Background

Kisumu, Kenya is one of the fastest growing cities in the former British colony in East Africa. The city enjoys its location on Lake Victoria on the far western region of Kenya. The Dominican Friars (Order of Preachers) arrived in this colorful, warm, and impoverished city in the early 1990’s. The arrival was initially to establish a novitiate formation house for the Dominican Vicariate of East Africa. The leadership of the vicar provincial in Nairobi brought a clear vision to primarily provide formation to the young men discerning a vocation to the Order of Preachers. However, in line with the constitution of the Dominicans, the superior immediately began to serve the needs of the local people through various ministries. The ministries expanded to assisting with the celebration of the Eucharist at the local parishes and sub-parishes. Most villages can not support a parish nor transportation on Sunday to the parish for mass resulting in the establishment of a sub-parish in village or small neighborhood of a metropolitan area where mass will be celebrated in a field with chairs from an adjacent classroom. We provide spiritual direction to local Catholic communities of African religious women. The Dominican Friars support the severely struggling families affected by HIV, distributing nutritional supplements to people with critical dietary needs and by preaching to the masses on issues of domestic violence and polygamy. We link American sponsors to orphan children and establishing a safe environment for orphans, abandoned children, or children of single or elderly parents.

Through many active ministries the residence of the Dominicans quickly took the reputation of a place where people in need would approach to make their plea for help. Similar to the feelings and thoughts that cross the mind of a nurturing and loving parent with a child seeking assistance the Dominicans began quickly adopting methods and plans to respond to the cry for help. The Dominicans blessed with the grace of God are eager to continue their mission in the Lord’s vineyard among the people of Kenya one day at a time.

What we do

The local needs are vast as in many third world countries. Education is the most critical step in the process for transformation from social justice. Providing shipments of food is essential to fighting hunger, however this generous act will not instruct a men on how to cherish his wife and children as people of God, nor will it teach a family how to make most use of their land to financially support the needs of the family alleviating the temptation to participate in stealing or high-paying employment in organized crime. Teaching growing children positive behaviors and skills is critical for the younger generation to improve the future of the nation.

The Dominicans have made considerable contributions in advancing education among the youth of Kisumu through their relationships with parishioners in local parishes in their religious community in the United States. At Dominican parishes from Louisiana to Rhode Island many loving American families have supported the youth through prayer and sponsorships. At the current moment over 200 children from kindergarten through high school benefit from these sponsorships.

Many children in Kenya are exposed to abuse from strangers and immediate family members alike. The physical abuse ranges from the rape of a young girl in the darkness of an unlit dirt village road to the demands on a young boy to labor for the family. The emotional abuse extends well beyond the half-orphan child who is rejected by his mother’s new husband, and later prohibited from living with his only parent alive at an age still short of adulthood or completion of high school. These young people are most welcomed by the Dominican family.

As a Dominican priest or lay missionary visits a local village it is not uncommon for children to race up to visitor and share a beautiful smile, which in many cases reveals poor hygiene. An effort is always made to carry vitamins and stomach worm medication to distribute to children who often greet visitors rubbing their enlarged stomachs, and in many cases their underdeveloped bodies as a result of malnutrition.

Fr. Tom's Kids are learning the foundation of Christian living.