March 2026
Br. Benoît Bigard has just completed his third trip to the region, following on from visits in March 2024 and January 2025 (during Fr. Ngoa’s canonical visit).
This time, in contrast to previous editions, he focused his stay on Kenya, and more specifically on Nairobi, for multiple meetings, but also including visits to two Kenyan communities outside Nairobi.
From our community at Emmanuel House (CIFA), in addition to individual meetings with the brothers, there was one meeting after another. Of course, he took the time to work with the Vice-Provincial and the Vice-Provincial Council (over 4 days). In addition, several half-days were devoted to other types of exchange, with: the Vice-Province’s Plenary Council; all available Brothers ; the Economic Commission; the Formation Commission; Young Priests; Deacons; the CIFA team of Formators; all Brothers living at Emmanuel House…
Two short excursions broke up the rhythm of the meetings. One was a visit to our community in Waunifor (Diocese of Eldoret), involved in parish work but also in agricultural projects to help us finance ourselves.
Secondly, with a visit to our Bura-Kamtonga community in the diocese of Mombasa. A community working on two sites: in Bura at the service of the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Good Hope, but also in support of the parish and schools chaplaincy; and in Kamtonga at the service of the parish of St James and also supporting a project for a future dispensary in this remote region where farmers and mine workers lack many infrastructures (dispensaries, schools, access to drinking water…).
We have no doubt that these many exchanges will bear fruit, especially at this important stage when the Vice-Province continues its march towards greater autonomy by soon becoming a Province with a view to the General Chapter of 2029!
