Day 12, Saturday, October 11, 2014 .. Kitui Diocese Annual Family Day. All of the parishes in the diocese have had a fundraiser day, and today many people from those parishes came down to Kitui town for the family day and to bring their funds. By 9 o’clock we were driven over to the field next to St. Michael’s School for the Deaf and Blind where all the activities took place. Those students were seated next to our section, so it was interesting to watch their signing as the Mass was being said. They too all wanted to shake our hands, have their picture taken, then look at the picture in the camera … such adorable children. As per Kenyan time, 10 o’clock Mass started at 11 o’clock. The crowds were still a bit sparse, but all the chairs were filled by the end of Mass two hours later! We estimate there were over 1,000 people in attendance. It was a beautiful African liturgy with their lovely signing and adorable children dancing, celebrated by Bishop Mulharia of Kitui, Archbishop Neinsted from Minnesota, and the Bishop from the Machakos (who, incidentally, turned out to be an excellent fundraiser!!! He certainly knew how to work the crowd.). Every parish was represented … and it was so good to see John, Joseph and Ann again from Miambani, plus all three of the sisters. We also had a chance to greet Fr. Julius, Fr. Jonathan, Fr. Charles and many of the other priests, sisters, men and women we have encountered in the last two weeks. After Mass, they started their “fundraising” activities, where each Parish brought forth the shillings they raised from their fundraisers, plus individuals from that Parish came forth to contribute even more. There was a competitive factor as each Parish competed with others in their section, and the parishes that raised the most funds were given a motor bike by the Diocese! Five bikes were awarded today!
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| We're ready for the celebration! |
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| Liturgical dancers |
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| Signing the Mass for the children |
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Anna, Marcie, Bob and Fr. Charles
Presenting us with gifts from St. Mary's Parish in
Miambani |
After eating a very late lunch there and when all festivities were done, we walked back to the Parish Compound. Fr. Mark came for a visit and ended up going out to get the group some wine and beer to drink with dinner. We had a great visit with Fr. Mark, though we were unable to meet his mother because of a family funeral today. After dinner, Fr. Mark said his good-byes … we will miss him … and we are all off to bed … another busy day tomorrow!
Day 13, Sunday, October 12, 2014 … After breakfast we were taken up to Museve, the newest parish in the Diocese and Fr. Robert’s home parish. This is also the future site of the Shrine of Our Lady of Protection and a retreat center. It is an ambitious project that sounds like it will be so beautiful when completed.
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Beautiful Museve
Jessica, Marcie and Bob |
The 10:00 o’clock Mass, which started at 11, was said outdoors where 500-600 celebrated the 10-year-anniversary of the Kitui-St.Paul/Minneapolis Dioceses partnership … plus 350 young men and women and some adults were confirmed. The three-hour Mass was another beautiful African liturgy … they are so joyful in their music. After the Mass, gifts were exchanged … our Archdiocese gave chalices inscribed with the partnership logo to be used during Mass, one for each of the parishes in the Kitui Diocese. They gifted calibashes, gourds painted red, also with the partnership logo, one to be given to each of the parishes in St. Paul/Minneapolis, to be used during Baptism. As Bishop Mulharia noted, water is the language between the two dioceses. As these gifts are sacramentals, they will be a reminder of the friendships and sharing of faith of the partnership whenever they are used.
It’s time to pack up our things, put some suitcases on the bus this evening, as we leave by 6:30 tomorrow morning for the game park!
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