As a young boy, I admired our parish priest, Fr. Raphael Ochanda, of St Michael’s Parish at Sigomere in Western Kenya. He was a simple man and believed in practical things. What made me admire him most was when I saw how he would be covered in dust while repairing his car. This struck me very much because of the idea I had before of a priest as someone “holy” and above all the grime and dirt. Thus, a light ignited in me and I told myself that I must be a priest one day. I started organizing games in which we would pretend that we were celebrating “mass” and I was the “presider”. Although I harboured this secret desire, I never managed to get near the altar as an altar server. However, this interest continued inside me throughout my primary school days. This feeling all but diminished when I entered the teen phase in secondary school. I lost interest in the priesthood and in the Church as a whole. I stopped going to church and instead kept myself busy doing odd jobs that could bring in some income for my private needs.

After secondary school, I moved to Kisumu city with my cousin. It is often said that God calls us in different ways and when He hooks us, we cannot escape. One day, while I was helping at the farm of our neighbour, Mama Quinter, who was sick at that time, I saw her daughter, Quinter, who had gone away from home for some time, entering the house with a visitor. Curiously, I went to ask Quinter who the visitor was and where had she been all this time. She told me that she was with a group of missionaries based in Turkana, northern Kenya. After narrating to me all that the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) was doing in Turkana, I became interested in the work of the MCSPA although I was quite uncertain of how I could help. When I told her of my interest to go and visit, Quinter introduced me to Josephine Amuma, a member of the community, who arranged for me to go to Turkana. I was thus introduced to Fr. Paco who was later to become my guide and mentor. 

To this day, I am convinced that the first week in Turkana was the worst thing that I had ever experienced! I still thank God that there was no means of public transportation from the mission which I could have taken to return to Kisumu! The heat was too much for me to bear and I did not understand the language of the people. These factors made me feel that I could not fit in with the people.

However, when I gradually came to unveil the hidden beauty and happiness that lay in this dry part of Kenya, and among the local nomadic Turkana tribe and the members of the MCSPA, that light that had been extinguished during my teenage days rekindled with a new vigour. Working in the vegetable garden and attending the Eucharistic celebrations were my best moments. Masses in Turkana were marvellously long! Where the missionary community was concerned, it was amazing to see people from different backgrounds living together with love and understanding. I was very moved and decided that this was the life that I wanted to live. 

I stayed with Fr. Paco during his last two and a half years and I learnt a lot from him. Being a practical man, I learnt how to do many things starting from unclogging blocked sinks to praying the rosary. He stressed vocation promotion and caring for the vocations that God sent us. According to him, one should not live alone like an island. Instead one has to go out and call people to share the joy that one is experiencing. He made me realise the importance of vocation promotion. His departure left a void in my heart and the hearts of many who knew him. Paco’s fraternal correction, which was tough for me at that time, helped and shaped me to be who I am today. He was to me a true shepherd who was ready to leave the ninety-nine sheep in the wilderness and go for the one lost sheep and being him or her back to the flock safe and sound. After his death, Fr. Antonio became my mentor and guide, and thanks to him I have reached where I am today. Antonio tried his best in helping me continue with my vocation. He helped me and continue to help smoothen the sharp edges in my life so as to bring me back on the better path.

It has been a difficult journey for me with all its ups and down. I have had to prune away many things in my life and that has not been easy for me! And still, I find more joy in being there for the people and helping out as best I can. I have never felt like giving up because I find joy here. It is through dying to ourselves and living for others that we acquire this internal and satisfying happiness. Now that I have started theology, I pray that I will not lose focus during these four years and that one day I may be ordained a priest, the kind who finds joy in serving others rather than in being served!

Zacchaeus Okoth Oduor

Senior Apprentice of MCSPA

For more information get in touch via email on – admin@mcspa.org

I am James Mangeni and I was born in Busia County (in Kenya) but I grew up in the bustling city of Nairobi. I am the 5^thborn of a family of 6 siblings brought up in a Catholic family. My parents instilled Christian values in us ever since we were young. 

I have been with the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle for the past 7 years, working at our missions in Kenya and Malawi. It took me time to confirm if I had the vocation to follow Christ or not, as I felt that I was not good enough to be a missionary, leave alone daring to dream that one day I would be serving the people of God somewhere in Turkana or Malawi.

