Bicentenary Celebration of the Birth of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie in Malindi, Kenya

On the 16th of November 2025, the Missionaries of Africa Community (M.Afr.) and the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA) serving in the diocese of Malindi celebrated with joy and gladness the 200 years of our founder Charles Lavigerie. We were honoured to have as the main celebrant of the Eucharistic celebration his Lordship, Rt. Rev. Willybard Lagho, Bishop of Malindi concelebrate by Fr. Leo Laurence Assistant Superior General of the M.Afr. and other priests. From Nairobi a delegation of the Lavigerie Family in Kenya consisting of one confrere, one MSOLA Sister and one Lady from the Lavigerie Lay Missionaries Association, joined us in lifting our prayers and thanksgiving to God in memory of Cardinal Lavigerie, his prophetic inspiration and the charism he handed over to us. Together with all the parish community we celebrated three other events n the same celebration: the Parish Family Day of St. Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of the parish, the administration of the sacrament of Confirmation and of the sacrament of first Holy Communion. It was a day of praise and thanksgiving to God for faithfulness and loving compassion in our life as a parish and as a Society. As we could sing together: “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8)

What kind of mission do the M.Afr. and the MSOLA do in Malindi ?

The MSOLA Community of Pope Francis Rescue Centre Malindi serves in a diocesan project that rescues and supports sexually abused children, journeys with their family members, takes their cases to courts, does psycho-social support, helps children to continue their education and skills training and helps vulnerable families to start a small business.

The Missionaries of Africa community serves in St Catherine Parish, Tarasaa, in an environment of majority Muslims. The Catholic faithful are a minority among Christian denominations. The environment of the parish is a fertile land for ecumenical encounters and interfaith dialogue, and also for justice and peace ministry, necessary because of conflicts and tribal clashes. That is why we are very much involved in these activities both at parish and diocesan levels. We use both ecumenism and interfaith dialogue as tools for community peace building, reconciliation and promotion of social justice. As a parish, our first goal is proclamation and evangelisation; we do catechesis even in neighbouring high schools for YCS. We also engage in youth ministry, in this way promoting peaceful cohabitation among the communities through sports and cultural activities. Our parish compound has become a meeting place also for youths and children from others churches and religions, especial Muslims. Other places of interreligious dialogue and encounter are our school and dispensary.

Together in prayer as pilgrims of the Gospel and of hope, may we continue sowing the seeds of love, peace and justice for a better world, walking together in the footsteps of our Founder Cardinal Lavigerie. May his zeal for mission and passion for Africa keep our hearts burning to live truly the gospel values in building witnessing communities and making ourselves everything to everybody (Le tout à tous).

By: Fidèle M. Mugalihya, M.Afr.