Month: September 2017

Half a century ago, a missionary could only be thought to come from Europe and America. Though many Asians and Africans had started embracing missionary lives earlier on, it was perceived rather contradictory for Africans to be missionaries. This was not a perception only by the Europeans or American but by Africans themselves. A missionary was had to be white in compression, rich and who brought many gifts whenever he returned from vacations from his or her home country.

This perceptions made things very difficult for the local Priests and the consecrated women, when they started taking over the missions that were previously served by Europeans. Many communities found it difficult to embrace them as real priest let alone missionaries. This is because being missionary was viewed as being synonymous to being European or American.

During the last few decades, the situation has tremendously improved and now we have so many local priests, nuns and brothers, as well as missionaries who are even working in the continents from where the missionaries first originated. Though there is still a lot to be desired in terms of appreciating the fact that Africans and people from other places apart from Europe and America can become missionaries in the strictest sense of the term, the situation has changed.

Last Sunday, 24 September 2017, our parish was graced by the visit of one example of many African missionaries working both locally and in all the parts of the world. Fr. Francis Wangamati is a Kenyan missionary working in Ecuador, a small country in Latin America. when he told this to the children in Epiphany parish Burka, non of the children could locate the county in the map. Fr. Francis is enjoying his deserved holidays and he passed by to greet us here in Arusha.

We really appreciated your visit padre. Que Dios te bendiga.

Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD.

Today the 17th September, marks the sixth anniversary of the death of the first SVD missionary to die in Kenya-Tanzania province.

Confreres in Nairobi gathered at the tomb of Fr.  Theodore in Divine Word Boys High School and SVD residence in Katani.

We continue to honour our departed missionaries by perpetuating what they had began in the mission.

Fr.  Lawrence Muthee, SVD

The a number of years now, The Good Shepherd SVD parish in Simanjiro, Archdiocese of Arusha, have been holding a Musical Festival involving the choirs from more than 20 substations under the parish. This festival has helped a lot create a sense of belonging among the parishioners of the vast Maasai Steppe, as well as improve a lot the singing during the worship.

This year, the celebration took place on the 17th September 2017, held at the kangala substation. The hosting outstation held also a fundraising to build a new Church since they have been worshipping in a very small mad structure.

On this day too, the parishioners of Simanjiro were graced by the presence of the Friends of SVD from Arusha parishes, who also brought their contributions for the fundraising together with other gifts including shoes and clothes for the children.

We congratulate the entire Simanjiro parish and the choir that won the competition.

Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD

Family Day celebrations in CFC Langata, Nairobi     (Photo by Frt. Asante)

It was the 8th of September, the Feast of the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This marks also the 142nd birthday of the Congregation of the Divine Word Missionaries. Here in KenTan Province, confreres gathered at the Common Formation Center, Langata-Nairobi, to Mark the Feast Day. Our SSPS sisters working with the South Sudanese refugees in Uganda joined in the celebration. It was an Arnoldus moment.

We continue to serve the Divine Word by our presence among the people of Kenya and Tanzania, animated by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our Province enjoys the diversity of 17 nationalities from which the confreres working here come from.

We continue to ask the Divine Word to inspire us to bring His Kingdom to the people, more enthusiastic and firm in our missionary resolve.

Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD

And God said: “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant upon the earth, and all the trees that have in themselves the ability to sow their own kind, to be food for you, and for all the animals of the land, and for all the flying things of the air, and for everything that moves upon the earth and in which there is a living soul, so that they may have these on which to feed” (Gen1:29-30).

One of our Christian calling is to care for the creation. As we have seen from tge book of Genesis,  God himself put man in charge to tend and care for his creation so that he may benefit from it.

In our days, so much degradation of the natural beauty has taken place mainly because of human activities.

The Church recognizes her role to sensitize the faithful to care for creation.

This month Pope Francis is calling upon us to be extra caring for mother earth. In heeding this call, Fr. Leon Ipoma, svd, who is also the provincial coordinator of Justice and Peace and integration of creation office, led the parishioners of Soweto parish and children from St. Arnld Janssen school in tree planting exercise.

Good job indeed

Fr. Lawrence Muthee,  SVD