“Under-representation of boys”: PMC Animators in Kenyan Archdiocese on Membership

To address the challenge, the PMC animator called for mentorship initiatives targeting boys in Catholic Parishes.

Select members of the Catholic Men Association (CMA) could spearhead the initiative of journeying with boys as their mentors, Mr. Mbuki said, adding, “CMA can be picking among themselves one person to go and talk to the altar servers and PMC boys.”

“CMA should also sometimes be supporting PMC boys financially especially during events, or even organize and fund seminars specifically for these young boys,” he further said.

If Catholic men support and mentor young boys, Imbuka said, “these young boys will feel fortified and will grow up strong in faith; they will be future CMAs.”

The PMC animator also urged parents and fellow animators to keep talking to and encouraging boys to be part of the society that embraces children aged 14 years and below. 

Credit: ACI Africa

Parents can help the PMC members of the boychild by cultivating the “habit of reading the Bible together with their children, praying the rosary with them, and also accompanying them to the church.”

Mr. Imbuka also called on parents to work together with PMC animators to encourage the participation of children in Church activities.

If parents and PMC animators can work together, he said, “the child will grow up knowing that the Church recognizes me and am needed at home and he/she will grow up into a responsible person through service and sacrifice, especially boys.”

Mr. Imbuka added, “When the father figure is strong at home and in the church the Priest is available, PMC animators are available, boys cannot get lost because so many eyes are watching him.”

Another PMC animator, Agnes Kimenza, expressed her concern about the reducing number of PMC boys.

While girls who are part of PMC are at home in the group of liturgical dancers, many boys do not seem to like dancing, the PMC animator at St. Benedicts Ruaraka Parish of Nairobi Archdiocese said, advocating for alternative activities to attract the boychild, including football and rugby.

Credit: ACI Africa

Ms. Kimenza urged parents to help address the challenge of having fewer boys as PMC members “by bringing their male children and teaching them about PMC to shift their attention from football to Church.”

James Murathi who also animates PMC members at St. Benedicts Ruaraka Parish lamented the lack of active participation on the part of PMC boys besides being “very few”.

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“We have a problem with the boy child; the boys are very few in PMC as compared to girls,” Mr. Murathi said, and appealed, “Parents, please release your male children to join PMC.,

He added, “Boys are also not so active in some of the PMC activities; some don’t like dancing because they believe that it is the responsibility of girls to dance.” 

On his part, Francis Wanjema Kago, a parent of a PMC member at Holy Eucharist King’eero Catholic Parish highlighted the challenge of finances to facilitate PMC activities. 

The PMC member parents who is also a member of CMA confirmed the concern of fewer boys than girls in PMC in Nairobi Archdiocese. 

Credit: ACI Africa

“As you can see even in this event, more than 60% of children here are girls; we are trying our best to balance the representation of boys,” Mr. Wanjema told ACI Africa during the Archdiocesan annual PMC Mass.

He added, “The issue of under-representation of boys is witnessed in several activities even outside the Church. But we as parents, are trying to reach the boys from where they are.”

“As men, we need to start telling these boys the way forward,” the parent further said, adding that “the challenge is that most of the parents are very busy with other things at the expense of attending to their children.”

Mr. Wanjema promised to challenge other CMA members in his Parish to organize mentorship programs. 

Ms. Mercy, another PMC parent from St. Joseph the Worker Kangemi Parish lauded PMC. Giving the example of her daughters, she said that she had “witnessed a lot of transformation brought about by PMC in her life.”

She added in reference to her daughter, “PMC has helped her grow her faith so much as I see a great difference between her and other children who are not part of PMC.”

Credit: ACI Africa

On their part, Samira Sampuni and Fidelis Otieno who are PMC members at St. Benedict Ruaraka Parish thanked the Archdiocese of Nairobi for organizing the annual event that brings together thousands of children. 

Sampuni told ACI Africa, “I am happy for this day because I have enjoyed the company of my fellow children. This day has taught me about love. I urge my fellow PMC children to be courageous and strong in their faith.”

On his part, Otieno said, “The church should bring on board guiding and counseling agencies to guide boys.”

“I would like to urge my fellow boys to join PMC because the church is the house of God that accommodates everyone. It is the only place one can get ultimate happiness in the whole world,” Otieno told ACI Africa February 18.

Credit: ACI Africa

ACI Africa reached out to the PMC Coordinator of Nairobi Archdiocese regarding the challenge of under-representation of boys.

“We have groups in the Archdiocese dealing with boys; they were selected to specifically journey with the boys and one of the groups is the CMA who were tasked with the duty of dealing with boys so as to boost their presence in the Church,” Sr. Catherine Kaua Mutheu said. 

To address the challenge of finances that limit participation in Archdiocesan PMC events, the member of the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi (ASN) said, “What we do about those who cannot attend events like this one is that we also take the celebrations at the deanery and also zonal level so as to accommodate them.”