Center for Mission Blog for Kitui

In 2001 U.S. bishops issued “A Call to Solidarity with Africa” which encouraged parishes to engage more with Africa. In the spring of 2003, Fr. Michael Perry, an advisor on Africa to the U.S. bishops, spoke at an archdiocesan mission forum and challenged participants to be more engaged in Africa. Shortly after, the Center for Mission office was contacted by Catholic Relief Services to investigate whether the archdiocese would be interested in partnering with the Diocese of Kitui, Kenya. Meetings were held and five parishes in the southeast region of the archdiocese opted to pursue the initiative.

In 2004, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis joined with the Diocese of Kitui in a global solidarity partnership as a way to share faith, culture and resources. In October 2005, a 16-member delegation representing a group of parishes in the rural southeast corner of the archdiocese traveled to meet their new friends. We then had the opportunity to host some of our friends during their visit here in September, 2006. Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency, assisted with the effort.

In September of 2008, a delegation of eleven members, representing several parishes in our archdiocese, left on a two week solidarity mission to the Diocese of Kitui.  The following stories are those that were posted on our blog during that journey.  Please read and enjoy!