Having a spirited mission in the land obscured by the effects of civil war requires a bold heart build on the foundation of a rock. This is true and evident in the epitome of the women religious of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Eldoret (A.S.E). The congregation has taken a bold step to evangelize to the people living in the semi-desert areas of Kenya and beyond. The sisters work in Moyale, Rombo, Lodwar, and South Sudan. These places are dominated by the pastoralists and reaching them is not for the faint-hearted.
The congregation recently heeded the call for the new mission in Lokichogio by the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society. The new mission was embraced in a colourful celebration for the opening of the community. The Mass celebration was presided by the Vicar General of Lodwar Diocese Rev Fr. Paul Areman and in attendance was the District Leader of the Society of St. Patrick, Rev. Fr. Sean Cremin, Superior General A.S.E Sr. Mary Njoki, Sr. Agnes Nanjala (Vicar A.S.E), and Sr. Magdalene Suter (Councillor A.S.E).
The host community of the members of St. John Catholic church Lokichogio together with their shepherds Fr. Stanley (parish priest), Fr Tom, and Fr. Julius welcomed the sisters with a lot of joy. The superior general (A.S.E) commissioned the pioneer sisters (Sr. Isabella Kokasgei, Sr. Margaret Mashirima, and Sr. Mercy Gorett) during the celebration.
Crossing to the neighbouring country of South Sudan, we serve in the diocese of Torit Eastern Equatorial state in Narus. We participate in health, education, and pastoral ministries. The community “our Lady of Assumption” in Narus was started in 2016 after the invitation by the St. Patrick’s Missionaries who are working in the same place. The pioneer members were Srs. Lilian Nyaboke and Bilha Olivia who worked as teachers in St. Bakhita Girls’ secondary.
South Sudan is faced with the challenge of forced child marriage which denies girls to access education, a tool that the young nation needs to eradicate poverty. In this light, the Catholic Church in the area of Narus has taken the task of emancipating women and children from the tradition that closes them out of schools. Each year on the 25th of November a campaign is carried out in different villages to sensitize the communities on the need and importance of education.
The A.S.E sisters currently working in Narus are at the forefront advocating for education for all. Apart from nurturing the young girls in St. Bakhita Girls by Srs. Lydia Murono and Bilha Olivia, Sr. Edel queen Okeka who works in the hospital encourages the mothers who come to the facility to join the adult classes. Sr. Teresa Yator works with young children in Pre-primary at St. Joseph’s nursery and also teaches the adults. With their combined effort in carrying pastoral work in the small Christian communities, the sisters have managed to convince some parents to allow their children to come to school. Due to the love of cows, many parents find it very hard and strange to take girls to school which they term as a “waste of time and cause of poverty” Although it is a tough road taken to deal with the parents we A.S.E are guided and driven by our charism ‘’ Participation in the redeeming mission of Christ.”
During this year 2021 campaign against forced child marriage our superior general joined the ambassadors of child protection and took part in the event in Lopua village. Sr. Mary Njoki addressed the congregants and in her speech, she encouraged parents to invest in their children through education of both boys and girls as a way of preparing future leaders and eradicating illiteracy. The presence of our superior General in Narus at this time of the event was timely after she emerged as the Superior of the year in AOSK.
Where there is a will there is a way. In due time the oasis will grow into a river that will have a source.