KANGEMI NOVEMBER 27, 2015 (CISA) – Sister Mary Klleen, a nun who works in Mukuru slums, Nairobi, today thanked Pope Francis for visiting slum dwellers and urged the Church to increase her presence in the informal settlements.
“Sometimes the challenges in the slums almost cause us to despair and some people working in slums. Your visit gives us courage. By your coming here you shine a light on the challenges. Your meeting with us gives us dignity. You included us where normally we are left out. We thank you for that, we pray for you and we wish you every blessing in your sacred mission,” she said.
Sr Klleen, of the Sisters of Mercy, who work with children at Mukuru Promotion Centre, was speaking at St Joseph the worker Parish in Kangemi where Pope Francis met 1,500 representatives of slums in Nairobi.
“The church is present in the slums but too small. We need that presence to be more. Deep here in the slums we need to have the presence of the church; the charities and the services,” she added.
Speaking at the same event, Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde, vice chairman of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission noted that people from the slums are part of the Church.
“They know what it means to lack the basic needs and yet their hearts are big enough to give. They are part of our life church. Above all know how to live by hope and faith,” the Archbishop said.
“We thank you for giving us this unique opportunity to see you close to us, touch you, to see you smile as you always do to all and we share that smile with you. Your presence within us and among us acts as a reminder of Christ among us and all of us we share your care as you invite us to serve one another despite all odds,” said Archbishop Kivuva of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.
During the visit the Pope watched a documentary showing the life of the people in the slums.
St Joseph the worker Parish, Kangemi is run by the Jesuits in Eastern Africa.