Immediately after my secondary school education, I opted to look for employment, which, by God’s grace, I did find – cooking at one of the busy small restaurants in Nairobi’s Central Business District. While I was working at the restaurant, I met a seminarian from Uganda, who encouraged me to discern carefully if I had a vocation or not. He was very concerned and checked on me every day asking if I had made phone calls to religious congregations which he had recommended to me. Despite this seminarian’s insistence, I still did not show much perseverance! However with time, my heart became restless and a certain desire got the better of me: I felt a strong urge to give missionary life a try. I began sending out application letters to different congregations. 

I could have approached my parish priest to express my desire but I did not. One thing became clear to me: I wished for something different, other than being a diocesan priest or a Comboni priest. The booklet on congregations and institutes that I got from my Ugandan friend, gave me an idea and a summary of various missionary communities in Kenya. Thus I first came to know of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA), whose way of life and apostolate caught my attention. I also had an opportunity to attend the Yarumal Missionaries’ “Come and See” Programme which lasted a few days. 

Soon after the experience with the Yarumal Missionaries, I received a reply from my earlier application letter to the MCSPA. It was from Fr. Fernando Aguirre and Andrew Yakulula, both members of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle. At this juncture, I was confused as to which path I should take. However, through constant and regular interaction with Andrew (who was then still a seminarian in theology studies at Tangaza College, Nairobi), I began to know more about the work and life of the MCSPA, and I was touched by the missionary work which its members were doing in Turkana. I visited the mission for 2 weeks and then, later on, I met Fr. Fernando for the first time. We exchanged contacts and I began to visit and help them with different activities at their Nairobi residence. 

After 3 months, my mind was made up; I resigned from my work, and left Nairobi to start my formation with the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) in Turkana, particularly at Todonyang Mission. It is now 7 years filled with joy and happiness, and I have never doubted my decision.

I feel God’s grace showering on me throughout my time in Malawi. I thank God for the opportunity to be part of the initial team that started to set up Benga Mission in Malawi; we started the mission from scratch!

One of the beautiful things of Benga is the smile and kindness shown by the people, despite their difficult socio-economic situation, and this makes one feel accepted and loved. The people do their part in sustaining the parish activities through their annual contribution of tithes, grain from their harvests, and in building up the Small Christian Communities in the area. 

Although I encountered serious challenges in starting the philosophy course with the University of South Africa, I was able to overcome these challenges, thanks to the support and trust from Frs. Fernando and Manuel, and other members of the MCSPA family. At present, I completed the philosophy course and am currently doing pastoral work at Benga Mission. I spend most of my time at the farm with the different communities of Benga area, imparting to them animal management, aquaculture and solar lighting technology. I am also assisting with our program to assist albinos in the area.

What motivates me to be a missionary  – and this is the message that I would like to give especially during this Extraordinary Month of Missions – is the support and encouragement that I receive every day from the people in the MCSPA family, especially during difficult moments. It is not an easy journey but together, as a family, and with the grace of God, we will be able to keep moving forward. We journey with one another despite our cultural and racial differences but through these differences we are able to build up the communal spirit and confidence. This is what motivates me, and it is what fills me.

James Mangeni, Senior Apprentice MCSPA

When I finished my Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2008, I joined my family business. My family runs a small hotel and restaurant business. I worked for a while at the hotel and that helped me develop business skills that have helped me to be aware of expenditures and how it is important to take care of small things in order to cut costs. However in 2010, my life changed drastically when I met Fr. Antonio Aguirre of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) through a family friend.

My vocation as a missionary was born in Turkana where the MCSPA carries out much of its apostolates. I was deeply touched by the dedication and care that the missionaries gave especially to the sick, hungry and needy nomadic people of Turkana. As I accompanied Fr. Antonio Aguirre with whom I lived and worked in the Community, my life was immensely changed. I began to attend daily mass, and this helped shape my faith, the homilies and conversations that we had were like food for my soul which ignited a spark for the missionary life.

My experience in the Community enhanced my spirituality and my human formation to the point where I began to consider the priesthood. These thoughts burned in my mind and in my heart. When I gave a helping hand to the needy, I always felt so fulfilled. I also admired how the priests of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle touched concrete lives in their work, all of which had its inspiration and strength in values of the gospel. I saw how these values are translated into concrete and tangible realities. 

After 4 years in Turkana, I enrolled for philosophy studies at the Spiritan Seminary at Arusha, Tanzania. I was enriched with a wide philosophical spectrum of ideas that encouraged me to question many things that I had taken for granted. I was very much challenged not to take things at face value. This led to inquisitive moments of my life that also helped to reaffirm a commitment to my vocation. 

