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

Even though this is now a dry season and despite the set back due to Covid-19, this weekend has been a blessing!

Yesterday we celebrated 16 weddings in Chikowa and it was full of pomp and joy.

Today at Mthasewe we have celebrated 11 baptisms and confirmations. The gospel reading couldn’t have been more appropriate on the invitation to the Kingdom of God as a wedding feast. A kingdom that is open to everyone and a Kindgom where God does not tire in inviting us, to a point of going out of the roadsides to get the good and the bad alike. The newly baptised were all dressed in white, a sign that they have their wedding garment on. May we continue to transmit joy of the feast by purifying our hearts especially on this time of Covid-19 through acceptance of others and generosity.

May you have a blessed week ahead

Fr. Steven Ochieng 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

Nariokotome Parish marked Mission Sunday by celebrating the Silver Jubilee of Catechist George Lokiru. Catechist George Lokiru is a Commissioned Catechist married to Alice Lokiru. He has served in several outstations within Nariokotome Parish. Prior to Nariokotome Parish he served in Loarengak and Lokitaung Parishes. He is renowned for his singing skills and for being a cheerful preacher.

His silver Jubilee was commemorated with people coming from all over Nariokotome Parish and beyond. There were a big number of his fellow catechists from within Nariokotome Parish and other neighbouring Parishes.

The celebration began with Mass where the letter of the Pope on Mission Sunday was elaborated with the theme: ” Here am I, Send me”. The preacher of the day challenged the Christians to support the catechists and invited young people to want to serve the Church as Catechists.

After the Mass there was entertainment by the different Church groups. Afterwards there were speeches whereby George was praised for his dedicated service. Gifts followed. He was showered with an array of gifts. Several Christians also pledged various construction materials to help the Catechist construct a better house.

The guests were served with lunch after the ceremony of the cutting of the silver jubilee cake.

We thank the Lord for the 25 years of service of George Lokiru. We pray that the Church may be blessed with many committed Catechists to carry on the Mission of Christ.

Fr. Denis Odongo MCSPA, parish priest

Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle in Muketuri, Ethiopia

At the beginning of 2020, the social reality in Ethiopia was already complicated by the imminent general elections. After almost three decades with the same party in power, Ethiopia is facing an urgent “aggiornamento”.

This responds to the concerns of a society affected by poverty, different ethnic and cultural realities, and a large number of young people who know the world through social media and want a fair job that allows them to live with dignity.

As if preparing democratic elections in a country like Ethiopia, with more than 50 million voters (with a population of 105 million inhabitants) was not enough, in March, as in the rest of the world, we were invaded by the covid-19 pandemic. Ethiopia was one of the fastest countries to react, with measures such as closing schools, universities, offices, regulating transportation.

However, the worst challenge for the ordinary citizens was to face the economic consequences. Around 80% of the jobs in Ethiopia are not regulated by an employment contract: if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Many get what they need simply to eat daily. The loss of employment that has occurred in all countries is of immense relevance in Ethiopia, where it is impossible to do a confinement, because this would mean facing starvation.

Since March, members of MCSPA wanted to be close to the people, facing the greatest need: a dignified nutrition. The families of the poorest children in the Mother and Child Center and the program for children with malnutrition have been provided with food weekly, such as grain, vegetables, eggs, milk and soap.

The farmers, who see food prices rise daily, have been supported with improved potato seeds for planting and obtaining better harvests.

In addition to this, we have been praying together every week, especially for all those affected by the pandemic in Ethiopia and in the world, especially in the countries where volunteers and visitors who come every year to Muketuri and who are already part of the mission.

Humble people have shown us, once again, their generosity, praying again and again in a very special way for our families and friends; in all their prayers they have incorporated the “foreigners who help us and love us”, as a universal prayer. A good sign of the mission ad gentes – we are united by mutual love, prayer and vulnerability in the face of catastrophes.

We thank God for the possibility of sharing our lives with the Ethiopians, and for having so many supporters, friends, and volunteers who are part of this adventure of announcing the Good News in Ethiopia.

Lourdes Larruy, MCSPA

The Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostle and Mary, Mother of the Church (MCSPA) is present in Ethiopia, since 1993, through the invitation of Mons. Fikremariam, Bishop of the Apostolic of Vicariate of Nekemte.

Since then, has been running a public health project including medical and preventive health, environmental health, training of the staff, nutritional rehabilitation, pre-scholar education, agricultural and water resources development, in Angar GutenValley.
This Valley is located in Oromia region, in East Wollega Zone, has an extension of 15,000 km2; the total population is 80,000 people. The valley has different ethnic groups that came different parts of Ethiopia.

The important groups are the Amhara (70%), Oromo (13,8%), Gumuz (9,9%) and Tigray (6,3%). Though now a minority, the Gumuz are the original inhabitants of the valley. They are a Nilo-saharan ethnic speaking group, inhabiting the Benishangul-Gumuz Region and Qwara woreda in Western Ethiopia, as well as the Fazogli region in Sudan.

In Angar Guten we have the Gumuz in a village called Anger Meti and Badessa, most of them are Christians, and among them many are Catholics.

Last week we joined them for Sunday mass celebration. The church was full of men, women, young people and children, there was a group of young people mixed, boys and girls that were singing, drumming, and dancing with joy and happiness, there was a wonderful mixture of colors, sounds, rhythms in the church.

Let us hope that the beautiful experience of the Eucharist be celebrated more widely in our Church.

Lydia Obok, MCSPA.

The mission I carry is not personal but for Christ. When I see the needs of others which are more than mine, I become encouraged.

On the other hand, personal and community prayers are like fuel for my vocation. Love of mission and love for service. Trying to do good to others and being surrounded by people who see my needs at every single moment, helps me to keep moving even in challenging moments.

Fr. Joseph Githinji MCSPA

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