, hopes and anguish of the people of the time today especially the afflicted ones are the joy, hopes and anguish of the followers of Christ. Seeing the great need of these Menit displaced people, we moved in so as to work together and this made us to ask for help so that we could be able to support them with the basic necessities.

Thanks to so many people from everywhere opened their arms to help, people with desires to make the world a better place by contributing to better the life of others, we were able to support them with blankets that they could cover themselves from cold, mats, clothes, utensils and food.

Also, we counted with doctors from Mizan Aman hospital, whom we invited to visit the Menit. They have given their time and care. It has been an immense gift to experience the collaboration that we have received when trying to assist these people.

After eight months living in the Primary school, and with the start of the reopening of the schools. The local government of Mizan-Aman town, red cross and the administration of West Omo zone have organized that this people to be taken back to their homes. They have constructed houses for them there and we have given them food to start a new living, hoping that things will be better.

We would like this to be a learning experience for many, to learn to help, to learn to serve one another and to love doing something for the people who experience problems in the world today.

Esther Kerubo MCSPA Apprentice

A few months ago, a group of internally displaced people came to Mizan Town. These people had moved from the nearby rural areas bordering Mizan town. The number of people where about 130, including women with children. They all belonged to the Menit community, one of the minority groups in Ethiopia.

Members of the Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostles in Mizan were informed of the problem and we did not hesitate to help. Instead, we moved to see where they were and what had brought them there. We were touched to see many children crying for food spending nights in the cold, young girls with babies that they couldn’t afford to give them the basic needs, young girls forced into marriage unconsciously and families with attacks of epilepsy without medical support!.

These people were forced to leave their homes in search of medical support, food and shelter among other social problems that were not able to cope with. Unfortunately, all of them are epileptic and with traditions in this community once one is discovered that he or she is epileptic, is forced to leave the family and they are not accepted back. Hence, they move to other places continuously looking for help!

The local administration of Mizan-Aman town took them and put them in one of the primary schools since the schools were closed due to Covid 19 pandemic in order to reduce the increase of the pandemic of letting people to move in and out of the town. This was one way to ease the tension and fear of many social problems that are arising and pushing this people to move from one place to another. Though they had a place to sleep their situation was still precarious and needed urgent intervention for their well-being and their dignity.

The joys, hopes and anguish of the people of the time today especially the afflicted ones are the joy, hopes and anguish of the followers of Christ. Seeing the great need of these Menit displaced people, we moved in so as to work together and this made us to ask for help so that we could be able to support them with the basic necessities.

Thanks to so many people from everywhere opened their arms to help, people with desires to make the world a better place by contributing to better the life of others, we were able to support them with blankets that they could cover themselves from cold, mats, clothes, utensils and food.

Also, we counted with doctors from Mizan Aman hospital, whom we invited to visit the Menit. They have given their time and care. It has been an immense gift to experience the collaboration that we have received when trying to assist these people.

After eight months living in the Primary school, and with the start of the reopening of the schools. The local government of Mizan-Aman town, red cross and the administration of West Omo zone have organized that this people to be taken back to their homes. They have constructed houses for them there and we have given them food to start a new living, hoping that things will be better.

We would like this to be a learning experience for many, to learn to help, to learn to serve one another and to love doing something for the people who experience problems in the world today.

Esther Kerubo MCSPA Apprentice

Following the request of our Bishop, Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, yesterday, 7th August, we have opened a new chapel in Navuru, half way between Ngboko and Source Yubu. We have celebrated mass and blessed the land that was donated for the chapel. 7th of August is, in the Roman calendar, apart of St Sixtus and several other saints appears St Afra. So, the new chapel is called St Afra.

Who was St Afra?
She was born sometime towards the end of the third century AD. Her mother was a Greek from Cyprus, her father was a Nubian. He could also have been a Nuer, a Dinka, a Balanda or a Zande. Why not? We do not know it for certain.

We only know that her father was really black, and Afra took the genes from him. She was born dark, and so they named her Africa, or in short Afra. Her mother was a prostitute, and Afra followed the trade of her mother. As it is customary with prostitutes, they follow the soldiers. Afra went to the north of the Empire, where there was a large military camp, Castra Augusta Vindelicorum, present day Augsburg. There, Afra was running a lodging / brothel, with a group of younger prostitutes.

It happened that in 303 there was a fierce persecution throughout the Empire. In Spain by that time, Christianity was already established. In Gerona, northern Spain, there was a bishop called Narciso, and together with his two deacons he tried to hide, and so he escaped to the northern part of the Empire where there were no Christians and where he would not be known.

When arriving to Augsburg they looked for a lodging. Afra welcomed them, offered them a room and supper, as well as the service of her girls. To her surprise, they were not interested in the girls, but prayed before the meal.
Eventually Afra was converted to Christianity and together with her were all her girls converted. From then on, they would continue running the lodge, but no longer offer sexual services.

A small Christian Community established in Augsburg. After some time the persecution seemed over and Bishop Narciso returned to Gerona. He left behind a small Christian Church and consecrated one young man by name Dionysius as overseer (Episcopus). On returning to Spain a new persecution started and Narciso was put to death in 304.

In the meantime in Augsburg, the soldiers in the barracks were very angry, as the girls would no longer follow their sexual advances, no matter if they were handsome and with money. So, they accused Afra of having bewitched them. She was dragged on to an island in river Lech and burned on the stage. Her girls collected the remains and buried them.

St. Afra is one of the patron saints of my home Diocese, Augsburg. Whenever I go to Augsburg, I go to pray at the tomb of St Afra.
There is also a shrine of St Afra in Gerona (Spain), and now a chapel of St Afra between Ngboko and Source Yubu.

St. Afra is also the patron saint of the repentant sinners. I think, we all need repentance. So, as a Saint, regardless if her father was from the Nubian Mountains or from Zande land (we only know he came from somewhere in the region), Afra is still a Saint that can appeal to all of us.

Fr. Avelino Bassols MCSPA