After the philosophy studies, I went for missionary experience out of my country, Kenya, to Malawi, a country in the southern part Africa, where MCSPA is running a mission. In Malawi, I was also struck by a couple of experiences that left a deep mark in me. I accompanied Fr. Fernando of the MCSPA as he carried out his pastoral duties. I saw how, despite their poverty, the local villagers offer the little they have to the priest. It was beautiful to see this spirit of generosity coming especially from people who have little. Fr. Fernando also impressed me; he addressed the community’s challenges and problems by checking the wellbeing of their domestic herds, their spiritual needs and their physical needs by drilling boreholes for the local communities. 

Thus many persons and experiences helped developed my deep desire to journey towards the priesthood. Through the concrete examples that I have seen from other priests, they have demonstrated to me the true meaning of a shepherd of the flock of Christ. It is in the encounter with the people in concrete ways that we touch their very lives and become true witnesses of Christ.

I have just enrolled at Loyola School of Theology in Manila, Philippines, to pursue theology studies with the intention of ordination. I continue the practical formation in this missionary charism of the MCSPA at our Formation House in Manila. 

Taking all the above into account, I am fully convinced that I may obtain a quality formation and develop a better understanding of my faith. I am certain that the theology program, practical formation and personal experiences will provide a better and deeper understanding of the Gospel values, so that I may be competent to transmit my faith effectively, in theory and practice, to the societies to which I may be called to mission in the future.

Sammy Gitau Muchiri, MCSPA

Note: For more information contact us on admin@mcspa.org

Looking back, I think my journey towards the missionary life could be traced back to when I was 8 years old and an active altar server. I used to accompany and help our parish priest (who was an elderly Irish missionary priest at Kainuk Mission, in southern Turkana, Kenya) for outstation masses on Sundays. This was a routine that I always looked forward to and Sunday became my best day of the week!

At first I thought it was the mere excitement that a little boy would have in enjoying car rides and going to places with the priest. Little did I know that there was something more in me that needed to be ignited. During my days at Lodwar High School at Lodwar town, I met Fr. Francis Teo who was the chaplain of our school then. As an altar server, I was able to interact with him a bit more and we became friends. Fr. Francis is a member of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA). It was on my final year that Fr. Francis asked me if I felt attracted to the priesthood. I did not exactly understand what he saw in me that made him ask such a direct question. My first response was a smile followed by silence until he asked again and I hesitantly uttered a faint “Yes”!

From then on, I realised that some thing in me had been aroused because from that day onwards that question kept lingering in my mind. I visited him from time to time at the Cathedral in Lodwar, until one Sunday afternoon he invited to travel with the group to the remote northern part of Turkana County, to the Mother House of the MCSPA at Nariokotome Mission. I had never been to the place despite being born in Turkana. 

On my first day at Nariokotome mission, I was mesmerized by the lushness of such a place in the middle of nowhere. It is simply “a garden in the desert”. I later learnt that this “garden” grew as a result of the effort of several dedicated individuals who had come together to live the gospel and to make it alive in a place where one would quickly deem to be harsh and impossible at supporting any growth or life. This caught my attention and, perhaps more than being attracted, I was inspired to know more and so I chose to stay. I got involved with the usual rigorous routine of mission life, always on the move to the mountain regions and across the dry plains for masses, mobile clinics and visitation of projects. Sometimes I would go to take care of the vegetable garden. Throughout these journeys and with the kind of poverty that I encountered, I began to understand the meaning of suffering from thirst and hunger, and the lack of other needs. Seeing what the MCSPA has been doing throughout this time, compelled me to help the community carry out this mission because I realized that true service goes beyond mere words and it makes more sense when action is involved. I could see the seriousness and consistency in everyone I got to know at Nariokotome. The meaning of “love for others”, especially the needy, sunk deeply into my mind and touched my heart especially when I realised that the majority of the members of the MCSPA come from distant countries and chose to live this life. I felt challenged and called to share my life and to give love to others as well.

Where my family’s reaction towards my decision was concerned, it was not an easy thing for me. Everyone in my family objected to my joining the missionary life … everyone except for my mother. They were most unhappy and thought that I was insane. This is because as I am the only boy child in the family, I was expected to continue the family name with a family of my own. So, to my family, it was an unthinkable choice on my part! Only after 4 years of my being in the community, they slowly began to understand and to accept this decision. I guess it was because they saw a strong conviction and a great desire in me to follow this life which I had chosen.

Being a priest sounded simple to me before. However, since I joined the MCSPA I came to realise that it involves so much more and I felt a strong desire to serve God as a missionary priest with the help and guidance of Fr. Francis and the MCSPA family. I am glad to have responded to this call and I pray that the grace of God may fill and propel me to actualize this potential to serve in a manner worthy for His people, wherever it may be. I am now beginning my first year of theology studies at Loyola School of Theology in Metro Manila, Philippines. I pray that I may continue to be guided by God always within the MCSPA family and to render praise to Him through the service of others.

