2020 Kenya Mission Visit

The new year of 2020 began with my arrival in Nairobi with Ken Thorson, OMI for my first visit to the Kenya Mission. As I began to travel around the various parishes our members serve, the mental images I carried from National Geographic and other sources were all brought to life – the vast savannah plains, the herds of cattle, sheep and goats on the plains, the Masai herders with their herds and flocks, the vegetation, the landscape, the tea plantations and the wild animals. All of that was secondary, however as I began to spend time in the Oblate communities and to meet members of the various small Christian communities, outstations and prayer houses.

At Provincial Council meetings we often discussed the various communities, often in the context of requests for matching donations. There were many names of people and places in my head that were just that – names, without faces, images or context. Meeting the Oblates I had not met before and deepening ties with the ones I had met previously was the first and greatest gift of this visit. I had an opportunity to listen to each Oblate in the mission reflect on his life and ministry. This provided a lot of insight into the mission as well as the issues the men face as they minister.

Travelling around to the various outstations and meeting the leaders of the various communities was also an eye opening experience. In each place the people who gathered shared their stories, their hopes and dreams for their particular community but most importantly, shared their faith. I was deeply touched by the faith of the people we encountered as well as their generous welcome. Often the people expressed their gratitude for the ministry of the Oblates. In one place people stated that before the Oblates came they often went many months without Eucharist, but now they can celebrate regularly, at least three times a month. In one outstation of Kisaju Parish we met with five young adults and two children. The community there is very small, as the railroad closed their maintenance station and another employer left the area. The adults were all away on business or with their herds, leaving these few young people who were preparing to go back to school the following week. They shared their commitment to living their faith as well as the struggles they face in doing so while away at school or college.

Celebrating Eucharist on Sunday was simply breathtaking. Whether it was a community of 150 or 20, the enthusiasm, participation and joy overflowed. In Kionyo we celebrated Eucharist with the Associates. It was a moving celebration in which the current Associates renewed their commitments and those who are beginning the journey committed themselves to the formation process.

I also had an opportunity to spend time with the pre-novices. Meeting the young men who have begun their journey of discernment was a very hopeful experience. They are committed to their journey and have a deep sense of the internationality of the congregation. There is much hope for the future of the mission knowing how many men we have in the formation process.

The last days of the visit were spent with all the members of the mission during their annual gathering. The presenters gave a lot of input for reflection and it was good to be part of the discussion groups as the members reflected on the input and looked at future directions for the mission.

As I returned to Canada it was with a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to visit the men and to become somewhat familiar with their ministry. They are deeply committed to serving the communities where they are present and truly making the Good News a reality in those communities.

By Richard Beaudette, OMI