Eastern Africa Jesuits

05/09/2026

September 5 | ST. TERESA OF CALCUTTA & INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CHARITY

Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) and join the world in observing the International Day of Charity—a day that reminds us of the transformative power of compassion, generosity, and service.

St. Teresa dedicated her life to serving the poorest and most vulnerable, showing us that charity is not only about what we give, but also about the love, dignity, and humanity with which we encounter others.

Today reminds us that meaningful change begins when we choose to accompany those on the margins, strengthen communities, and turn compassion into action.

May St. Teresa of Calcutta inspire us to recognize Christ in those most in need and to make our lives instruments of love and service.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.

02/09/2026

September 2 | Remembering the Blessed Jesuit Martyrs

Today, the Society of Jesus commemorates Blessed James Bonnaud and Companions; Joseph Imbert and John Nicolas Cordier; Thomas Sitjar and Companions; and John Fausti and Companions — Jesuits who remained steadfast in their faith amid persecution.

The Supplement to the Roman Missal for Celebrations Proper to the Society of Jesus describes them as martyrs who gave their lives because of hatred for the Christian name and the Catholic Church.

Blessed James Bonnaud and 22 other Jesuit priests were martyred in 1792 during the French Revolution after refusing to take the oath supporting the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, enacted by the National Constituent Assembly.

Joseph Imbert and John Nicolas Cordier were killed during the Reign of Terror in 1794. Like their fellow martyrs, they refused to take an oath that conflicted with their fidelity to the Church.

In Spain, Thomas Sitjar and 10 other Jesuits continued their ministry clandestinely after the Society of Jesus was expelled from the country in 1932. They were arrested and martyred in Gandia and Valencia in 1936, at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.

In Albania, John Fausti, an Italian Jesuit and Vice Provincial of Albania, was martyred alongside Daniel Dajani, Rector of the Pontifical Seminary in Shkodër, and Brother Gjon Pantalia during the religious persecution of 1946 and 1947.

Their courage and unwavering commitment to Christ remain a powerful witness to the Gospel. As we honour their memory, may their example strengthen us to remain faithful, courageous and generous in the service of God and His people.

Oremus

O Lord, as we commemorate these Jesuit martyrs, expand our minds and hearts, so that we may set aside our own interests and seek only those of Jesus Christ. Amen.

01/09/2026

AUGUST 31, 2026: A New Dawn for Education in Malindi, KENYA as Aquilino Tarimo Jesuit School officially opens its doors

A new chapter in Jesuit education began in Kajajini, Malindi, on Monday, 31 August 2026, with the official opening of Aquiline Tarimo Jesuit School—a landmark institution established to expand access to quality, holistic and values-based education.

The ceremony was graced by Rev. Fr. Deshi Ramadhani SJ, as the Guest of Honour, alongside the School Director, Rev. Fr. Sossy Luyembe, SJ, Jesuits, donors, education officials, community leaders, parents, teachers and pupils.

The day’s celebrations began with Holy Mass and continued with the hoisting of the flags, the singing of the Kenyan National Anthem, the official ribbon-cutting and the blessing of the new school facilities. The programme also featured thanksgiving, performances and addresses from the school leadership, donors, community representatives and education stakeholders.

The opening represents the culmination of a journey that began in 2022 with a social analysis and the development of funding proposals. This was followed by the acquisition and fencing of 4.7 acres of land, the construction of early-years classrooms and the completion of the first phase of the Primary and Junior High School.

The newly completed one-storey building comprises 14 classrooms, staff and administrative offices, counselling rooms, utility spaces and a reception area. When fully operational, the facilities will accommodate more than 400 pupils from Grade 1 through Junior High School.

This milestone was made possible through the generous support of the Swiss Jesuit Mission – Jesuiten weltweit, Irish Jesuits International – IJI, AOR Development Office, St. Francis Xavier Parish in Cincinnati, Ohio and the professionals who contributed their expertise throughout the project.

Guided by the motto, “To Love and To Serve,” Aquiline Tarimo Jesuit School now stands as a beacon of hope—opening doors to knowledge, nurturing young minds and shaping future generations through Jesuit education.

Congratulations to the entire Aquiline Tarimo Jesuit School community on this historic achievement 🍀🍁

28/08/2026

29 AUGUST 2026 ⏐The Passion of Saint John the Baptist

By dying for the truth, John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord’s Passion. He was a “righteous and holy man” through and through, and the Gospel today reveals that Herod, even while being rebuked, “liked to listen to him.” This can only be accounted for by the Baptist’s great love. All of us find in John the Baptist an inspiration to live with courageous love. “Life,” as Pope Francis once preached on this day, “has value only in giving it, in giving it in love, in truth, in giving it to others, in daily life, in the family.”

24/08/2026

24 August ⏐Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Today the Church honours Saint Bartholomew, one of the 12 Apostles, traditionally identified with Nathanael.

Although Nathanael initially doubted that anything good could come from Nazareth, he accepted Philip’s invitation: “Come and see.” His encounter with Jesus transformed doubt into faith:

“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
— John 1:49

Saint Bartholomew reminds us that honest questions need not keep us from God. Christ sees and knows us even before we recognize him. When we approach him with sincere hearts, our doubts can become deeper faith and courageous discipleship.

