PMS Kenya Announces “Missionary Rosary Marathon” to Support Evangelization in Peripheries

“We need to start talking about Mission to drug addicts, Mission to prostitutes, Mission to the elderly and the sick, and to make everyone feel included and accepted in the work of evangelization. All this work needs both spiritual and financial support,” the member of the Clergy of Kenya’s Kakamega Diocese says.

In a letter addressed to the Clergy, women and men Religious, and the People of God in Kenya, the PMS National Director acknowledges the sharp decline in funding of Dioceses in Kenya owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and appeals for financial support from people of goodwill to help the Episcopal Sees to stay afloat.

“The year 2020 was a tough year for everybody due to the COVID-19 pandemic that destabilized the social, economic and religious functions in the whole world. This led to loss of lives and livelihoods and we are all alive to this fact. We all suffered in one way or the other,” Fr. Luchidio says.

He explains that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, churches were closed down and no in-person worship was allowed, especially, during the crucial months when the PMS activities were to take place.

As a result, the PMS Collections at the International Secretariat has dwindled tremendously, the Kenyan Priest notes. 

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In 2019, the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith Universal Fund, charged with the duty of assisting needy churches, was able to raise US$ 89,191,743.25 from all the churches globally.

This money, the PMS Kenya official says, was distributed as Ordinary and Extraordinary Subsidies for all projects from the 1,200 Dioceses under PMS that were received by the International Secretariat in Rome. 

“In the year 2020, the tide turned against us, because, Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith Universal Fund managed to raise US$ 64,398,266.67. With these incomes we are to share it out for the Ordinary Subsidy to the 1,200 Dioceses, and 2,646 projects registered as proposals for Extraordinary Subsidy,” Fr. Luchidio says. 

He adds, “Truly speaking, very needy Dioceses in Kenya and other places will suffer because they are not able to sustain their annual budgets with these sharp decline of funds from the universal kitty. This is the sad reality that we have to live with.”

However not all is lost, the PMS Kenya National Director says, adding, “We have an opportunity to redeem the situation by coming together as people of God with a big heart and support the Holy Father in his work of Evangelization.”

Support will include praying daily the Missionary Rosary as well as donating generously to PMS so that the office can be able to avail the donations to needy dioceses in November 2021 and June 2022. 

The donations can be channeled through KCCB-PMS RESTRICTED FUND, ACCOUNT NUMBER 1178590927, NCBA BANK MALL BRANCH WESTLANDS.

There is also the option of sending contributions using the MPESA PAYBILL NUMBER 880100 to ACCOUNT NUMBER 1178590927.

Still, there is the option of contributing through the Church kitty during the Holy Mass for World Mission Sunday to be held on October 24 in all the Catholic Churches worldwide.

The theme of this year’s World Mission Sunday is, “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard”, derived from Acts 4:20. 

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“Kindly, let us come together as the family of God in our Arch/Dioceses, Parishes and Small Christian Communities, or Lay faithful groups to pray the Mission Rosary for our Missionaries working in remote areas and donate generously towards this noble cause in favor of the Holy Father through the PMS,” Fr. Luchidio appeals.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.