Letter from the Rector: Fr Peter
‘Once more we are grateful for the enormous support that we get from Missio England and Wales, both spiritually and financially. Please thank all our benefactors and assure them of our prayers. Be blessed also for your efforts in fundraising for us.
In January, we opened the seminary so that students could study in small groups to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The government then imposed another lockdown, and we were forced to close prematurely. But since that time, we have been able to conclude the academic year that we lost in 2020.
Not everything has been dark – we have also rejoiced in this year. We had ordination of seven of our seminarians to the diaconate: five from the diocese of Eldoret in the North Rift of our country, and two from the diocese of Nakuru. They exercised their diaconate ministry among us in their last semester of their formation, and now we are pleased to let you know that they are already Priests in various parishes in their dioceses.
Another colourful event that brought joy to us was being in the Seminary during the feast of Corpus Christi. We had a very solemn Eucharistic procession for the first time in the Seminary because usually this feast comes when we are on holidays.
Similarly we rejoiced on 1 November 2021 when we hosted that Apostolic Nuncio of Kenya and Southern Sudan: His Excellency Humbertus Van Megen, in the company of Archbishop Anthony Muheria of the Archdiocese of Nyeri. They presided over the ceremony of installing 28 seminarians to the ministry of lectors and 38 to the ministry of acolytes.
My hope for 2022 is that our people may be peaceful as it is an election year in our country. Also, that Christians may manifest their faith through acts of charity towards their neighbours and avoid violence by all means’.
Life in Christ the King Seminary
Christ the King Seminary is the largest in Kenya with a population of almost 400 students. It comprises of three schools: Theology, Philosophy and Foundation.
Seminarians at Christ the King are no strangers to hard work! The seminary is set over 161 hectares of diocesan land, which they use to farm and grow both livestock and crops.
The students do several sessions of manual labour on the land each day, which helps to fund the Seminary. Coffee is a big source of income and the money raised goes to the upkeep of the Seminary, medication for the priests, and some schooling (public schools are free but not always very good). The manual work is also an opportunity to bond; the men at the Seminary are from so many different cultures, regions and communities, but through working together they can bondand truly become brothers.
The harmony is evident – we love this joyful song to Our Lady, performed by the Seminarian choir!
Letter from a Seminarian
Brother Stephen:
I am fourth year Theology seminarian hailing from the diocese of Nyahururu in the Central Region of Kenya.
I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt Thanksgiving to Missio for the immense support, both financial and spiritual, they have accorded me in my journey to priesthood. Your support to me and other seminarians have indeed made our stay in the Seminary a reality.
Amidst the robust increase of vocations, sometimes dioceses are unable to support the study of these vocations and thus having an opportunity to have a sponsor is a rare gem.
I am grateful to know that I not only have a financial sponsor, but also a spiritual companion who accompanies and supports my spiritual life.
I commend all the sponsors to the watchful care of Christ the King of the universe, and to our Blessed Mother as you continue supporting the noble cause of educating future ministers of the Gospel. Thank you.