May Saint Bartholomew inspire us to overcome prejudice, remain faithful to Christ and invite others to encounter him: “Come and see.”

🙏 Saint Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr, pray for us.

21/08/2026

Heading further to the Frontiers ⏐ First Vows of Br. Yohana Charles Angelo, SJ.

20 August 2026
With hearts full of gratitude to God, the Jesuits of Eastern Africa joyfully witnessed the first perpetual vows of Brother Johana Charles Angelo at the Loyola House Community Chapel.

In a solemn and prayerful celebration, Brother Johana pronounced his vows before the Lord, received by the Provincial, Fr. Kizito Kiyimba, SJ. in the presence of fellow Jesuits and friends. His generous “yes” is a grace for the Society and a witness to the enduring call to follow Christ more closely in poverty, chastity and obedience.

We give thanks to God for the gift of Brother Johana’s vocation and entrust him to the care of the Lord as he continues to discern, in the Ignatian spirit, the path by which he is called to serve God’s people and labour with Christ in His mission. May the grace of the Lord sustain him always, that in all things he may seek and find God, and become ever more available for the greater service and praise of God.

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam

18/08/2026

17/08/2026

May Daniel now find in God the fullness of that eternal life for which every Ignatian journey ultimately longs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud5_qp0jFHM
Eternal Rest🎋

15/08/2026

On 15 August 1534, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ignatius of Loyola and six companions climbed the hill of Montmartre in Paris and gathered in a small chapel dedicated to St Denis.

There, during a Eucharist celebrated by Peter Faber—the only priest among them—Ignatius, Francis Xavier, Peter Faber, Diego Laínez, Alfonso Salmerón, Nicolás Bobadilla and Simão Rodrigues made private vows of poverty and chastity. They pledged themselves to travel to Jerusalem and labour for the salvation of souls; if that journey proved impossible, they would place themselves at the disposal of the Pope for whatever mission the Church might entrust to them.

Their plans would indeed change. Jerusalem remained beyond their reach, but their shared desire endured. Six years later, in 1540, Pope Paul III formally approved the Society of Jesus.

Thus, on a Marian feast, in a hidden chapel and without ceremony or worldly influence, the seed of the Society was quietly planted. What began as the promise of seven “friends in the Lord” became a worldwide apostolic body—sent to the frontiers, seeking God’s greater glory and the service of souls.

Great works often begin in small chapels, among friends who dare to entrust their future entirely to God.

Our Lady of the Assumption, accompany the Society of Jesus and keep us faithful to the mission entrusted to us.

11/08/2026

B U I L D 2026 UNDERWAY | RETHINKING THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE FUNDRAISING

NAIROBI, Kenya — More than 50 development practitioners from Kenya and across Africa have gathered at Convent International Hotel, Lavington for B U I L D 2026, a four-day intensive training programme designed to strengthen organisations' capacity to mobilise resources sustainably in an increasingly changing development landscape.

B U I L D — Begin, Understand, Implement, Learn, Develop — is an initiative of the Jesuit Development Office (JDO) that brings together development practitioners for practical learning, reflection and exchange around some of the most pressing challenges facing mission-driven organisations today.

This year's programme places fundraising at the centre of the conversation.

Participants are undertaking two parallel training programmes: Beyond Foreign Aid: Sustainable Fundraising through Local Resources and Skills together with Leveraging AI for Fundraising. A significant number of those attending have been supported by Misean Cara reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening the capacity and long-term sustainability of development organisations.

The training comes at a critical moment when the traditional donor funding landscape is increasingly becoming more volatile and unpredictable. Organisations are thus being challenged to diversify their income streams, strengthen local ownership and explore new approaches to sustaining their missions.

B U I L D 2026 responds to this reality by shifting the conversation from dependence to possibility.

Through the local fundraising programme, participants are exploring how organisations can identify and mobilise resources within their own communities, cultivate meaningful partnerships, communicate their impact effectively and build a culture of local giving.

Running alongside it, the Leveraging AI for Fundraising programme is examining how emerging technologies can support fundraising—from strengthening donor research and communication to improving efficiency, storytelling and strategic decision-making—while emphasising the responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence.

Facilitating the programme are experienced practitioners drawn from the development and technology sectors. Rev. Fr. Allan Ggita, SJ, from the Jesuit Development Office, is leading the Local Fundraising training alongside Rev. Fr. James Kayanda, SJ, from the Jesuit Hakimani Centre. Lewis Njoroge, Founder and CEO of Primeforce Technology Ltd, is leading the Leveraging AI for Fundraising programme.

Yet B U I L D 2026 is about more than acquiring new fundraising techniques.

At its heart is a broader question: How can African organisations build the capacity, confidence and resilience to sustain their missions for the long term?

Over the four days, participants will interrogate conventional fundraising approaches, exchange experiences from their respective organisations and develop practical strategies that can be translated into action beyond the training room.

And as those conversations unfold, a powerful message is emerging: Africa's development future will not be shaped solely by the resources it receives, but also by its ability to recognize, mobilize and creatively steward the resources, skills, relationships and technologies already within its reach.

The B U I L D 2026 journey is underway.