Kenya is located in eastern Africa. Maize and beans are basic food. Dancing is favorite form of recreation throughout the country. Formerly ruled by the British, Kenya gained her independence in 1963 after a long fight. Swahili is the national language. Nairobi is te capital of Kenya. Basic unit of money is shilling. Population of Kenya estimates 40 million. There are an estimated 14 million baptized Catholics in Kenya, approximately 35% of the population.
The humble beginning of CMI Kenya Mission starts on 11th November 1981, awhen Bishop of Machakos Diocese invited the CMI congregation to work here. Fr. Edward Padikkala CMI came in 1981 as teacher in one of the oldest and famous schools of the whole area, Kabaa catholic High School. He taught there for 11 years. In 1983 Fr. Jose Kallely CMI came to the Kenyan mission and he was appointed as the parish priest of Mbiuni, a large political location of the District. In 1984 Fr. Joy Kalaparambath CMI started working as the assistant parish priest of the same parish. The CMI’s served in Machakos Diocese in 4 parishes, namely, Mbiuni, Ngunga, Mitaboni and Kola. At Mitaboni, Fr. Edward was appointed as the acting parish priest for six months. Then the bishop transferred him to Kola parish for six years. We left Kola parish to African priests due to the lack of CMI personnel. We constructed five churches and a polytechnic for girls. Now we are working in four places in Machakos Diocese.
The first missionaries committed themselves for the integral development of the local church with the whole hearted cooperation and support of the local people and the ecclesiastical authorities. In view of better coordination and organization of the various missionary activities the Kenya-Madagascar was raised to a Sub-region in 2001. We started formation in Kenya in 2001. On 20 August 2010, Prior General erected Kenya-Madagascar Sub-region as Region, the St. Thomas Region of Kenya-Madagascar. Fr. Jose Kallely was elected as the first Regional superior of the St. Thomas Region.;-St. Thomas Regional House
St. Thomas Regional House is situated at Syokimau / Mlolongo near Nairobi. It was officially opened by Rev. Fr. Mathew Kaniamparambil, the then Vicar General of CMI Congregation, on 8th December 2007. A new three storied house was built with 24 rooms attached to Regional house in 2011. It was blessed by Rev. Fr. Paul Achandy CMI, the Provincial on 2nd August 2011. Now the scholastics use Regional house as their study house for their theological studies at Hekima College, Nairobi.
Mt. Sinai CMI School
Mt. Sinai CMI School was officially opened in Syokimau, near Nairobi, on 26th January 2002. Fr. Davy Kavungal and other CMI fathers have contributed enormously in the building up of this school. Sisters of Notre Dame are helping in the administration. Fr. Jijo Theethai is the administrator of this school.
St. Veronica Parish
St. Veronica Catholic Parish, Syokimau under the Machakos diocese is a new Parish entrusted to CMI congregation. It was formerly one of the outstations of St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Mlolongo. On 1st March 2012, His Lordship Bishop Martin Kivuva Musonde, the Bishop of Machakos declared it as a new Parish. Since then Fr. Anto Thekkudan CMI has been the Priest in charge of this parish. The CMI congregation has set apart a portion of their land for the construction of this new Parish. For scholastics who live in the regional house, it provides amble opportunities to grow in pastoral field in many ways.