Kenya’s Oldest Inland Catholic Parish Concludes 125th Anniversary Celebrations with Launch of Prayer Garden

Addressing Archbishop Anyolo and referring to the Prayer Garden as a place for pilgrims, Fr. George said, “Your Grace, it is in this light that I humbly request you to consider making St. Austin's Parish a Shrine. In doing so, you will be honoring the significant and historic role of this Parish in the faith journey of all Catholic Parishes in Inland Kenya.”

“Your Grace, you will also be honoring the pioneer Catholic missionaries,” the Kenyan-born member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers) said.

He appealed to parishioners of St. Austins to show their commitment to the construction of the Prayer Garden, saying, “I appeal to all to contribute towards the realization of this Prayer Garden in whatever way you can.”

In his address during the December 8 event, Archbishop Anyolo lauded the decision to establish a Prayer Garden at the 125-year-old St. Austin’s Parish, noting that the move revitalizes the work of the founders of the Parish, Spiritan missionaries.

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

“Garden means the presence of God with his people rejoicing together. I think you are doing a great thing in rekindling your mission, not only here in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, but in all the places where you are,” Archbishop Anyolo said.

He added, in his address to the Spiritan Priests who run the Parish, “The spirit that you have implanted in the renewal of your faith, in renewal of your mission and evangelization is very important.”

The Kenyan Archbishop challenged the Spiritan Fathers at St. Austin’s Parish to make the Prayer Garden not just a sanctuary of prayer, but a place of fasting as well. “It might not just be the garden of prayer. It's the garden of prayer and fasting.”

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

Likening the Prayer Garden to the Biblical Garden of Eden, and the Garden of Gethsemane where there was a lot of evil and temptations, Archbishop Anyolo said, “In every garden, we noticed there was a lot of force for sin, force against the human person.”

In his address, Fr. George described St. Austin’s yearlong celebrations as having been a journey of faith and renewal, where parishioners walked together in various ways.

“Providentially, we celebrated all the seven Church Sacraments. As a community, we have had celebrations of Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Penance,” he said.

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

Highlighting some of the activities that were realized in the year-long celebrations, Fr. George noted that on February 11, the World Day of the Sick, the Parish conducted the anointing of the sick and shared a meal.

This was followed, on June 14, by the Priestly Ordination of nine Kenyan-born Spiritan Deacons, a number that Fr. George has been the highest in the Spiritan Province of Kenya. “That the ordaining Bishop was a Spiritan makes the day even more symbolic,” he said.

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On September 21, 12 couples had their marriage solemnized in a colorful group celebration of Matrimony at St. Austin’s Parish. This was followed by the Sacrament of Confirmation on October 10, where 350 candidates received the Sacrament.

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

Recalling the Parish’s August pilgrimage to Bura where the first Spiritans landed in Kenya, Fr. George said, “We treaded the very paths of our Parish founders in prayerful singing”. He said that the pilgrimage “was, to say the least, breathtaking.”

Also included in the yearlong celebrations was a photo and video galleries that showcased St. Austin’s Parish’s history as far back as the year 1900.

St. Austin’s Catholic Parish Msongari has been celebrated as having witnessed tremendous growth in its decades of existence.

In an interview with ACI Africa in September, the Parish Catechist, Pius Nzioka recalled that in the year 2000 when he arrived at the parish, there were only two infant baptisms. 

Today, baptisms are conducted every Saturday at the Kenyan Parish, which has shown immense growth in other aspects as well. With an average of 60 children baptized every 24th of December and another 60 during Easter Vigil Mass, the number of infant baptisms has also risen.

According to Catechist Pius, the oldest Parish in inland Kenya has also seen a rise in the number of the faithful, a situation that has led to an increase in the number of Sunday Masses, Small Christian Communities (SCCs) and other groups in the Church.

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

In his address at the December 8 event, Archbishop Anyolo thanked the Spiritans in Kenya for fostering what he described as “a vibrant spiritual home where countless souls have encountered Christ.”

“Over the years, you have not only built a place of worship but have also fostered a vibrant spiritual home where countless souls have encountered Christ through the sacraments, catechesis, and acts of charity,” the Archbishop of Nairobi said.

He added, “I especially recognize the Spiritan Missionaries, whose vision and missionary zeal laid the foundation for this parish. Their commitment to spreading the Gospel and serving the community continues to inspire us all.”

He encouraged members of the Congregation to continue rekindling the vision of faith that the early missionaries who traversed the country had, adding, “In doing that, we shall continue doing the work of our founders, the work of those missionaries who have shown a great significance of God's presence amongst his people.”

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

Archbishop Anyolo further urged the Spiritan Fathers in Kenya, who he said had distinguished themselves in serving “in the most challenging places”, to also sum up courage and address evils such as corruption in the East African country.

“Don’t just go to the peripheries,” he said, and added, “Come closer. Come to the center. Come to the center of the crimes. Come to the center of evil. Don't be afraid. God will guide us all through.”