Members of Oldest Catholic Parish Inland Kenya “adopt” Parts of Prayer Garden as Construction Begins

Credit: ACI Africa

“Individuals, families and groups have adopted different parts of the prayer garden. There are those who have pledged to fund Stations of the Cross, others The Altar, and so on,” the Kenyan member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers/CSSp.) told ACI Africa. 

He underlined the need for St. Austin’s Msongari Parish to be given the status of a Shrine, having birthed many other Catholic Parishes and even Kenyan Episcopal Sees. 

The Spiritan Priest said that with a prayer garden, pilgrims visiting the shrine would have a quiet place to pray.

St. Austin's Parish is covered with lush greenery that has a stream cutting through it, offering the Parish a proper ambience for prayer. 

But the Kenyan Parish also shares space with St. Mary’s School and many Archdiocesan activities are held at the School Grounds, a potential for distractions. Fr. Omondi said that a thick wall will ensure that there is quiet for those in the prayer garden.

The parish has only had a small adoration that is always full on certain days, denying many the quiet they need to pray.

Fr. Omondi said that the idea to establish a prayer garden for St. Austin’s Msongari Parish was conceived about seven years ago, adding, “The celebration of our anniversary of 125 years inspired me to revive the idea.”

“We want to establish a serene place of prayer,” the Kenyan Spiritan Priest said, and added, “The prayer garden is meant to exclude one from all the noises of cars passing by, the children outside their classrooms, and the faithful attending events in the premises.”

Credit: ACI Africa

Further explaining the features of the envisioned prayer garden, Fr. Omondi said, “We will have a Priest to listen to confessions on scheduled hours. There will also be very big strong Rosary beads on the ground on which someone can walk while praying.”

St. Austins’ Prayer Garden Resource Mobilization Committee had a budget of KSh. 39.5 million (US$307,000,00) at the launch of the project last year. After the May 2 golf tournament, some 30 percent of the funds had been raised.

Other strategies lined up include ongoing contributions in Small Christian Communities (SCCs) and other pious groups of the Parish and a planned fundraising walk on Father’s Day 2025.

The fundraising is expected to end in October 2025, and for the construction of the prayer garden to be completed by November 2025.

Highlighting the challenge of mobilizing funds for the establishment of the prayer garden, Fr. Omondi said, “We have other obligations to honor. The Church must run as usual. The contribution towards the prayer garden shouldn't be an interruption to our other financial obligations given that it is the same people raising all the other funds. Our desire is to be tactical so that the burden isn't felt so much.”

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“In coming up with our fundraising strategies, we try to be innovative so that the faithful find them exciting and fun,” he said, adding that Christians have been finding activities such as dinners to engage in while contributing towards Church development projects.

Rose Wachira, a member of Muthaiga Golf Club who also sits on St. Austin' s Prayer Garden Resource Mobilization Committee described fundraising for the prayer garden as “very tough”.

“Our appeal is that all parishioners own the project,” Mrs Wachira said, adding that parishioners at St. Austin’s can contribute towards the prayer garden by engaging in professional or even manual work at the site.

Her sentiments were echoed by Paul Ouma, who chairs the committee. He described the prayer garden as “a legacy project”.

Credit: ACI Africa

“Let us all contribute. Let us do it for posterity,” Mr. Ouma said, and added, “Supporting this initiative is a form of prayer. One would want to be among the people who future members of this parish will be praying for when they see the prayer garden.”

Many leading corporates in Kenya, including banks, hospitality firms, and media organizations sponsored the May 2 golf tournament in cash and kind.

Charles Omondi, the Director Corporate Banking at NCBA Bank Kenya and member of the Catholic International Community (CIC) at St. Austin’s Msongari Parish said the bank was happy to be part of the prayer garden.

“At NCBA, we are very strong in supporting faith-based institutions, especially Catholic institutions,” Charles Omondi said, and added, “Supporting a prayer garden, in particular, is a project that is very special to us given it is an initiative that will enhance the growth of our faith in the parish.”