CMM Brothers in Kenya: 50 years in Pictures (2008)

50 YEARS

50 Years Brothers CMM in Kenya: a Photo History

AN INVITATION FROM AFRICA 50 YEARS

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It is the young bishop Maurice Otunga (1923-2003) who asks the CMM brothers to come to the West Kenyan diocese Kisumu, in order to take over some Mill Hill schools and build up a network of catholic education. After a work visit to the Brother’s headquarters in the Netherlands, in July 1958, Otunga writes a short letter to all fraters ‘hoping that many of them will one day share my work…’

The Dutch bishop Bekkers warmly supports the invitation of his African colleague: ‘the religious should go where they are most needed’.

AN INVITATION FROM AFRICA 50 YEARS

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It is the young bishop Maurice Otunga (1923-2003) who asks the CMM brothers to come to the West Kenyan diocese Kisumu, in order to take over some Mill Hill schools and build up a network of catholic education. After a work visit to the Brother’s headquarters in the Netherlands, in July 1958, Otunga writes a short letter to all fraters ‘hoping that many of them will one day share my work…’

The Dutch bishop Bekkers warmly supports the invitation of his African colleague: ‘the religious should go where they are most needed’.

50 YEARS

A TRAIN TO KENYA

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Seven brothers leave for Kenya on 29 September 1958: Adelbert van de Heuvel, Amator van Hugten, Innocens de Kok, Sixtus van Elewout, Roeland van Geloven, Petrus Nolascus Broeders and Simeon Luybregts, waiting here for the international train in Roosendaal.

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WELCOME FRATERS

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The brothers will take over two schools: five brothers will initially work at the Teacher Training College in Asumbi and two brothers will run a primary and lower intermediate school in Nyabururu. The school children welcome their new teachers on 16 October 1958.

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HARD WORKING The brothers have some months preparation time before teaching begins.

But it is hard working for them: they have to organize their schools, learn the local language(s) and select the students: that’s delicate because there are far more students than places available. Picture: the community of Asumbi in a calmer moment, drinking a cup of coffee after the Sunday Eucharist.

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TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE The TTC in Asumbi offers a two years programme for about 50 students per year. It is a boarding school for teacher students and the brothers are responsible for both teaching and lodging. The programme offers also a supervised practical training on schools in the region. The school population is mixed from the beginning, with Luo, Kisii and Kuria students. The brothers teach as well some classes of a girl college close to Asumbi. Picture: 7 Brother Adelbert van de Heuvel teaching biology.

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ASUMBI The 2nd year’s class of the Teacher Training College in Asumbi in 1962, during a visit of Brother Superior Novatus Vinckx.

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THE COMMUNITIES Only about one year after arrival, the community looses Br. Amator van Hugten, who dies from a tropical disease. In the following years, some other brothers from the Netherlands and Belgium join the mission. Portrait of both communities during the visit of the General Superior in 1962: the brothers Sixtus van Elewout, Salesiano Hazen, Adelbert van de Heuvel, Roeland van Geloven, Wilbert van Weert, JozuĂŤ Kuysters, Macharius Maas, Rainaldis Dinklo, Br. superior Novatus Vinckx, Gonzaga van Riel and Hugolinus Nuyen.

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VILLAGE SCHOOLS The students of the Teacher Training College in Asumbi are supervised during their practical training, which often takes place in their own villages. The brothers travel a lot and visit many village schools, which often have to function in primitive circumstances.

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INSPECTOR OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

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Br. Adelbert van de Heuvel is appointed inspector of catholic schools by bishop Otunga. He supervises the 900 teachers in more than 200 catholic schools in the diocese. Among his tasks: the general education policy, contacts with national authorities, quality assessment and also many practical issues such as‌ the payment of teacher salaries! Picture: Br. Adelbert pays the salaries in a mission school.

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AFRICAN CULTURE Br. Sixtus van Elewout is among the younger brothers sent to Kenya and he will stay in the country for more than 35 years. He is one of the brothers who are much interested in studying the local languages and culture. Pictures: brother Sixtus receives a gift from an African family; brother Sixtus and Luo-students performing a traditional dance.

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NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN MOSOCHO In the beginning of 1961 the brothers start as well with a new secondary school: for this school they prefer the site of Mosocho, not far from Kisii, where they start building in 1962. Picture: Bishop Otunga and Brother Superior Novatus Vinckx at the opening of the school in 1962.

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CARDINAL OTUNGA HIGH SCHOOL

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Mosocho develops into a huge school complex, which covers more than 16 hectares (including gardens and sports fields). The school is called Bishop (later: Cardinal) Otunga High School and offers quality education to 800 students per year. Picture: a model of the school made in 1984.

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BROTHER MOREMBOCHO

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Brother Innocens de Kok, first Director of the Mosocho High School, is a very efficient administrator who brings the school to high and flourishing standards. The African students call him Brother Morembocho, as he is a very perfectionist man who wants to realize things (too) quickly.

