This blog entry is written by Keely Wojda, a delegate from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, while in Kitui, Kenya.

     The Church was full of life and growing in Kitui!  My delegation partner and I were blessed to visit the village of Nuu.  Our host was the pastor, Fr. Emmanuel, who was truly an amazing man.  On any given day he could be saying Mass, managing the building of a technical school for his parish, fixing his truck, visiting a family mourning the loss of a loved one, and taking a sick grandmother to the hospital.  He did all this from a parish house that had no electricity and on many days, no running water.  His co-worker in the ministry was Deacon Jonathan.

     Deacon has been waiting to be ordained a priest for over 10 years due to a serious car accident that caused him to accept the loss of one eye.  He was in charge of cooking for the parish house and took such good care of us!  He was a very pateint, kind man and I know he will be a wonderful priest.

     We also met many women religious whose congregations originated in Kitui.  They were involved in all areas of the ministry from education to health care to working in the parishes.  As with the priests, these women were fluent in three languages: Kikamba, Kiswahili and English.  I spent the most time with Sister Ann in Nuu.  She was a slim, vivacious young woman with a great smile and a quick wit.  I will always remember her laughter when she tried to translate for me.

     There were many lay leaders involved in all aspects of parish life.  Each parish had a chairman, as well as a president of the Catholic Women’s Association and the Catholic Men’s Association.  Many parishes also had small Christian Communities which met weekly.

     As a Director of Religious Education in a parish and a teacher of religion in our Catholic School, all that I have seen here will be a well-spring of inspiration and hope.  To be in Kitui is like seeing the Church in its early years, soon after Pentecost, with the strong sense that the Holy Spirit is so very present.  And as for me, all they accomplish here, in the midst of so many obstacles, will help me put my own life and ministry into perspective.

They have so very little in material goods but are so rich in spirit.