Lord, When Did We See You Thirsty and Give You Drink?

This week my e-mail brought news of a serious drought that is affecting the people of Kenya. Over two million people have had their lives disrupted by this unrelenting tragedy that has had far-reaching and devastating effects. Some of the issues are clear-cut and revolve around the lack of food, not only for the people but for their animals. The drought has required that herders leave their homes and families to search for water and food for their animals.

The resulting turmoil is frightening. Husbands and fathers have had to abandon their wives and children, leaving them to fend for themselves. Those left behind struggle with hunger, disease and unimaginable poverty. And because the search for food and water often means trespassing on territory belonging to another tribe, violence and social chaos are everyday occurrences. In addition, the education of the children in these villages is completely in disarray.

Here in Boston, The Society for the Propagation of the Faith has a long-standing relationship with the Archdiocese of Nyeri, Kenya through our Missionary Cooperative Program and through the regular sharing of Mass stipends provided by the people of our Archdiocese. Archbishop Peter Kairo tells us that he has 91 priests and that our assistance lets them “safeguard the sacramental life of the Church and the propagation of the Gospel. It also provides for the livelihood of the priests who actually bear and execute the pastoral projects” in his Archdiocese. Although The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is not a “relief” organization, the financial support from our donors enables missionaries to share some material benefits in addition to the spiritual.

At our World Mission Sunday celebration last October we welcomed some of the Sisters from Nyeri; they joined us at the Cathedral for Mass and for the reception following. This year three of our parishes will host a priest from the Archdiocese of Nyeri for the 2011 Missionary Cooperative Program. Saint John’s in Chelmsford, Saint Gerard Majella in Canton, and Holy Trinity in Lowell will help us to continue our support of Catholics in Kenya who are in dire need of the most basic elements of life that we so quickly take for granted.

For more information on the Church in Kenya and how the Pontifical Mission Societies are helping to support them, click here. Listen as seminarians praise God for the ability to follow their vocations, thanks in part to help from our donors.