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KENYA

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Following in the footsteps of our Founder, St Eugene de Mazenod [1782-1861], the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (Oblates or OMI), through the Oblate Conference of Canada, on behalf of all the Provinces, decided to establish a Mission in Kenya (OMI Kenya Mission) in 1996, after being invited by the then Bishop of Meru, Right Rev Silas Njiru Bishop Emeritus.

Bishop Silas assigned the Oblates to establish and minister to the Parish of Kionyo, separated from Kanyakine Parish. Kionyo Parish was created on the 24th of May in 1997, and the Kanyakine Parish Priest, Fr Aloys Kabuti, formally handed over the new Parish to Fr Ken Forster OMI on 16th July, 1997.

Methodology for Humanitarian Assistance and Project Support

When Missionaries come from outside, they often bring resources and new ways of doing things.  However, there is always a danger of creating a “dependence mentality”.  To avoid this, and to ensure ownership of the parish and projects, the Oblates of the new Kenya Mission developed a model for collaboration:

  1. The project request must come from the community – the people themselves;
  2. The community would contribute 50%; and
  3. The community would be part of the planning process so it is their project.

Three categories of financial support that were defined early on for the Kenya missions.

  1. Community Infrastructure projects: the community must demonstrate a capacity to contribute 50% of the funding over an acceptable time period, and be able to maintain the project into the future after completion.  Project applications come from the local community to the Mission Superior and Council, before being sent to Canada for approval or modification.  Such projects can be: water supply, medical clinics, school buildings, community halls, churches, etc.
  2. Special projects: An example, Mt Kenya East Water Project was a huge project that the local community could not contribute 50%. The community and Mission leadership will ensure the project is necessary, viable, and can be maintained in the future by the local community.  In addition, to ensure a sense of ownership, the community will contribute a meaningful percentage decided by the Mission Council in consultation with the Provincial Administration in Canada.
  3. Emergency relief: With approval from the Community Leader or Mission Superior.

 

Leadership in the Mission

Mission Superiors who have served:

  1. Fr. Ken Forster, OMI – May 1997 to 2006 – Canada
  2. Fr. Alfred Groleau, OMI – Oct. 2006 to Dec. 2010 – Canada
  3. Fr. James Fiori, OMI – Jan. 2011 to March 2015 – Canada
  4. Fr. Mario Azrak, OMI – April 2015 to 2017 – Australia
  5. Fr. Fidele Munkiele, OMI – May 2017 to present date – D.R. Congo

Our current Mission members are (as at January 2019):

  1. Fr. Fidele Munkiele, OMI – since August 2003 – D.R. Congo
  2. Fr. Daquin Iyo Iyan, OMI – since August 2003 – D.R. Congo
  3. Fr. Faustin Litanda Bungulu, OMI – since Jan. 2009 – D.R. Congo
  4. Fr. Gerard Conlan, OMI – since May 2010 – Australia (Treasurer)
  5. Fr. Gideon Rimberia Kinoti, OMI – since Jan. 2012 – Kenya
  6. Br. Joseph Magambo, OMI – since Jan. 2012 – Kenya
  7. Fr. Dionisius Mwandiki, OMI – since July 2014 – Kenya
  8. Fr. Stephen Kiogora Muriungi, OMI – since July 2013 – Kenya
  9. Fr. Asemion Constant Ilombun, OMI – since July 2014 – D.R. Congo
  10. Fr. Samuel Seongcheol Hong, OMI – since April 2014 – South Korea
  11. Fr. Praveen Mahesan Selvadurai, OMI – since Jan. 2015 – Sri Lanka
  12. Fr. Bright Musa Makunka, OMI – since Jan. 2017 – Zambia
  13. Br. Zachary Mwenda, OMI – since May 2017 – Kenya
  14. Br. Cosmas Kithinji Kubai, OMI – since September 1, 2018

Previous Oblates who have served in the Mission:

  1. Fr. Ken Forster, OMI – May 1997 to 2006 – Canada
  2. Fr. William Stang, OMI – 1997 to Feb. 2004 – Canada
  3. Fr. Joe Singarajah Tananaygan, OMI – May 1997 to 1998 – Canada/Sri Lanka
  4. Fr. Joe Jacek, OMI – August 2001 to 2009 – Canada
  5. Fr. Sholto Douglas, OMI – August 2001 to 2008 – Australia
  6. Br. Roman Zapadka, OMI – August 2001 to 2004 – Canada
  7. Br. Don Claerhout, OMI – 2006 to 2008 – Canada – Water Project Leader
  8. Fr. Mariusz Wilk, OMI – Jan. 2003 to 2006 – Canada/Poland
  9. Fr. Mario Azrak, OMI – Feb. 2002 to 2014 – Australia (Treasurer & Superior)
  10. Br. Harley Mapes, OMI – 2003 to 2004 – Canada
  11. Fr Alfred Groleau OMI – Oct., 2006 to 2010 – Canada (Superior ‘06-‘10)
  12. Fr. Didace Mahuku, OMI – Jan. 2010 to July 2010 – D.R. Congo
  13. Fr. James Fiori, OMI – 2010 to April, 2015 – Canada

Former Oblates in the Mission who are now deceased: 

  1. Fr. Harold Kaufman, OMI – May 1997 to 2003 – Canada – R.I.P.
  2. Fr. Jim Jordan, OMI – 2007 to 2009 – Canada – R.I.P.