Beginnings of the
Nairobi Community
20th of July 1984
an“ALITALIA” plane
landed at the JKIA in
Nairobi
bringing 3 Sisters who will
open the community in
Nairobi - Hurlingham
THE FIRST COMMUNITY OF NAIROBI:
They came accompanied by
Sr. Lia Sperandio,
the Provincial of Turin
“The sky was cloudy, the air cold
but the welcome given to us by
Sr. Rosa Farina was very warm.
Her embrace was a manifestation
of affection and joy.” (Chronicle, pg.1)
“At the gate of our house there was a watchman,
Mr. Jackson, who welcomed us with a beautiful smile.”
(Chronicle 1984, pg.1)
“ This property belonged to Mrs. Monteiro who before leaving
together with her son for Australia did everything to make sure
that her house would go into the hands of a
Religious Congregation”.
(Chronicle 1984 pg.1)
“This will be the house for
welcoming people and
a link with other
houses in East Africa.”
(Chronicle 1984 pg.1)
Main Entrance
Back of the
house
The community with Sr. Lia Sperandio
“Mother Lia was so much in a hurry to set up the house, that still,
on the day of our arrival she went to town with Sr. Rose to buy material
for the curtains.”
(Chronicle 1984 pg. 2)
24th July 1984: “The beautiful statue of Mary Help of Christians brought
from Rome dominates our community room…On the wall behind her
Sr. Marietta wrote “Salamu Maria”… so with this greeting we start this
new day, the first “24th “asking her to bless this house, her house where
she will reign always”
(Chronicles 1984, pg. 5)
21st July 1984
The life of the little
community started:
Unpacking boxes
Preparing food
22nd July 1984
“At 9.00 am we went to the military headquarters for the Mass.
After obtaining the pass to enter we walked under curious
glances of the soldiers, passed by many tends and houses and
finally reached the Catholic chapel. As we entered, a sea
of little heads turned around to look at us…however it was
time to start the Mass, Fr. Pietro was already at the altar…..
We were struck by the perfect singing
of the people and by their pious attitude during the Mass…..
After the Mass….shaking of many friendly hands and
answering many questions: who are we? why are we here?
where do we stay? In fact, we came back from the
church at midday accompanied by a group of children who
wanted to see the house of their Sisters that will also become
their house”.
(Chronicle 1984 pg. 4)
On the 26th July, the first two
girls came to the Oratory.
That was a beginning of
beautiful gatherings where
praying and playing together
gave joy to many children
from the neighboring houses.
(Chronicles 1984, pg 7)
29th July 1984
After supper we take advantage
of the last minutes of the
presence of our Provincial with
us to share with her our projects
and our dreams. After the
prayers we are ready to
accompany her to the airport.
We have nothing to give her to
bring to Italy, then we have an
idea… to put a bit of the red
African soil in a small bottle. We
ask her to offer it during the
Mass at the General Chapter as
a sign of hope for the work
which the daughters and sons
of Don Bosco will do in Africa…
…after a quick embrace and check in at the passport counter Mother Lia
disappears quickly. We remained silent in front of this reality…but it is here
where good God wants the three of us to be, to do a mission which is all his.”
(Chronicles 1984, pg 9)
12th August 1984
“The Oratory of this afternoon was
very active. About 40 children
participated in games, songs and
prayer. The children even brought
some musical instruments.
Sr. Mary gave a gift to Judith
because she brought 6 new
children to the Oratory.
We hope that Our Lady
will help us to carry on
with this activity so dear
to Don Bosco. We even
bought some games for
the children”.
(Chronicle 1984 pg.16)
16th August, 1984
“The catechist from the Military Quarters came today to give
us bad news. He suggested that we close the Oratory. The
parents of some
Protestant children complained to him that
through our teaching we bring confusion to their religious
convictions.
We feel very bad for being forced to close this beautiful activity.
The parents of the Catholic children forbade them to come
to the Oratory afraid that it may create tension between them
and the Protestant neighbours.
It breaks our hearts to see the children at the gate … Sr. Mary
had to tell them that for now the Oratory is closed. They go away
sad and ask if they can come at least on Sunday…”
(Chronicle 1984 pg.16)
Since we have no chapel, Fr. Luke Van Loy and other
visiting priests celebrate the Mass for us in the
community room……
Almost from the first days
we realized that our house
will really be a house
of welcoming and accommodating
various visitors: Salesians,
volunteers, family members,
Sisters from other Congregations
and of course our own Sisters
from other communities.