Stephen Ekaal Iyerio, MCSPA Senior Apprentice

As years roll by, I keep asking myself why I am here. Am much stricken by the sentiments of the Apostle Peter in the event of the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. He discovers the divine mission of Jesus and he quickly admits that, “…it is good that we are here.” Am always convinced that my being here is closely related to this divine revelation.

For the very first time, six years ago, I discovered Turkana-a place that has become my home. More deeply, I have discovered my loving family of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA). As a third year student at Kenyatta University I, among other four students, was selected for a community outreach program in Todonyang Mission. Little did I know that this would become the start of my vocation journey. All the experiences of a two-months stay in this beautiful Mission at the shores of Lake Turkana were a springboard that would throw me this far into interacting with people who had practically very little and a big heart.

Becoming a missionary in this corner of the world is one of the beautiful things that happen in my life. You get to understand that we don’t actually need much for us to be of help for others. St. Paul the Apostle walked far and wide proclaiming the Good News. He established a number of Christian communities founded on Divine Providence-trusting that He will always provide. This concept of life based on strong faith is something to hold onto. The MCSPA style of life and of doing things revolves around this concept, something I found to be very interesting. 

When I concluded my studies at the University, I wanted to be here and I didn’t know how I could be of help. The memories of joy, service, participation, needs among others that I experienced with the Turkana community of Kenya and the Dassanech community of Ethiopia, two groups of people that the Mission of Todonyang serve, were forces of attraction. I finally got to make an arrangement with Fr. Andrew on a possible stay on volunteering basis. More and more I got to know the people and their ways of life. Discovering the needs of others and letting these needs provoke me into action is the final good reason to be here.

I remember vividly concrete cases over the years that are a good reason to travel this path. To begin with, Asibitar, a young girl given up unwillingly for marriage to an old man ran up to us one day as we visited her village and asked to be taken to school. In her I saw the image of my younger sister asking me for help. This girl is at the moment in her final primary level. Aalem, a sick little girl with very bad wound that was almost consuming her up now laughs joyfully. For me this is more or less equivalent to the raising of people from the dead by Jesus Christ. He instructs us all the time to do good things in his memory. This is my mission and it informs my vocation at all times. Ekai, a four year old, was brought to me seriously burnt as a result of hot water accident. He healed and is now in Grade one at Todonyang Integrated Centre and School. It is so beautiful to see the great impact that the school at Todonyang Mission has on this population. More and more, young shepherds leave the parents’ flock and ask to be allowed into the school. In the past two years, I have received up to twelve boys in dire need of education. Their age, a little bit advanced, is a challenge to admit them into the lower levels in the primary at Todonyang Mission with very little children. However, they all got admissions into the government primary schools at Loarengak and Lokitaung. They live with us in the Mission on school vacation days and help with light chores.

My interest in child nutrition has seen the weekly milk and egg distribution program attend to more than 500 children in the school at the Mission and in the three nutrition centres at the villages of Todonyang. We produce up to 6 litres of milk locally each day and have 100 egg laying birds at our farm in the Mission. Nomadic youth animation is one of the very important activities that I do on a daily basis. Engaging youths in sports and in various forums aimed at their growth is one of the practical ways of redirecting their energies from the perennial inter-community conflicts to development agenda. Participation in church activities is too good for their spiritual growth.

Cosmus Onyango (MCSPA-Apprentice) 

Todonyang Mission, Turkana-Kenya

(Extraordinary Missionary Month 2019 – for more info contact us on admin@mcspa.org )

The Diocese of Lodwar through the Missionary Community of St Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) and in conjunction with the Strathmore University has been organising a training of directors and head teachers of Catholic private-run schools in the Diocese of Lodwar. This training programme – dubbed Schools and Teachers Empowerment Programme (Turkana STEP) – started last May with the first module. Now we are at the next module which has been running here at Nariokotome Mission.

The emphasis of this training programme is to bring in Catholic identity into the Catholic-run schools with the virtues and ethos of a Christ-centred education. Dimensions of school leadership and improvement of teaching methods are also covered. This training will culminate in May next year when the participants will be awarded with certificates from Strathmore University.

Fr. Steven O – MCSPA

On 7th September 2019, Bishop Markos Gebremedhin of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma-Bonga (Ethiopia) and Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Lodwar (Kenya), came together to celebrate with the MCSPA team at Nyangatom the first confirmations at the Prince of Peace Catholic Mission in South Ethiopia.

