Fraternity of Priests

January, 2001

If there were one word with which I can sum up the Church in Kenya it would be hope. In the midst of great poverty and persecution there is a great sense of the Lord’s provision for His people and a bright future that He has planned for them. Priests, religious and laity are laboring mightily in proclaiming the Kingdom of God and bringing it about by works of faith and charity.

I was privileged to travel to Kenya in East Africa with a team of 25 for 3 large FIRE rallies and 2 retreats for priests, religious and lay leaders in the charismatic renewal. I was there primarily to help out with the priests’ retreat and to see if there might be an interest in starting Fraternities in Kenya. After meeting with several groups of priests and meeting with the priests on retreat there are preliminary plans to start Fraternities in the Dioceses of Ngong, Kitui, Makuru, Mero, and Murango. Please keep our brothers in prayer as they seek the Lord’s will for their lives together.

One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the transformation of the priests who were on the retreat. Some had been exposed to the charismatic renewal in the past and some had been sent by their Bishops to see how they could better care for the prayer groups that had started in their Dioceses. Although many were touched by the talks most spoke of an experience of freedom during praise and worship. The Lord freed many of them from different fears and a distrust of the gifts of the Spirit. It was wonderful to see the Lord break more fully into their hearts. Many claimed healings from past hurts and a new springtime in their faith.

The relationship between the laity and the clergy has not always been the best in Kenya. The 2 retreats were combined for several sessions each day where the clergy and laity were able to be taught together and worship with one another. There were healings in relationships and the Lord said He didn’t want competition but a mutual love and support for one another. Many of the laity spoke of their desire to let the priests know of their love and their desire to support them in their ministry.

One night at the end of the retreat there were a group of seminarians that moved into the retreat house where we were staying and they asked what our group was doing there. Several of the people explained about our mission and what the Lord had been doing. They asked if someone could speak to them (in about 10 minutes). It turns out that they were 19 Jesuit seminarians from 17 different African countries who were there for a few days of retreat. When I walked in and asked what they were looking for one of the seminarians said, “We were wondering if you could explain the charismatic renewal to us and then pray for us to be baptized in the Holy Spirit”.

After talking to them for about an hour about the history of the charismatic renewal and the gifts of the Spirit they all asked to be prayed over. Several began speaking in tongues right away and most spoke of a deeper experience of the Lord’s love and peace in their hearts. Please pray that the Lord continue to guide our seminarians.

Pray that the Lord continue to guide our work in Kenya and all of Africa. There seems to be a great hunger for Fraternity within our African brothers. The Fraternities in Ghana continue to grow and there will be a mission trip to assist them this July. We have already made plans to minister in Tanzania next January. May the Lord continue to bless our efforts to help in the renewal of the priesthood throughout the world.

Back to the Missions page

100 Belleview Blvd., Steubenville, OH. 43952
Phone: 740-283-4400
Fax: 740-283-3622
E-mail: contact@fraternityofpriests.org