Kahawa Sukari”, “coffee and sugar” is the name of an area on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya; where for more than twenty years the Society of St. Carlo has devoted itself to working for a community. The vitality of this community is constantly evolving.
Situation in East Africa
If the entire region was once a plantation, its current appearance of scattered gray homes and buildings can only be explained by what has happened and is happening in East Africa; people are leaving the steppe for the city because they are drawn to the urban environment. In light of this, the six missionaries of the Congregation of St. Carlo, founded by Bishop Massimo Camisasca, are confronted with a social phenomenon in constant flux. One of the primary responsibilities of missionaries is to provide pastoral care that is tailored to the needs of the people. “Many parishioners who were born in mud houses used to have a lot of space, but then they were swept into another dimension: they travel by car or motorcycle and have a smartphone in their pocket,” one of the missionaries, Father Luca Montini, explained. “However, they risk losing their life orientation in the face of this change.”
The issue we are currently dealing with is what has prompted us to consider the meaning of life in the first place. Individuals who live in difficult circumstances will invariably be overlooked in a world where life itself appears to be the only yardstick by which success is measured. The future of a country with 61.6% of the population under 25 is at stake.
Congregation of Saint Carlo bring hope to the poor in Kenya
Members of the Society of St. Carlo first arrived in Kenya in 1986. They have responsibility is “Bring hope to the poor in Kenya”. Society’s ability to respond to a wide range of educational situations on the land has grown over time. The arrival of three new missionaries in the year 2012 contributed to the Society’s increased presence. The missionaries wasted no time in becoming involved in the parish’s education and other activities, including those held in the poor in Kenya in the Kahawa Wendani area, which is home to approximately 40,000 people. Meeting Point, a Community Meeting Center for AIDS Patients, first opened its doors in 2002 and then again in 2004.
Patients receive care that is not only medical but also holistic, and preventative measures such as office and home visits contribute to this. Furthermore, the Youth Union established a location accessible to children with special needs. The two acts of charity are intended to educate people about the fact that the sick’s condition is not a punishment for sin and is not a curse. They are instead provided with the necessary comfort to reclaim their joy of living, despite their illness.
Worries of the Congregation of Saint Carlo
Missionaries are now concerned about fundamentalism, which can be defined as “not religious” or “not political,” and the “nonsense” that it conceals as it infiltrates people’s lives. The idea behind this thesis is that the only way this makes sense is if I live up to society’s expectations. Many people are struggling to cope with this pressure, and Gakuru is one of them. Gakuruyou mana you man, 21, is suffering from the effects of AIDS. Montini’s father discovered that his son was not taking any of his prescribed medications after meeting him at the Medical Clinic. When asked why he did not take his medication, he stated that he did not want to live any longer. When I asked Gakuru about his plans, he replied with tears that he wanted to work in an office. I promised you that I would assist you, but only if you took care of yourself. I will find you a scholarship. You agreed. “When I asked him about his future, about what he wanted to do, Gakuru stared at the floor, not looking up,” Father Montini recalled.
Gakuru appears to have been resurrected, and he has realized why it is that limous for him to live. Father Montini stated that “God wants us to be where the sick souls are.” “For those of you who are currently dealing with this circumstance, we may simply reiterate the reason for our consecration: Jesus loves us with an eternal love that is stronger than our evil, and it is this love that warms and fills our hearts with joy.”
As a result, the Society of St. Carlo has actively supported the growth of a wide range of endeavors. Among these is the previously mentioned Meeting Place, which was established to provide support for AIDS patients who are frequently rejected by their families. Missionaries also assist assistance assistance assistance to mothers of disabled children, who are sometimes blamed for their children’s disabilities. This community outreach initiative is aimed at educational institutions, specifically learning institutions such as elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as vocational education institutions; from the lecture hall to the emergency room. Spending time with the patient’s caring partner will undoubtedly provide them with the experience of being loved.
Father Montini came to the following conclusion: “More than that, being a missionary means tasting the gift that Jesus has given life; I am learning day by day to know that life is a greattrialgift; a trial gift obtained through service to others.”