Hand-Over to The

Ewuaso Enkidongi Parish Ewuaso Enkidongi - Kibiko – Kimuka – Saikere – Najile - Empaash P.O. Box 522 Ngong Hills 00208 NewsletterTel 1: +254 733 641544 1 Tel 2: +254 720 911317 Email: [email protected] Priest-in charge: Fr. John Fortune I.C.

Hand-over to the strength with a large contingent of The parish consists of Kibiko, Institute of Charity Maasai coming all the way from which is situated at the foot of the Ewuaso. The latter arrived late as Ngong Hills and is a multi-ethnic the truck they were traveling in semi-urban community. It begins The handover and founding of the ripped its tyre on rocks on the at the small roundabout close to new parish of Ewuaso Enkidongi road and had to walk the last 12 Ngong town and is the largest and to the Institute of Charity took miles. most organized of the mass place in St. Anne’s Church, After the celebration of mass and centers. It has received service Kibiko on Sunday the 25th of July the handover of the parish to the over the last 10 years by many 2004. Institute of Charity all exited the different priests and most recently For the Institute it was a historic church and sat under the trees and by priests resident in bishop’s day in that after 17 years in the Catholic Women’s house. Kenya and 3 weeks before the Association put on a meal for all All the other mass centers have ordination of the first Kenyan who were present. Then the received more sporadic member of the Institute we took whole congregation was ministering over the last number on our first parish in the country. entertained by song, dance and of years. They have been covered For the people of the parish it was drama by different groups from by priests of the cathedral parish also an exciting day as they were the parish. of Ngong but the burden, while finally getting their first resident The celebration which had begun heroically carried out, could never parish priest and different mass at 10 am with the colourful compare to what a resident priest stations being united in a new procession into the church for the could do. parish. beginning of mass finished at The bishops’ desire, expressed to As the Bishop of Ngong was out 4.30 pm with all present joining the Institute, is that the parish of the country the handover in prayer and being sent on their center will be at Ewuaso which is ceremony was conducted during way with a blessing from Fr. close to the geographical center of the celebration of mass by the Polycarp. the new parish spreading out in a Vicar General of the Diocese, Fr. radius of about 46kms. Francis Mwangi. Present also This area is lowland and was the Vice-provincial of the Ewuaso Enkidongi predominantly Maasai. It is in this Rosminians in East Africa, Fr. area that the bishop hopes that the Polycarp Shayo and nearly all the The new parish of Ewuaso Institute of Charity will invest its members of the Rosminian Enkidongi consists of the mass resources in order to evangelise formation community which lies centers of Ewuaso Enkidongi, and build the Christian within the parish. The Kibiko, Kimuka, Saikere, Najile community. parishioners were also out in and Empaash. The mass centres where the women and young men were busy the day was done and we began to people gather to pray in this preparing the food which we say our goodbyes. lowland area consist of small would partake off after the mass. We then headed off on our galvanized ‘chapels’ built by the The women preparing the rice, journey home, led for some of it people themselves from their own beans and carrots and the young by one of the parishioners in his limited resources. men killing two sheep and a goat pick-up on a different road than In Ewuaso, where the centre is to and preparing the meat for the one we had come, one which be built, the church has been roasting and boiling was less dusty. We arrived home given 15 acres of land. Already a We delayed the beginning of the in the formation house at 7 p.m. priest from Ngong has built a mass as the Christians from tired but happy. small social hall which holds Empaash, about 30 of them, were about 100 people and it is this on their way but were delayed by Thanks which the community uses for a breakdown in their transport. As their mass and prayer gatherings. we had traveled the same road A word of thanks must be said None of the mass centers have before them we were, to say the before I close to those who have, housing facilities for a priest and least, suitably understanding. through their generosity, made it this will probably be the first Just before mid-day the mass possible for me to ‘get on the priority for me. I look forward in began in the social hall cum road’ in my new parish. I am the coming weeks, after I get church and went on for about two awaiting the arrival of a Toyota some transport, to visiting all of and a half hours. The choirs from Hilux double cabin 4 wheel drive the mass centres and hopefully the two mass centers blended well pick-up thanks to the following: basing myself in Ewuaso during together singing a mixture of those visits. For the time being I Maasai and Kikuyu hymns, while The Irish Province of the will be resident at the formation a group of young children did Institute of Charity, house. liturgical dance for the entrance and offertory processions. St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Maasai Welcome Before the blessing at the end of Seffner, Florida mass all the visitors introduced Blessed Sacrament Parish, On the first of August I headed themselves and received different Seminole, Florida off to Ewuaso Enkidongi with the Maasai gifts. As parish priest I executives of the church council was adorned with a large cross St. Teresa’s Parish, Spring Hill, of Kibiko, my two nephews who made from Maasai beads which, Florida are visiting me for a few weeks against my white cassock, makes me look a bit like a bishop. The Farrell Family, Dublin and Fr. Jose Kurian from Institute’s formation house, which After the mass the ‘church’ The Brandies of Seffner, Florida is situated within the parish close became the eating area for the to the mass center of Kibiko. We ‘distinguished’ guests while all What was lacking in the cost of were going in order to be the other people made themselves the new car was picked up by the welcomed by the Maasai comfortable in the shade of East African Vice-province of the community and to choose the different trees. We all eat well Institute of Charity of which I am members of the new parish and washed it all down with Coca a member. council. We headed off at 7 a.m. Cola and Sprite. !! Rest assured that you will all be and the trip took just over two Once again after finishing eating remembered in my prayers and hours through varying terrain and the Social hall took on another the prayers of the parishioners of past majestic giraffes and other form and became the meeting Ewuaso Enkidongi. wild life. We arrived with plenty area for the church councils of the of time to spare and were given three mass centers, Ewuaso, x+ x+ x+ x+ x+ x+ x+ x+ x+ x+ some tea to help us wash the dust Kibiko and Empaash. After some x+x+x+x+ x from our throats. A group of discussion and voting a parish council was formed. Our work for I look forward, when I next write to you, being able to tell you of the arrival of a congregation of sisters in the parish. This is planned for the 22nd of the month on the feast of the Queenship of Mary.

Yours in Christ

John Fortune i.c.