About ASE
Assumption Sisters of Eldoret strives to be an exemplary and dynamic congregation of women Religious who live a consecrated life inspired by the Gospel values. We were officially founded by Bishop Joseph Brendan Houlihan in 1962, who was then the Bishop of Eldoret Diocese.
We, the Assumption Sisters are called to be dynamic witnesses in the redeeming mission of Christ; to preach the Gospel to all people; to work for unity, solidarity, peace, human dignity and promotion of life to the full in society; to love and care for all disadvantaged people; to bear witness to Christ and His healing mission; through our service to God in the various apostolic ministries; in a holistic approach and in the spirit of compassion, joy and true African hospitality, simplicity and devotion to prayer.
As Assumption Sisters of Eldoret, we participate in the redeeming mission of Christ who emptied Himself, became a servant and accepted suffering in order to deliver all from sin.
We are called to live by the Gospel values and bring good news of salvation to the society.
The spirit which we claim as our own was present in the life of our founder. As apostolic religious women, we live in a more growing awareness of God’s presence in all things especially in our actions and our ministries. The Eucharist is the centre of our lives and source of faith, hope and love. Prayer is our source of strength and inspiration.
The Assumption Sisters of Eldoret continue to live and share the charism of participating in the redeeming mission of Christ. The sisters serve in social ministry, counselling, teaching at various levels, health care, pastoral, agriculture, social communication and technical training ministries.
BISHOP JOSEPH BRENDAN HOULIHAN: THE FOUNDER OF THE ASE
Bishop Houlihan was born in Ballinranning, Co. Kerry, Ireland, on September 25, 1911 and educated at several Irish Colleges including St. Patrick’s College at Kiltegan. He was among the first group of students to join the newly founded Missionary Society of St.Patrick in 1932.
After his ordination in 1937, Fr. Houlihan was sent to Calabar, Nigeria, where he did his missionary work until 1943. About eleven years later, in 1954, he was appointed by Pope Pius XII to administer the new Prefecture Apostolic of Eldoret, Kenya. Six years later, he was appointed as the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret by Pope John XXIII and consecrated bishop on November 20, 1960.
Bishop Houlihan’s main attention was on the African people and the establishment of the churches among them.
On September 29th 1956 Msgr. Joseph Brendan Houlihan requested the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Gastone Mojaisky Perreli, to establish a diocesan congregation of sisters in Eldoret. His hope was that the Diocesan Congregation of Sisters would live the religious life and engage in the apostolate and service which the missionary sisters were already engaged in.
In 1957, he took the first step towards founding a new local Congregation of Sisters by taking five willing aspirants for training. It was to be the beginning of what is today known as the Congregation of the Assumption Sisters of Eldoret.
Our Core Values
- Joyful Service
- Hope and Courage
- Simplicity
- Hospitality
Our Vision
ASE congregation strives to be an exemplary and dynamic congregation of women Religious who live a consecrated life inspired by the Gospel values.
We, the Assumption Sisters are called to be dynamic witnesses in the redeeming mission of Christ; to preach the Gospel to all people; to work for unity, solidarity, peace, human dignity and promotion of life to the full in society; to love and care for all disadvantaged people; to bear witness to Christ and His healing mission; through our service to God in the various apostolic ministries; in a holistic approach and in the spirit of compassion, joy and true African hospitality, simplicity and devotion to prayer.
OUR BRIEF HISTORY
During the sixties, the Church emphasized the encouraging of African clergy and religious taking over the running of the Church in Africa. Msgr. Houlihan, who had the future of Kenyan Church at heart, founded the Prefecture’s minor seminary in 1955 known as the Mother of Apostles Seminary and the Assumption Sisters Congregation, where young boys and girls intending to serve God in a special way could be formed. Bishop Houlihan had worked very hard for the spread of the Church and the conversion of people every wherein the diocese, and also for the strengthening of the relatively small number of Christians who were already there.
He certainly needed people who, by offering themselves in a special way to God and His Church in Eldoret in particular, could follow his footsteps to continue what he had already began, thus the coming into being of the Assumption Sisters.
In 1957, Monsignor Houlihan embarked on the implementation of his vision of founding a local Sister’s Congregation. In 1957, he took the first step towards founding a new Local Congregation of Sisters by taking five willing aspirants for training. It was to be the beginning of what is today known as the Congregation of the Assumption Sisters of Eldoret.
The First Aspirants
On 22nd February 1957, Bishop Houlihan took five girls to Thika for training by the White Sisters. These girls were:
- Sr. Mary Anthony Kandie (Deceased)
- Sr. Mary Brigid Cheptoo,
- Sr Mary Clara Kitui,
- Sr. Maria Cheptarus,
- Sr. Mary Veronica Chesikwor.
In 1962, the five sisters became the founding members of the new diocesan Congregation of Sisters, the Assumption Sisters of Eldoret. Of the five sisters, three-Sr. Anthony Kandie, Sr. Bridgid Cheptoo, and Sr. Clara Kitui, who are commonly known as the ‘ABC’ are still firmly holding onto their vocation in the Congregation to date.
The Congregation of the Assumption Sisters of Eldoret was officially founded on 25th March 1962, when Rome gave it full status in the Church. A new convent was built at Turbo to serve them and the Holy Rosary Sisters took over from the White Sisters as formators. The Holy Rosary Sisters provided leadership of the Congregation until 1979 when it became a fully autonomous indigenous women congregation. Sr. Mary Paul Chebet became its first African Superior in the same year. She served the congregation diligently for three terms. The congregation has five other Superior Generals before the incumbent Sr. Mary Njoki took office in 2018. These are Late Sr. Angela Odhiambo, Sr. Assumpta Shipwoni, Sr. Leonida Wafula, Sr. Paschalia Mbatha, and Sr. Veronica Rop.
Where We Are Now
The ASE is growing steadily and currently, it has 200 professed members, 18Novices, 5 postulants. Being essentially apostolic, outgoing, and ready to undertake different apostolates in the Church, particularly in Kenya, the congregation is currently serving in the following eleven Dioceses:
Eldoret, Nairobi, Kakamega, Bungoma, Ngong, Nakuru, Kericho, Kitale, Lodwar, Machakos, Marsabit Dioceses in Kenya. Torit Diocese is South Sudan and Broome Diocese in Western Australia.
The Assumption Sisters of Eldoret continue to live and share the charism of participating in the redeeming mission of Christ. The sisters serve in social ministry, counselling, teaching at various levels, health care, pastoral, agriculture, social communication, and technical training ministries.
Striving to be faithful to the vision that our founder had for the mission, the Congregation has now spread to many parts of the country and even beyond.
Sr. Mary Clara
Sr Brigid Cheptoo
Do you feel called to join ASE?
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Serving Christ and Humanity Since 1962
We need your help to continue serving
As we work to serve Christ and help provide services to many underprivileged people, we require resources to achieve our goals. We depend so much on your charity and kindness to keep going and to expand our services across the locations where we serve. We thank you so much for considering donating to us and we assure you that we shall use your financial or material gifts prudently, and provide you with updates on how the projects you have donated to are progressing. Again, we thank you for your sacrifice.
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