Kenya Mission Grows

Father James Swift, CM, Provincial Superior, lays hands on
Father John Musolo Ochola, CM, during his ordination ceremony in Kenya earlier this year.

Our work in Kenya continues to blossom. Earlier this year, the Congregation of the Mission celebrated the ordination of Father John Musolo Ochola, CM. He represents the third Vincentian class to be ordained from DePaul Centre in Nairobi. Father Jim Swift, CM, Provincial Superior of the Midwest Province, attended the joyous occasion. Fr. Ochola has been assigned Associate Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Kamulu, Kenya.

The DePaul Centre program is active and growing. The novitiate program for the year began in June. Four novices are natives of Kenya; two come to us from Cameroon, and one novice is a native of Chad. In addition, De Paul Centre has 24 students enrolled: 21 Associate Members and three Admitted Members. All are Kenyans except one member from Uganda. Six attend theology at Tangaza College and 18 attend philosophy at Consolata Institute. During the first days of January 2008, eight more students will join us as Initiates. This will give us a total of 38 students.

The academic year of DePaul Centre began with an annual retreat conducted by Father Hugh O'Donnell, CM. Six Daughters of Charity joined the event for a truly Vincentian Family venture.

Fathers Robert Wood, John Richardson, and Frank Agnew, CMs, settled in to their new classes at Christ the King Seminary in Nyeri, Kenya, three hours north of Nairobi.

A vital component of the novitiate and student programs is their pastoral formation. Novices and all students minister to the poor on Sundays. Their ministry varies: chaplaincy work in hospitals, teaching religion to orphans and poor students, participation in small Christian communities in the slums, prison ministry, multiple jobs in parishes and their out-stations, and work with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Vincentian priests are involved in the ministry of spiritual direction in other ways, as well. Several are involved with students of nearby Tangaza College who are enrolled in the Spirituality and Formation Institute. Fathers Tom Esselman, Rich Wehrmeyer and Ron Ramson, CMs, are active members of the formators' groups of the schools of philosophy and theology.

In addition to the formation of new priests, the Kenya Mission is closely involved with the Emmaus Program for the ongoing formation
of diocesan priests. In October, 23 diocesan priests from five dioceses participated in an Emmaus Program whose theme was Human Sexuality. Presentations were given by professors of Tangaza College and a Sister Medical Doctor. Three times a year, Frs. Wehrmeyer and Ramson, CMs, direct the gatherings along with Sister Loretta Brennan of Tangaza College.

The Congregation of the Mission in Cameroon is preparing for the Emmaus Program as a major community work. Several bishops from the English-speaking area of Cameroon
are interested in initiating Emmaus. Fr. Ramson was invited to visit the bishops and help launch the program.

In addition to formation, the Kenya Mission has an active pastoral ministry with two large parishes. At St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Kamulu, Father Rod Crowley, CM, of the Irish Province, is the pastor, with Midwest Province Fathers Alex Isonga and John Ochola, CMs, as associate pastors.

At Holy Cross Parish in Thigio, Kenya, Father Lennoxie Lusabe, CM, is pastor. Three confreres are in residence: Fathers Philip Njenga and Ignatius Mukanzi, CMs, as associates, and Father George Busieka, CM, as vocation director for East Africa and associate pastor.

The ministries in Kenya are varied and challenging. Widespread hardships such as poverty, high unemployment and illness can seem overwhelming, yet are balanced by faith and friendship. The work of the Midwest Province in bringing Vincentian charism to the poor is alive, well and growing strong in Kenya.

Meet the De Paul Centre Staff

Father Barry Moriarty, CM, is Regional Superior, Local Superior and novice master. Fr. Moriarty also teaches at Tangaza College and is a member of two of its committees.

Father Rich Wehrmeyer, CM, is Assistant Superior, director of the Associates and the official community liaison with the Nyeri confreres.

Father Tom Esselman, CM, is director of formation. He is very occupied pulling together the goals and objectives of all formational programs.

Father Ron Ramson, CM, is director of the Admitted and Incorporated members, and director of the Emmaus Program.

Father Harry Slowey, CM, is director of the Initiates. He runs an intensive seven- month introductory program for those entering De Paul Centre for the first time.

Father Rod Crowley, CM, is director of the mentor program. This ongoing formation program centers on those Vincentians ordained for the first two years.

Brother Jim Donlevy, CM, is director of DePaul Woodworking. Two of Fr. Donlevy's "graduates" recently opened their own woodworking business. The woodworking workshop provides furniture not only for the Vincentian Family houses, but also for other religious in the surrounding area.