Prison Apostolate in Kenya among Key Successes of International Religious Order @175

Striving to have an effective apostolate through the presence of the CMM Brothers in 110 prisons across Kenya, Bro. Schoutsen has facilitated the establishment of well stocked libraries in some 40 correctional facilities in the East African nation courtesy of Fr. Grol’s Welfare Project, Bro. Leo said.

Bro. Schoutsen, a Dutch national, imports the goodies to prisons from Holland and later distributes them to various prisons across the country, Bro. Leo disclosed to ACI Africa, providing the scope of the apostolate to prison inmates that goes beyond books.

“There is an organization in Holland called the Supply and Demand, which collects  old sewing machines, old carpentry material and a variety of items which are put in a container and sent to Mombasa,” Bro. Leo shared with ACI Africa and added, “When he (Br. Schoutsen) goes to a prison, his car is full of materials,  books, bibles, Qurans – because he cares for not only Catholics but all prisoners regardless of their faith.”

In March 2018, Fr. Grol's Welfare Project won the Makini Award for being “the best organization in condition improvement in Kenyan prisons.” The Kenya-based Makini Awards Programme “seeks to reinforce and bolster the rehabilitative effectiveness of our correctional system in Kenya; by rewarding, exemplifying and celebrating good and change-causing stewardship amongst our correctional personnel/officers and inmate rehabilitation centric organizations.”

Bro. Leo whose territorial jurisdiction covers Kenya and Tanzania also told ACI Africa that the CMM Brothers have facilitated the introduction of rugby in prisons, on the recommendation of Pope Francis in Argentina.

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“Right now, he (Bro. Schoutsen) has a very interesting project-rugby for prisoners that comes from Argentina via the Pope,” Br. Leo said and added, “The Pope when in Argentina said that rugby is very good for prisoners as they have a lot of unexpressed energy.”

“The idea came to the then nuncio in Kenya (Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo) and he asked who is caring for prisoners and Linus (Br. Schoutsen) was called and asked if he could introduce rugby to Kenyan prisons, “ the CMM Brothers’ leader in Kenya and Tanzania narrated and continued, “The people from Argentina came and introduced it and we now have two prisons where they do rugby – I have seen a video, it's interesting.”

“I trust it will spread but for now it’s only Kamiti and Nairobi West prisons,” Bro. Leo said in reference to the rugby initiative in Kenya.

Asked about his inspiration to work with prisoners, the 81-year-old Bro. Schoutsen said it is the desire of his heart to be close to all people. “I want to be a brother to everyone, prisoners included,” he said and continued, “Our Lord called me so I love and serve on His behalf.”

“The inmates are so happy and they feel so welcome. Making them human is a great joy. I wish to be more often with them, they are my sisters and brothers,” Dutch Bro. Schoutsen told ACI Africa.

Besides prison apostolate, the CMM Brothers are involved in HIV/AIDS management programme in Kenya known as the Oyugis Integrated Project (OIP), which encompasses a Home-Based Care Program for the bedridden and support groups for widows and widowers.

In the education sector, CMM Brothers run three secondary schools and one primary school in Kenya, one secondary school in Namibia, and one secondary school in Tanzania.

In an exclusive interview with ACI Africa on Friday October 18 in Nairobi, the Archbishop of Tabora, Tanzania Archbishop Ruzoka who is the country for the 175 years celebrations of CMM expressed gratitude for the work that the CMM Brothers are doing in his Archdiocese where they have been since 2005.

“We are very happy to have them (CMM) in the Archdiocese of Tabora,” the Archbishop said of CMM Brothers who settled in his Archdiocese at the invitation of the late Archbishop Mario Epifanio Abdallah Mgulunde.

“The following year (2006), they opened a secondary school, which is co-educational and takes in students from form1 to form 6 and they are doing quite well in that field,” the Prelate said and added, “They even obtained a trophy for their good performance as non-government school.”

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Founded in Netherlands in 1844 by Archbishop Joannes Zwijsen, the CMM Brothers are present in eight countries of the world. In Africa, they are present in Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia.