In 2013, the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) in Manila, through our missionary animation work in the Philippines, first encountered the Missionary Sisters of the Lord’s Table of San Jose Antique in the Visayas (Central Philippines) and encouraged them in their missionary vocation to explore the possibility of coming to work and live in Turkana.
Finally, on Monday, July 24, the Diocese of Lodwar welcomed three of these sisters (who are also called the Mensa Domini Sisters) from Antique at a special mass at Kaaleng chapel in the vast parish of St James, Kaikor. After the welcome mass, presided by Bishop Dominic Kimengich, with the local community, we all proceeded to the newly refurbished house of the sisters for the blessing and housewarming! It is a simple house atop a hill and possesses a magnificent view of the area. Sr Joy Pon-An, a high school teacher and who heads the new community in Lodwar Diocese, says, “We are at home!”
On the same note, the people of Kaaleng were also reminded by Bishop Dominic that the two fide donum priests from the Diocese of Antique, Frs. Frederick and Melchor, are now half a year working and settling down in the parish at Kaikor. This is another “missionary gift” from the Philippines to the Diocese of Lodwar.
May the Good Shepherd bless these missionary enterprises so that they may bear much evangelical fruit not only for the people of Kaikor but also for the local church in Antique in the Visayas!
