Kenya

Historical Background

Missionaries of the Congregation of Holy Cross arrived in Kenya in 1968. That same year they established Holy Cross Parish in Dandora, which at the time was a newly developing low-income housing project on the outskirts of Nairobi. Originally planned for only 40,000 residents, Dandora quickly grew in population to over a quarter million people, most of whom are impoverished. Now situated next to Nairobi’s overflowing municipal waste site, Holy Cross Parish serves people in a region with glaring public health concerns.

Today, Holy Cross Parish remains the center of the ministerial work of the Congregation in Kenya and stands as an oasis of hope amid the material poverty of the Dandora slum. The parish is unique in Nairobi with its strong emphasis on lay leadership and the presence of numerous small Christian communities.

The ministries of the parish include St. James Nursery and Primary School, Brother André Hospital, Holy Cross Vocational Training Center, and a food bank. In recent years, Brother André Hospital has received funding through the Holy Cross Mission Center for the Visitation Maternity Ward and expanded surgical services, making it the only accessible medical facility for most Dandora residents.

As educators in the faith, Holy Cross has been instrumental in Catholic higher education in Kenya. Servant of God Vincent McCauley was instrumental in raising funds for the establishment of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi in 1984. The Congregation was also a founding member of Tangaza University in Nairobi which opened in 1986 to provide theological training for seminarians of religious congregations in East Africa.

Nairobi, Kenya, is also the home of McCauley Formation House which is the formation house for the Congregation’s many professed seminarians and brothers in East Africa. With a steady flow of vocations, the Congregation has been able to continue to grow and expand its mission.

Holy Cross in East Africa Today

Finally Professed Priests

Finally Professed Brothers

Temporarily Professed CSCs

Men in Formation

Resources for Partnerships

Ministries in Nairobi

Holy Cross Parish, Dandora
P.O. Box 58078, Nairobi, Kenya
Rev. Silvester Makwali, C.S.C., Pastor

Patrick Peyton House, Dandora (Holy Cross community house with 5 guest beds)
P.O. Box 58078, Nairobi, Kenya
Rev. Stephen Mburu, C.S.C., House Director

St. James Nursery, Primary & Junior Secondary School
P.O. Box 58078-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Br. Patrick Tugume, C.S.C., Head Teacher

Brother André Hospital
P.O. Box 58078, Nairobi, Kenya
Mr. Sam Guamba, Administrator

McCauley House of Formation
P.O. Box 940-00502, Karen-Nairobi, Kenya
Rev. Fulgens Katende, C.S.C., Director

Experience with Immersion Groups

The Dandora community of Holy Cross regularly welcomes international visitors to their ministries, including Holy Cross men in formation, parish groups visiting for service-immersion experiences, and medical aid groups that come to serve at Bro. André Hospital in Dandora. At the Patrick Peyton House, there are five guest beds in self-contained rooms. However, due to the ministries’ proximity to the municipal waste site and a busy public transportation depot, groups traveling to Nairobi would likely require hotel reservations outside of Dandora.

Nearest Airport

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: +254 020 6822111
Email: talk2us@flamboyant-heyrovsky.3-239-183-216.plesk.page

Nearby Universities for Potential Partnership

Institution of Higher Education	Rank in Kenya
University of Nairobi	1
Technical University of Kenya	4
Strathmore University	5
Catholic University of Eastern Africa	8
United States International University	9
Daystar University	10
Management University of Africa	n/a
Africa Nazarene University	n/a
KCA University	n/a

Health & Safety

The government of Kenya requires proof of yellow fever immunizations or visitors may be denied entry. Visit the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date vaccine and medication recommendations for U.S. travelers to Kenya.

The Holy Cross leaders in Nairobi regularly monitor and advise immersion groups on safety concerns in their ministry region.

For every region of the world, the U.S. Department of State maintains updated travel advisories for U.S. citizens to consider when traveling abroad.

U.S. Embassy in Nairobi
United Nations Avenue Nairobi
P.O. Box 606 Village Market
00621 Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +020 363 6451
Email: nairobipas@state.gove

Travel Documentation

The following documents are needed for entry into Kenya:

A passport that is valid for at least six months after the anticipated departure date. Two blank pages are required to receive an entry stamp upon arrival.
Tourist e-visa.
Proof of yellow fever immunizations.

Visit the U.S. Department of State webpage on Kenya for more information.

Partner With Us

Join our global Mission.

To further explore partnership opportunities with the Holy Cross Mission Center and our ministry partners around the world, contact Assistant Director for Community Engagement Michael Jezewak at mjezewak@holycrossusa.org or (574) 631 – 8884; or schedule a discovery call using the link below:

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Kenya

Historical Background