Why Do Most of Fr. Tom’s Kids Celebrate Birthdays in August?

Birthday celebrations in East Africa traditionally don’t have the same significance as they are celebrated in North America or Europe . In fact, most of Fr. Tom’s Kids did not know their own birthday when they first came to the door of the Dominican compound in Mkendwa Village .

Nevertheless, if there is reason to celebrate in the lives of Fr. Tom’s Kids (birthdays, good grades, particular accomplishments in school), the Dominicans & the employees try their best to celebrate life during the holidays. Frequently during the daily Mass celebrated in St. Martin de Porres chapel (which is actually former storage shed), the kids will pray during the intercessions, “Let us thank God for the gift of life…” What better way could there be to celebrate and be grateful to God than to celebrate birthdays together!

To do this for some 275 grade school and high school students has it’s particular challenges!  Each year a birthday celebration for Fr. Tom’s Kids happens twice per year during the August and December month-long holidays.

August 2007 included the celebration for many of the kids. The party began with Holy Mass (celebrated by Fr. Martin between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm). After the Mass, there was entertainment (poems, songs, dances, dramatic recitations) prepared by the kids themselves. Africans have an incredible gift of being able to entertain themselves during such celebrations – everyone participates and there is much singing. The climax of the celebration was marked by the cutting of the cake by Fr. Martin OP and everyone drinking a soda.  Finally, all of the kids were given birthday gifts.

Usually the kids discover their birthday (even though it may not be accurate) when they are baptized as they have to write on the baptismal card the exact date of birth for the church records. Normally the extended family knows the year the child was born, but rarely do they know the month. The Luo tribe in particular traditionally gives the child a middle name based on the time when the mother gave birth such as Achieng (at night) or Adoyo (during the time of weeding).  As has been our custom, if the families of the kids whom we sponsor do not know the date of birth, we happily assign August 8 for the official record which will also appear on their national ID.  This happens also to be the feast day of our founder, St. Dominic de Guzman.

Now you know why most of Fr. Tom’s Kids celebrate birthdays in August!  Thank you so much for your support and assistance in helping us to preach the Gospel in East Africa.

For a complete list of Fr. Tom's Kids birthdays from January through August click here.

Below is a photo of Fatuma Apiyo. No one believed this little girl’s courage... being able to recite a poem so fluently and boldly before the crowd!

Below a photos of the gifts (Dolls and toys, T-shirts, Wrist watches, Pens, and so on)!