For example: “Sr. Lila, Sr. Anna
and Sr. Lucy (Servants of Mary
Immaculate) from Korr came on the
18th November 1984 to make their
Annual Retreat in our House. For us
it is additional work but we have also
the joy to see that our house became
a place of prayer” (Chronicle 1984, pg. 39)
“On the 9th December at 7.00 Sr. Rosetta
and Fr. Felice went to the Airport to meet
Fr. Abbate who arrived from Italy…we
welcomed him very cordially and are full of
appreciation for his enthusiasm and zeal
to start a new life at 73 years of age”
(Chronicle 1984, pg. 44)
“Our days are occupied with many trips to various offices for the
registration of ourselves as individuals and of the Congregation.
We search for some apostolate…we are still very sad for the
Oratory that we had to close…
With the help of the Salesians we are trying to get our boxes which
are still in the port of Mombasa…and the many boxes which belong
to the Sisters of Tonj…..
There are still legal procedures to be finalized before we could
complete the payment for the house…..
…..and we dream of having a little chapel with the Eucharist
in our house….
In the meantime Sr. Rosetta and Sr. Marietta learn Kiswahili in the
CPK language school….”
7th November 1984
“Today, before starting to make the floor of the chapel,
exactly in the place of the altar, we have placed a bottle
containing various relics of our Saints with the pictures of
Jesus, Mary and Joseph and a short prayer that the good
God would make this place a place of prayer, Adoration,
Thanksgiving, Reparation and Petition. After three months of
waiting we feel very strongly the need of the presence of the
Eucharistic Jesus. We hope that this blessed day arrives
soon.”
(Chronicles 1984, pg. 37)
26th November 1984
“Mr. Giovanni Putton kept his word.
The works are finished and the chapel
is ready…but we are very
sorry that the tabernacle has not yet
arrived…We know that our boxes
are already in Mombasa, but it
takes time to get them out.”
(Chronicles 1984, pg. 41)
16th January 1985
“In the evening Fr. Jacob and
Fr. Vincent paid us an
unexpected visit. Hearing that
today we’ve finally got our tabernacle,
they celebrated the Mass and left the Eucharistic Jesus with us, in our little
beautiful chapel.
Since the chapel is situated in the centre of the house it will be easy to visit
Him. We hope that the chapel will really be the Centre and Christ the centre of
our hearts.”
( Chronicles 1985, pg 8)
“On the 3rd April 1985, the students of Kilimani
Primary School, prepared by Sr. Marietta
received the Sacraments of Reconciliation
and First Communion during the Mass
celebrated by Fr. Mc Faren in the school.
The Principal of the school allowed all
the Catholic students from other classes
to participate in the Mass and to share
the joy of their friends. It was our first
experience of this kind and the result
was very good…” (Chronicles 1985, pg. 30)
30 April 1985
“The closing of our Retreat
was a bit unusual because of
the presence of Fr. Egidio
Viganò, the Rector Major of the
Salesians. He is in Kenya for
the first time, he has arrived
from Rome only this morning.
We all sat around him to listen
to the family news…..
Don Viganò celebrated the
Mass together with his
secretary Fr. Botta and our
Retreat preacher, Fr. Sebastian
Chako…. Fr. Tony D’Souza, the delegate for East Africa joined us for
supper. During the “good night” we assured the Rector Major of our
prayers for the success of his visit in Kenya and Tanzania”
(Chronicles 1985 pg. 36)
19th May 1985
“Our dear Mother Lina Chiandotto, a newly elected mother for the
Missions, and her secretary Sr. Florita Damayuga are here with us. This is
a canonical visit but as always, done in a family spirit…..”
(Chronicles 1985 pg. 44)
24th May 1985
“Our first Feast of Mary Help of Christians
in Kenya. We went to Don Bosco in Upper Hill for the
6.00 pm Mass. The Cardinal Mourice Otunga
blessed a new, nice chapel dedicated to Mary Help of
Christians. The community of the faithful is already
quite numerous there. The Salesians plan to build there
a big church… the plot is very big and the approval of
the Rector Major granted.”
(Chronicles 1985 pg. 45-46)
8th May 1985 “Today we have received a proposal to teach catechism in the school
which belongs to the Cathedral . And so we are very happy to be able to teach now
in four different places …”
(Chronicles 1985, pg. 41)
9th May 1987
“Today is the 150 anniversary of
the birth of our Co-fundress
St. Maria D. Mazzarello.
While in Mornese the celebrations
take place, we here, plant a tree
typical for this place, as a symbol
of vitality of the spirit of Mornese
which will take roots in Africa,
especially in Kenya”
(Chronicles 1987, pg. 29)