Bro. Rémy renews his religious vows

This Tuesday 29^th September 2015, Brother Rémy renewed his religious vows of obedience, chastity and poverty for another year. He pronounced his first vows two years ago at the Seminary of Flavigny, France.

The feast of St Michael the Archangel is the feast of all the Reverend Brothers of the Society of St Pius X. They are about 110 brothers all over the world, and are devoted as the priests’ auxiliaries to assist them in their priestly ministry. They are such a wonderful spiritual and also material support for the priests. They prepare the priest’s coming in every missionary place and piously offer their work for sacristy, liturgical service, Gregorian chant, building Chapels and Priories, and so many other things that involved them directly to the service of Our Lord’s Altar.
For this circumstance, Fr. Bély celebrated a Sung Mass and Bro Rémy pronounced his vows after the homily. A few parish members made the effort to attend Mass on this weekday. The ceremony was much recollected. Such a wonderful atmosphere for a Brother who offers his whole life to his Lord and Savior!

The Shanty Town

Our priory is only 5 metres away from the slum of Kawangware. The first shops are just behind along the wall. We share somehow the same rhythm, the reality of poverty and human misery, and also a swelling of life, the incomparable smile of the children who find their happiness in playing simple games together.

Most of the pupils of our school live in this shanty town. But only 10% of them come to Mass on Sunday: we still have much work on our plate! Protestant churches are very active in this kind of slums. Some self-styled pastors pretend they have a certain power because they read Bible. But in fact, they are just imposters who take advantage of people’s misery and credulity.

Our role is to spread the supernatural gifts of Faith and Grace to those people and to lead them to a religious practice. The poverty and insanity in which they live is far beyond our capacity of helping them. Our concern is mainly religious and moral: how to live a virtuous life in such a misery. Our role is to raise their souls to God, to chase away the vices, to spread the recourse of Grace and the light of Faith.

Every Saturday, the children are invited to attend the 11am Mass. Then they are offered a lunch. At 1pm, they receive extra-school tuitions. At 2pm, they receive a lesson of catechism. At 3pm, the boys practice their altar service, while the girls are taken care of by the sisters until 4pm. Every Saturday is devoted to the children from 11am to 4pm.

Then, from 4pm to 6pm, the teenagers and students of the parish receive teachings on Christian Doctrine. Then have a holy hour of adoration or a Gregorian chant practice. Several catechists assist the priests and sisters, who are mainly Europeans and are not fluent at all in Swahili!

Karibu Kenya, Father Peter !

This Wednesday 9^th September 2015, we were happy to welcome Rev. Fr. Pierre CHAMPROUX, whom you can call Father Peter!

He comes to Kenya as Vicar Priest to replace Rev. Fr. Matthew STAFKI who received a new assignment in Canada on August 31. Fr Peter will be of great help to the prior, Rev. Fr. Nicolas BÉLY, and to Brother Rémy.

Fr. Peter is a French priest, ordained in 2004 in Ecône, Switzerland. He exercised his priestly ministry in Switzerland for four years, then in Belgium for six years and lastly in France  for a year. He arrives in Kenya full of energy and resources!

As we say in Swahili: Karibu Kenya! Welcome to Kenya!

History of SSPX in Kenya

19 May 2005. Baptism ceremony in Karen by Fr. Nouveau

The Society of St Pius X was established in Kenya on 3^rd September 2003 by Rev. Fr. Anthony ESPOSITO, the first prior, and Rev. Fr. GRÜN. They had a very simple life at the beginning. The priory was only a hut in a faithful’s property. The chapel was another hut beside.

In April 2004, Fr. Esposito managed to purchase a property in Karen where he settled the first priory. Though, exhausted by so much work for the settlement of the priory, he had to leave Kenya in June 2004 and was replaced by Rev. Fr. Christophe NOUVEAU, who became the prior until 2014. For four years he received the support of the valiant Fr. Denis BEDEL.

In 2005, Fr. Nouveau purchased a plot in Lavington, a nice suburb closer to the city centre, and also very close to the slum of Kawangware, where the priests already used to give catechism to some poor families. This geographical situation opens great perspectives to reach all social classes of the Kenyan society.

On the same year, Fr. Nouveau built a chapel on that plot, though with a very tight budget. The chapel was blessed on 20^th March 2006 by H.E. Bishop Bernard FELLAY and is named Holy Cross Church.

Welcome to the new blog of the Society St Pius X in Kenya!

This blog is dedicated to the Catholic Faithful in Kenya, and to all those who like the Traditional Catholic Liturgy and endeavour to spread its celebration in Eastern Africa.

You can find here the parish notices of Holy Cross Church, some information about the kindergarten and primary school Holy Cross Academy, and also some news of the various projects.

And last, but not at least, you can find some prayers which you can say by yourself or with your family for the missionary priests, brothers and sisters, who pray also for you.

May Jesus-Christ reign in Kenya, in Africa and in all our hearts!