Missionary Sisters of Evangelization at 40: Newest Members in Kenya Urged to Remain Faithful to Vowed Life

Eldoret, 24 September, 2025 / 9:12 PM

Newly professed members of the Missionary Sisters of Evangelization (MSE) in Kenya have been challenged to remain true to their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as the Congregation marks 40 years since it was founded. 

In his Monday, September 22 homily at the anniversary celebration and profession, Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Eldoret where the Congregation was first established in the East African nation reminded the Novices that their choice of life calls for total commitment, and cautioned them against practicing the vows selectively.

“Chastity, obedience, and poverty, those are the characteristics that make you a Religious person. And just like the Ten Commandments, we say that if you break one of them, you have broken all,” Bishop Kimengich said at the event that was held at Fr. Vincenzo IDA-Trinity Mission Hospital.  

He added, “You cannot say, I'm very good at obedience. And I know in chastity I'm very good. But poverty is my big problem. It has to be in all of those areas, then truly, you will follow Christ closely.”

The Kenyan Catholic Bishop urged Novice Bibiana Cherono and Novice Dorcas Ndungwa to emulate Jesus Christ, who “devoted His life and gave everything for the sake of the kingdom of God.”

“My dear sisters, if we are committed to our vows, then even community life becomes very easy. Sometimes when we have issues with community life, it's because we have issues with the three commitments,” Bishop Kimengich said.

The two were further encouraged to draw strength from Christ in the Eucharist, who remains the source and foundation of their religious life.

“If you become a Eucharistic Saint, I can assure you that you'll be able to live your commitment, because He's the source, He's the strength of our lives. Jesus says, without me, you can not do nothing. The Lord is waiting for you. And if you have issues, go to him,” the Bishop said.

“Moments when things are tough, when things are okay, you go and thank him. When things are tough, you go and ask him for the strength and the power to persevere. That is the secret of a religious life, to center yourself totally and to be near Jesus in the place of sacrament,” he added.

The MSE was founded on the vision of Father Vicente Idà and established in Kenya in 1985 when four Mexican sisters, led by the late Archbishop John Njenga, opened the first community in Eldoret. 

Since then, the Sisters have served through schools, churches, and hospitals, nurturing Christian values in education, supporting Catechesis and pastoral care, and offering compassionate medical services. 

Their communities, including Our Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother Pascua Missionary House, and Father Vicente Idà Community, continue to embody their charism of faith, hope, and healing.

The Congregation has been established in seven countries, namely, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, Israel, Kenya, Argentina, and Madagascar.

The Local Ordinary of Eldoret congratulated all the members of the Congregation of MSE for their good work in several countries where they are currently serving, and urged them to witness Christ in their specific tasks.

“We are here to thank God for the Missionary Sisters of Evangelization. Thank you so much for what you have been able to do and the work you are doing in the seven countries where you are now,” the Bishop said.

“Sometimes things don't work out well. We don't give up! We can take a step backward and   come again. And we are very happy that those who came 40 years ago are still here with us,” he added.

The Bishop expressed gratitude to God for the Congregation of MSE and called upon the Sisters to focus on the vision of the Founder whose main aim was to bring more people to the “vineyard of the Lord.” 

He told them to demonstrate evangelization through their “various apostolates, whether it is in school, teaching catechism, running hospitals like here, all these are really what Christ did.”

At their 40th Anniversary, Bishop Kimengich emphasized that the call to evangelization must push religious communities beyond comfort zones and into places where people are most in need of God’s word, such as Kerio Valley.

Kerio Valley has faced many years of insecurity. Armed bandits often attack villages, steal animals, and sometimes kill people, forcing families to leave their homes. Schools, health centers, and even churches have at times been closed because of the violence, leaving the community without important services.

“For those 40 years now, you should be in 40 Parishes in Eldoret. We have a lot of areas where you can go to evangelize because your focus is on evangelization. We have Kerio Valley, where sometimes some of our own people are afraid to go there. But we have to have evangelizers who are courageous, and they are able to go even where nobody else wants to go,” he said.

Referring to the words of the Late Pope Francis, Bishop Kimengich encouraged the Sisters to serve in the periphery, “areas where nobody or where people really are in need of the good news,” warning against confining themselves only in well-established areas.