A New Car for a Parish in Kenya 

The missionary congregation of Saint Francis of Sales was founded in France in the mid-1800s. Today, it has 1,500 members and is particularly active in the field of education, from primary school to secondary and vocational school. The brothers of the congregation are also dedicated to the poor and disadvantaged. They work in about 30 countries, including Kenya. 

The parish of Saint Michael of Chera is in central Kenya and has been run by the Salesian Fathers since 1997. It has 3,500 parishioners and continues to grow. At present, it includes two main centers, nine chapels, and 40 outlying communities, some of which are up to 10 miles from the parish centers.

This poses a problem for Father Francis Kallikatt, the parish priest. His car is already old and cannot properly run on the difficult roads in this hilly region. He and his fellow priests urgently need a new vehicle, since they travel constantly to see their parishioners. Every Sunday, two Holy Masses are celebrated in the parish church, and there are at least five additional Masses in the surrounding villages. On weekdays, Holy Mass is held in the outstations and the smaller communities; the priests also use this time to visit the sick and the handicapped, prepare children and adults for the Sacraments, and supervise the construction of new chapels. Additionally, the 12 schools in the parish must be regularly visited. 

We would like to help Father Kallikatt and the Salesians get a new, more reliable vehicle, and we have promised them $21,357. Will you join us in supporting their work?

Code: 130-01-29