Newly ordained priests join other confreres and officiating priests at the ordination ceremony in Kenya in May.

FURTHERING OUR MISSION . . .

Kenya, East Africa

On May 27, 2006, two East African Vincentians were ordained priests for the Midwest Province, Father Alex Isonga, CM and Father Ignatius Mukanzi, CM.

It was an exciting day for the Vincentians.

Most Reverend David Kamau served as the ordaining bishop. Father James E. Swift, CM, Provincial Superior of the Midwest Province, together with the Vincentians stationed in Kenya concelebrated the Mass. Some aspects of the ordination liturgy were uniquely African. For example, the Mass began with a long procession and several liturgical dances. The music was very energetic and each person in the congregation joined in the singing. It was clearly a day of celebration for all who were in attendance.

In 2005, prior to being ordained priests, Frs. Isonga and Mukanzi, completed an internship in Nigeria. They served in a rural parish for six months, and then spent six months in an urban parish. Fr. Isonga shared, “This experience gave me the opportunity to view an African province of Vincentians that was administered well, a place where the men understood the mission and the charism.” While on their internship, both were ordained deacons with the other men from the Vice Province of Nigeria.

Fr. Mukanzi comes from a small village outside of a town called Kakamega. Fr. Isonga was raised in a village outside of Jinja in Uganda. Once ordained, these new priests were made elders in their communities.

The newly ordained Kenyan Vincentians are now serving their brothers and sisters in parishes. Fr. Mukanzi is assigned to Holy Cross Parish in Thigio, which serves the poor in an area called Kiambu among the Kikuyu tribe. Fr. Isonga is serving at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Kamulu. This parish is small, but is situated in the eastern part of Nairobi, which is growing quickly.

Father Gary Mueller, CM, is stationed in Kenya and has helped form these young men for priestly ministry. He said, “Both men bring many gifts to the priesthood. Foremost among these is great energy, intelligence and a wonderful desire to be of service to the poor.”

Fr. Swift observed, “The ordination was a grace-filled, happy and hopeful event for the Church in East Africa, for our own Midwest Province, and of course, for the poor whom we are called to serve. The ordination was the highlight of my recent trip to Kenya. It was also great to see how well last year’s ordination class is doing– Fathers George Busieka, Lennox Lusabe, Angelus Njagi, and Philip Njenga, CM. It is a blessing to witness the growth of our mission in Kenya.”
Please join us in praying for these men as they begin their priestly ministry.

Kenyan families open their homes and their hearts to the missionaries of the Midwest Province