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Written by Msgr. Francis Blood
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Tuesday, 22 February 2011 |
Msgr. Francis Blood is the Director of the Archdiocesan Mission Office in Saint Louis, Missouri. He is a former missionary, serving in La Paz, Bolivia from 1988 to 1993. He traveled to Kenya as part of a Pontifical Mission Societies delegation from February 10-22, 2011.
 The trip here has been wonderful, as by now, you well know from all the photos (by Nancy Wiechec) and stories (by Barb Fraze). The people of Kenya have been wonderful and could not be more gracious! So many highlights to recall!
St. Mary's Parish (our first Sunday here) has a dynamic, joyful celebration of Mass from start to finish. The dancing and the singing expresses pure joy in the Lord for His goodness and love. It lasted three hours, but did not seem like it. The people even sing the Nicene Creed! When they reach the part of "suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried," the music becomes very quiet and subdued. But how they rejoice in singing that "on the third day he rose from the dead"! I have never seen so much dancing at Mass in my life as in Kenya; it is truly reverent and beautiful.
When Mass concluded we accompanied Maryknoll Father John Lange. We wound our way from the parish grounds into the labyrinth that is a slum (known here, more respectfully, as an informal sector). About 200,000 people live here, with no access to sanitation, clean water or electricity. The homes are mere shacks made from whatever materials they can find, and not much bigger than 10 feet by 10 feet - for a whole family! The walk is on dirt paths filled with ruts, garbage and raw sewage. Young children all along the way greeted us with their best English: "How are you?" Their smiles and joy seemed incomprehensible amid the squalor. Inside the hovels of several families, Father Lange laid hands on the sick. One was a 16 year old named Pauline. She was ill and her illness has been longstanding, enough to force her to repeat eighth grade. Another elderly woman seemed shy and embarrassed by our visit to her tiny home. But after the prayer by Father Lange, she seemed emboldened and even followed us back into the dirt path outside her home where she posed for pictures with us.
So much goodness, so much faith, so much suffering, all intermingled in the lives of the people of St. Mary's parish! As Father Lange told us, he was glad to show us the "treasure of the people in worship, before he showed us the suffering in their homes." It is only in union with the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord that He empowers us to triumph with Him, even over unbearable poverty. It will soon be time for lunch, then Mass with Father Celestino Bundi, and Sister Jane (HCA Coordinator for Kenya). Father Celestino Bundi, a priest from Meru Diocese and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies for Kenya, could not have been more gracious to our delegation, joining us for the past 10 days.
Thanks for the prayers and concern from all who have been following our journey online!
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