This comes as a result of 5 years of living among the Nyangatom pastoralist people, visiting the villages around and carrying out different pastoral and developmental projects.

Frs. Angel and David have established a humble but notable presence of the Catholic Church among the Nyangatom people.

With this event, we are able to see how the Gospel message is being passed on, and also learn about the Good Shepherd who takes care of and knows his sheep.

These are the fruits that come from the dedicated works which Frs. Angel and David have put in this beautiful land.

Bishop Markos encouraged the South Sudanese refugees, at Tollay Refugee Camp, by telling them that God is always faithful amidst their difficulties. He was faithful to the people of Israel during their exodus from Egypt. In addition, Bishop told the young people who were confirmed that they should not be afraid and that they should be connected to Jesus through the Holy Spirit, be outspoken about their faith and find disciples for Jesus.

Let us pray that the Prince of Peace Mission at Nyangatom will enhance peace along the Kenya-Ethiopian border.

Thank you for continuing the dream of Fr. Paco, who wanted a chain of missions from Kenya all the way to Alexandria (Egypt).

We would like to thank all the people who have made this possible, all those who have supported the mission in various ways (material and prayer). Thank you!

Thanks to all the staff of Nyangatom Mission: the security personel, catechists, the nurse, the driver, the cook and other casual staff. Without your support and friendship, our two priests would not have managed to carry out this mission on their own.

Lastly, thanks to all MCSPA members and apprentices for supporting our men there and having hope in them, who through God’s grace, are able to carry out the mission of Christ beyond.

Lillian Omari – MCSPA

Yesterday (August 27), in the afternoon, members of the MCSPA celebrated the silver jubilee anniversary of the community’s presence in Ethiopia at Holy Saviour Church in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by His Eminence Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel of Addis Ababa accompanied by Msgr. Markos Gebremedhin, Bishop of Jimma-Bonga. It was a great joy to celebrate this mile-stone surrounded by many people who have been with us since the begining of our missionary work in Ethiopia: friends, beneficiaries and staff from all the four MCSPA missions in Ethiopia.

During his homily, the Cardinal congratulated all who made this mission a reality: from Fr. Paco to Cecilia, Lourdes and all who are now working in Ethiopia. He spoke of how Fr. Paco had a boundless energy and how he encouraged the MCSPA members to take care of the poor, recalling the words from Scripture, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink”.

The Cardinal also encouraged MCSPA members to be people of prayer like St. Monica and to seek God in each one of us, as advised by St. Augustine.

Finally Cardinal Berhaneyesus also adviced us to continue to seek out the lost sheep, bearing in mind the charism of MCSPA.

After the mass, everyone gathered in the church hall for speeches, refreshments, a slideshow and, finally, songs and dances in the Nyangatom (southern Ethiopia) style!

We wish to thank all those who made this day a success especially all the friends, relatives, and staff who attended, and we pray that God may continue to bless us with more vocations so that we may be able to reach many other places in Ethiopia and the surrounding countries where the harvest is still so full.

Thank you for all your prayers and support throughout these years!

Lillian Omari MCSPA

Fr Alex, Parish priest of Ss. Joachim and Anne, one of the youngest parish in the Dioceses of Lodwar, has been encouraging the Small Christian Communities so that they can support the parish in all its development.

This week through the contributions of the Christians in every out-station, they managed to make altar clothes in all four liturgical colours for all their out-stations and the main parish church.

In this particular outstation those responsible; the catechist, youth chairman, the outstation chairperson and the Catholic Women Association representative received the gifts on behalf of all the Christians of Napeikar outstation.

We hope through this small acts, the Christians continue to feel part of the development that takes place in their Church.

Ambrose Wanyonyi
Apprentice MCSPA

Bishop Dominic Kimengich visited Kenya Security Personnel in Todonyang and Lobur area. He encouraged them to continue ensuring peace around these areas and the Kenyan border at large.

After the 6th Peace conference that was held in Lodwar a few days ago, Bishop Dominic visited some of the border areas along the Lake Deanery, encouraging Christians to remember that peace starts with disarming our hearts and minds first in order to be able to do away with guns.

The Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) is also trying to build peace in these areas with the different development work carried out for the people along the border areas through dams that provide water for both communities, a health post to provide health and curb malnutrition through the Mother and Child Centres that they run, and all the pastoral activities to constanly speak about peace. Let us go out and be people who bring peace wherever we go.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossian 3:15.

Lillian Omari – MCSPA