Kenya Tag

KENYA, Fr. Reinhard Förster • When I arrived at the Schoenstatt “Center,” everything was already decorated festively: flags and garlands, a tent was erected, and many people in festive clothes were on their way. Almost 200 guests came. Mass was celebrated with a dance group and a choir. All sang along enthusiastically. This is where 25 years of Schoenstatt in Kenya is celebrated, and on this day 40 years ago the first Schoenstatter of the country was ordained to be a priest, Father Dr. Joseph Kariuki Kamau. After the festiveRead More
Belmonte | Newsletter 09/2016 Letter from Belmonte Dear family: August and part of September what a time!  In Schoenstatt, during the General Congress at the Institute of Diocesan Priests’ house, we have dedicated a good deal of time talking about Belmonte.  As the community responsible for carrying out the construction of the International Center, we are concerned, but not discouraged about concluding this great dream. I want to share something with you. When speaking about this Center, we want it to be called Belmonte Rome, so those who do notRead More
Maria Fischer • The Eternal City was filling with visitors and pilgrims from allover the world on the eve of one of the Year of Mercy’s biggest events– the canonization of Mother Theresa, saint of mercy– and so was the International Schoenstatt Center at Belmonte. Twenty priests, and over thirty religious and lay people from the diocese of Murnag’a in Kenya After several letters, calls and messages it finally worked out: a group of fifty-three Kenyans, including twenty priests and several sisters from religious orders, arrived at the Belmonte SchoenstattRead More
POPE FRANCIS IN AFRICA, by Sarah-Leah Pimentel, schoenstatt.org • Pope Francis again abandoned his prepared speech – as he sometimes does – when the events around him stir something deep within him and cause him to speak from his heart. This was the case during the Holy Father’s meeting with the Kenyan youth on 27 November at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi. After hearing the questions of two young people who asked him why war, fanaticism and destruction seem to happen among young people, Pope Francis answered them in his nativeRead More
Pope Francis’ second day in Kenya was taken up with a visit to the Kangemi slum in Nairobi and a meeting with the youth. Even though the newspapers were still full of news about the Pontiff’s visit, his visit to the slum did not receive as much reporting as the Pope’s meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta. In some cases the media missed the point completely. The website of popular Radio Capital FM had a video report on how the Pope’s visit became an opportunity for businesses in Kangemi to makeRead More
FRANCIS IN AFRICA, by Sarah-Leah Pimentel • The Kenyan headlines on 26 November were abuzz with news about the Pope. Every detail of his trip to Kenya has been reported in the mainstream media. The headline in The East African read: “Kenyans brave morning rain for Pope’s Mass.” The front page of Standard Digital carried a large picture of Pope Francis greeting the priests who attended the Papal Mass. The website also has a number that readers can SMS to receive “alerts on Pope Francis’ visit.” Other headlines included: “PopeRead More
POPE FRANCIS IN AFRICA, by Sarah-Leah Pimentel • Pope Francis landed in Nairobi, Kenya, on 25 November on the first leg of his trip to Africa, a pastoral visit that will also include Uganda and the Central African Republic. Shortly after arriving in Nairobi, Pope Francis met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and other political leaders. Kenyatta: “I ask for your prayers” The Kenyan president, who is himself a Catholic, began by asking the pontiff to pray for him in his aim to fight corruption within his own government. KenyanRead More