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.
Sunday the 16 November 2025, what a historic day! It’s the beginning of a new adventure for us CLM here in Kenya, as on this day we opened a second community in Chelopoy, West Pokot!
We are so grateful to all those who made it happen: our “ancestor” (as we fondly call him), fr. Maciek Zielinski, the MCCJ provincial of Kenya, fr. Andrew Wanjohi, the CLM of Kenya and all the CLM!
The members of the new community are: Mercy Lodikai (from Kenya), Giulia Lampo (from Italy) and Iza Tobiasiewicz (from Poland). Round of applause, please!!! These three pioneers are ready to start serving in the area of Chelopoy, and will probably join the community of Kitelakapel in the Life Skills project, expanding it to the schools in their area, while also collaborating with the local dispensary, run by the Franciscan sisters of St. Joseph – Asumbi. They will also engage in pastoral activities, of course. For now, the plan is for them to take their time to settle in and get to know the place and the people, create bonds of friendship and get to know their culture, their situation, their needs.
On their very first day, as we celebrated the opening of the community and the works of renovation in the house they’ll be using, they were received with great warmth and joy by the local people. We, the community of Kitelakapel, accompanied them, and we were blessed by the presence of our dear fr. Maciek, our equally dear MCCJ provincial, fr. Andrew, the parish priest (fr. Philip Andruga) and Comboni sisters of Amakuriat (the parish to which the new community belongs), and even two representatives of the CLM of Uganda, the very coordinator Beatrice Akite, and treasurer, Asege Teddy, accompanied by two Italian volunteers and a local member of Kalya peace village, Uganda.
The Mass was lively and participated, so well animated by the local people, who gave us all some gifts and made us feel at home from the very beginning. The provincial then proceeded to blessing the house and then we all had something to eat. It was a simple but lovely moment of celebration.
As usual, starting a new community in a new place is not something easy. It requires a lot of patience, humility and ability to adjust. However, our friends are not alone! They have the Franciscan sisters as caring neighbours, local families and church members as their new friends and new extended family, and the fathers and sisters from Amakuriat as a strong source of emotional and practical support. Not to forget us, the community of Kitelakapel, who are also so happy to have them as our “neighbours” in West Pokot! Together we will walk on this journey, grow, support each other, and do wonderful things! And of course, all this is possible only with the broader support of all CLM, the whole Comboni family and all those who believe in us!
So, thank you all! Keep being with us in prayer, and stay tuned!
At the parish of Mikinduri, together with Belinda, we organized an educational and fun workshop on proper tooth brushing.
The event was attended by as many as 160 children!
Thanks to the support of donors from Poland, the children were able not only to learn how to take care of their teeth but also to have a wonderful time.
During the session, we talked about healthy and harmful foods, sang songs, and the children each drew one product that is good for their teeth and one that is bad.
At the end, every child received a toothbrush and toothpaste, and I demonstrated the correct brushing technique.
It was a beautiful meeting full of learning, smiles, and kindness.
Iza Tobiasiewicz, CLM in Kenya
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