Mission Statement

Missioning Ceremony, Sunday, February 21, 1999

On March 6 Brothers Daniel Conaghan, Thomas Murphy and John Olsen, accompanied by Brother John Collins, touched down in Nairobi, Kenya, to begin a community of welcome that serves as a home to nurture and test Xaverian vocations among interested Kenyans. Sent within the context of an Eucharistic Celebration of Missioning, held in Danvers, MA on February 21, they were warmly greeted on their first day at Mass in the Nyeri Guest House in Nairobi. The Mass was most significant and appropriate in the light of their mission to Kenya; the Kenyan celebrant was welcoming and happy that the Brothers were in his country. This sentiment spoke forcefully to the Brothers’ desire to see their call as part of a congregational re-foundation, building on the incredible efforts of the Xaverians who preceded them and connected to the present efforts of the Brothers in other parts of Africa.

Arrival in Africa seemed the completion of a journey, not only of many miles from JFK airport in New York through Gatwick in London to Nairobi, but also of a long period of personal and communal discernment. For Brother Edward Keefe (who will arrive in Africa in June) and Brothers Dan, Tom and John, their trek to their new home in western Kenya on the Uganda border north of Lake Victoria involved considerable personal and communal process. Brother Matthew Burke, Superior General of the Xaverian Brothers, who accompanied them at different stages of their preparation, described in his remarks at the missioning event "...their unbounded willingness to risk, a spirit of generosity that could only come from a deep-seated faith in God, and a fervent desire to reflect God’s love to all people of the world that undoubtedly is the result of their being permeated by the vision, spirit and charism of our Founder, Theodore James Ryken, and of our missionary patron, Saint Francis Xavier."

All four Brothers bring a wealth of experience in religious life and ministry to their new challenge, but still embrace the need for a specific program of on-going formation for this unique and important challenge. In the first phase, a process of story telling, the Brothers clarify what really matters to them and become grounded in who they really are. This experience, anchored in the context of a Christian faith perspective, fosters growth in humility, compassion, forgiveness and appreciation. By nourishing greater self-understanding and mutual appreciation, this process enables them to build community and leaves them far more aware of and bonded to one another as they begin this Kenyan chapter. In the subsequent phase prior to missioning, community building, communication skills, the implications of living in a different culture, mission spirituality, expectations and fears, receive attention. Emerging from this support program under the auspices of Formation Consultation Services, Inc. and facilitated by Brother John Collins, CFX, Mr. Steve Wickson and Ms. Dian Schuchard, the Brothers felt a heightened confidence and enthusiasm in the face of the new and unknown.

During the first month in Bungoma, the new arrivals have encountered familiar and new faces and have addressed expected and unexpected agendas. Brother William Cushing, a member of the faculty at Christ the King Major Seminary in Nyeri, and Brother Robert Dailey met them at the airport then drove them to the Nyeri Guest House. On the following day they passed baboons and zebra near the road side as they made their way to the Musingoma Youth Center, their initial residence. Brother Michael Foley, Country Director with Jesuit Relief Services, arrived from Uganda on their first day to greet them and offer any assistance that he could. After meeting Paul, the first candidate for entrance into the congregation, and some other young men, the local Bishop arrived and invited them to dinner, where the Brothers met two other Kenyan

priests. It became quite clear that many of the priests in the area are well acquainted with the Brothers who had previously served in the area and are still loved and esteemed by those who knew them. Br. Louis Calmel, Principal of St. Kevin’s Secondary School in Lodwar, and Aaron, the second candidate interested in joining, joined Brothers William, Michael and Robert for the Celebration of their first Easter for the newly arrived in Kenya. While several other priests and religious have invited them and greeted them, it is the small children who have won over their hearts. The children greet them with: "How are you?" They in turn are learning some essential phrases in Swahili like: "Jambo" (Greetings), "Assante"" (Thanks), and "Caribo" (You are welcome). Anticipated settling in arrangements quickly became slightly more challenging, however, with some needed adjustments to food, climate, and bugs.

Most recent reports from Bungoma continue to be positive and encouraging. Four interested young Kenyan men participated in a weekend in early May that featured talks on discipleship by Brother Dan, on community by Brother Tom and on service by Brother John. Spirited singing and harmonizing of Kenyan hymns backed up with drum and percussion enlivened the Eucharistic celebration and the prayer sessions. Work sessions resulted in cleaning and painting the former cook’s house for use in the first "live-in experience" that concluded just prior to the arrival of Brother Edward Keefe. Later in the year a five to six month program for the candidates is invisioned.

In his closing remarks in the missioning service Brother Matthew spoke about missionaries who "...stand prepared to model the importance of gospel witness that is lived in common; where God’s compassionate love is allowed to emerge resplendent among the members of the community as well as among those with and to whom we minister. The wonderful story of Theodore James Ryken that spoke of bands of Brothers, mutually helping each other, encouraging each other and working together for a common purpose- this story, this vision, continues to unfold today in the persons of Tom, Ed, John and Dan."

In time and with God’s help, what began in the chapel in Danvers on a quiet afternoon in March will have far reaching consequences for the Church in Kenya and the Xaverian Brothers.