After traveling quite a bit, we arrived in Lima, Peru. We were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Ana and Mr. Fisher from the CLM in Peru. It was the first time we had spent Holy Week away from our country and family.
We celebrated Palm Sunday at the chapel near our home. We enjoyed the songs and prayers. People were very happy to meet us. They gave us a brief moment to introduce ourselves.
On Good Friday, we went to the Pamplona neighborhood for the Stations of the Cross. It was a new experience. Everywhere we went, we shared food and joy.
On other days, we visited the families of the CLM members who live in Lima, and we also went to the scholastics’ house and the provincial house. We also visited downtown Lima to do some sightseeing and see some very beautiful places.
So far, we’re having a very good experience. We like the food in Peru. The climate suits us well. We’ve learned about the culture, about money, and how people pay for food and other things.
We’re currently studying hard to improve our Spanish. We want to learn Spanish well so we can provide the best missionary service possible. We’re learning a lot about the culture and history, and we’re also interacting well with the people.
It has already been four months since the opening of our community in Chelopoy, Kenya. This time has allowed me to understand more deeply what mission truly is. Each day here reminds me that it is not primarily about activities or projects, but about encounter – meeting another person, their story, hopes, struggles, and faith.
My daily ministry has many dimensions: pastoral, social, and educational. Yet above all, it is about presence – simply being close to people and sharing their everyday life. It is in this simplicity that I discover the deepest meaning and value.
On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, together with Sister Rebeka and Mercy we visit families. We meet for prayer, conversation, listening, and sharing what daily life brings. These visits are extremely important to me, as they allow me to better understand the lives of the people, their joys and concerns, and their faith – often very simple, yet deeply authentic.
Sundays have a special character. After Holy Mass, together with Sister Benedicta, we try to visit the elderly and the sick in their homes. Most often, they are lonely women. In such moments, I clearly see how great the value of another person’s presence is.
An important part of my mission is also the education of young people. On Thursdays and Fridays, I teach basic computer skills at a girls’ school. For many students, this is their first encounter with technology. We learn how to type, use simple programs, and discover the opportunities the modern world offers. In today’s world, where technology plays an increasingly important role, even basic computer skills can open doors to further education and new opportunities. This gives great hope and a sense that this work truly impacts their future.
Of course, missionary life is not only about beautiful encounters but also challenges. One of them is the language barrier. It is not always easy to express what I carry in my heart or to fully understand another person. Sometimes words are missing, and uncertainty appears. Yet in these moments, I learn that communication is more than language – it is a smile, a gesture, presence, and openness. These often build bridges where words are not enough.
These first months show me that mission is, above all, relationship. It is presence, listening, and walking alongside others. It is being with another person in their daily life – both in joy and in difficulty. And although each day brings new challenges, it also brings many beautiful moments that are born in encounter.
February 19 will be remembered as a special day in the history of our missionary community
On this day, Neema Makori – as the first among the Kenyan Lay Comboni Missionaries – departed for a three-year mission to the Central African Republic. This event carries special significance – it is a sign of the growth and maturity of the missionary vocation of the laity in Kenya, and a beautiful testimony of courage, faith, and readiness to serve those most in need.
A missionary departure is not only a journey to another country. It is a response to the call of the heart, a decision to share life with the local community, to be close to people in their daily joys and struggles. Three years of service is a time for building relationships, learning a new culture and language, and growing together in faith.
Before her departure, Neema was bid farewell by fr. Maciek, Comboni Lay Missionaries and her closest family members. It was a moment filled with emotion, prayer, and gratitude. Together, they entrusted her journey to God, asking for the necessary graces, strength, health, and peace of heart throughout her mission.
We are proud and grateful for her witness. May this new chapter be a time of abundant fruits, mutual enrichment, and a deep experience of God’s presence each day.
The annual assembly of CLM Kenya was held from the 8th to the 11th of January. On Thursday, CLM members and candidates arrived to begin a time of meeting, prayer, and reflection.
The assembly began with a short reflection led by Alberto de la Portilla, which helped introduce us to the spirit of the gathering and focus on our mission and responsibilities. This was followed by an evaluation of the year 2025 according to the different huduma (i.e. in swahili, groups in charge of different “services”, like communications, formation, etc), as well as a presentation of the roles and responsibilities of both the outgoing and new huduma, which helped us better understand the tasks and services within our community.
Another point on the program was the reading and amendment of the charter of CLM Kenya. Working in groups according to each huduma, we also undertook planning for the year 2026, sharing ideas, experiences, and expectations for the future.
After the presentation of the plans for 2026, we had a social evening that took place in an atmosphere of joy, mutual kindness, and fraternal community. It was a moment of strengthening relationships and sharing ourselves in a simple and warm way.
At the conclusion of the assembly, a final presentation and evaluation of the entire meeting took place. Father Maciej led the closing prayer and gave us his blessing, strengthening us for our continued journey of service and mission. After this spiritual conclusion, we all returned to our respective communities, enriched by the shared time and experience.
On February 1st, at St. John Baptist Parish in Riruta, Nairobi, a solemn Holy Mass was celebrated during which the missionary sending of our Kenyan CLM, Veronicah Neema Makori, took place. The liturgy was presided over by Fr. David Ahiro, MCCJ, who, on behalf of the Church community, imparted the blessing to Neema.
During this solemn celebration, the missionary was officially sent to undertake her missionary service in the Central African Republic, precisely in Mongoumba, where one of our international CLM communities is operating. It was a moment of deep prayer, gratitude, and joy for the gift of vocation with which God continues to bless His Church. The parish community, gathered for the Eucharist, expressed its unity by surrounding the missionary with heartfelt prayer and spiritual support.
The faithful prayed for God’s abundant graces upon Veronicah Neema Makori, asking for the light of the Holy Spirit, strength and wisdom in facing daily challenges, and protection on her path of service to the Church and to the people to whom she is sent. This celebration was also a testimony to the living faith and missionary commitment of St. John Baptist Parish in Riruta.
May the Holy Spirit continually strengthen her, and may Christ—the Supreme Missionary—guide and accompany her each day on her missionary journey.
CLM Kenya
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