Kenya: Catholic Relief Services Celebrates 50 Years

The Catholic mission in Kenya was established more than 100 years ago and the Church's work there in evangelization, education and healthcare has been exemplary. This observation was made Kenya’s former republican president, Mwai Kibaki, who spoke during the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) golden jubilee celebrations in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Wednesday.

According to Vatican Radio, Kenyan Church officials echoed this sentiment, especially the Archbishop of Nyeri, Peter Kairo, representing the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), who thanked CRS East Africa region for 50 years of “great and exemplary service to humankind through charity work.” 

CRS has strengthened Catholic Church institutions in East Africa, he underscored, by offering trainings directly, or indirectly to employees implementing CRS programs, and Church leaders in governance and policy issues.

These tools, the archbishop said, have enabled them to become "competent witnesses of the Gospel of Christ."

Archbishop Kairo also thanked the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for all it has done and does to assist the poor and vulnerable in the East Africa Region.

Hosted by the apostolic nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo, the celebration brought together old and new employees of CRS.

The executive vice president of CRS for overseas operations, Schylor Thorup, led the celebrations, in which several KCCB representatives and other partners participated.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the USCCB and describes itself as the official overseas relief and development agency of the bishops' conference and as a member of Caritas International and the National Catholic Development Conference. (D.C.L.)