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GEOGRAPHIC CONCENTRATION

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In 1967 the Nyabururu primary school and brother house move to Mosocho as well. This has several advantages: in this way the congregation can realize a new building and deal with both schools on one site. And as many brothers are often traveling, it is helpful for them to live in a bigger community.

Picture: St. Mary’s Primary School in Mosocho.

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READING CULTURE

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The brothers invest in several library structures, not only for their own students but also open to other young readers. Stimulating a reading culture is one of the elements of the congregation’s educational policy.

Picture: the new school library in Mosocho in 1972.

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SPORTS

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Sports always have an important place in the programme of CMM boarding schools. They help creating a good atmosphere among students and add to the school’s prestige. Students of Mosocho often win first prices in national competitions. But Cardinal Otunga High School will never become an elite institution: the brothers keep the school tuition low and distribute scholarships among poor students.

Picture: brother Anthony Koning and his students.

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MOSOCHO SCHOOL ORCHESTRA

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The CMM brothers are well known for the music education they integrate in their school programmes. In Mosocho they create a swinging school orchestra which plays both European and African repertoire.

In its heydays, with conductors brothers Innocens de Kok & Joseph Peters, the drumband is playing in many festivals across the country.

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PRESIDENTIAL VISITS Immediately after the country’s independence in 1963, the President of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, visits the TTC in Asumbi. In 1984, his successor Daniel Arap Moi visits Cardinal Otunga High School. The brother’s educational and developmental policy is much appreciated by the national government, especially as the congregation pursues a gradual ‘africanisation’ of its staff and school structures. Good and accessible education is a national development target. Picture: president Kenyatta in Asumbi, on the background regional superior brother Roeland van Geloven.

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AFRICANISATION In de course of the 1970’s and 1980’s, staff and management of the Mosocho schools are gradually becoming African. Picture: brother Andrea Sifuna teaching in St. Mary’s Primary School.

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Teaching and serving apostles

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‘In order to carry out his apostolic task, a brother missionary should take distance from western civilization, even if Christendom and Western culture are closely interlinked, and adapt as much as possible to the local culture in which he is living and working. He has to respect local culture and pay serious attention to it. Serving in another world is demanding great courage, humility and flexibility: and Christ asks us such an attitude of serving. A brother-missionary has to treat all people as equal, which means that he acts against all kind of racial and ethnic discrimination. He has to be colour-blind, in order to live the ideal of Christian, worldwide brotherhood.’ Brother Superior Novatus Vinckx, Tasks and Attitudes of Brothers in the Mission (1963)

Brother Novatus Vinckx

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NEW SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY IN SIKRI

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In 1970 the brothers start with a new school in Sikri: it is a specialised institute for the blind, as this kind of education is still scarce in Kenya. Its first director is brother Theophaan Verhoeven, a Dutch specialist in the field. Picture: br. Theophaan giving orientation exercises in Sikri.

50 YEARS

AGRICULTURAL TRAINING CENTRE FOR THE BLIND AND DEAF The Sikri school offers a higher agricultural training, in order to allow blind students, and from 1976 also deaf students, to make a living in this sector. For this purpose the brothers start next to the school a huge animal and crops farm. Picture: blind students harvesting Napia grass.

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BRAILLE PRINTING OFFICE Among the activities in Sikri is from 1970 till 1986 also a small braille printing office, which produces numerous books for the blind in Kenya and surrounding countries. Picture: the brothers Albertien van Rooij and Sixtus van Elewout, together with staff member Leonard Koyo Chiagra, in the printing office.

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50 YEARS

GIVE SIGHT GIVE LIFE Brother Athanasius Onyoni working in Sikri. Offering training to handicapped students is not common in Kenya. Promotion is essential, not only for the recruitment of new students, but also for a wider acceptance of the handicapped in society.

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50 YEARS

RURAL WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

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The brothers bring to the Sikri region still another Dutch specialism: water management. The Rural Water Development Project starts in 1968 with several partners and aims at cleaning and creating new water sources and canals in West Kenya. The project is successful in preventing the spreading of diseases through polluted water and improving the quality of life in the region. Picture: drilling machine of the project.

50 YEARS

VILLAGE POLYTECHNICAL SCHOOL

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In order to further develop the Sikri and Mosocho schools, the brothers withdraw from the Asumbi TTC in 1974, which is handed over to African staff. Br. Rob Swinkels starts some years later with technical training as a concrete means to help the poor, especially if linked to workshops where students can receive practical training and – getting the tools - continue working after graduation. Picture: Oyugis Craft Training Centre, founded in 1983.

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A NEW NOVICIATE IN OYUGIS (1) It is again Cardinal Otunga who asks the brothers to consider a new approach. He very much appreciates their work in the field of education and development, but he feels that the Dutch brothers will not be able to continue this work for a long time. Weren’t they getting fewer and older? Therefore he insists in opening a new CMM noviciate for African brothers, preceded by a thorough religious formation programme. The brothers are hesitating: their first experiences in the 1960s with candidates from Kenya had been difficult and unsuccessful. But they agree with Cardinal Otunga that it is the only way to consolidate their projects in Africa. Picture: Cardinal Otunga with the brothers Novatus Vinckx, Salesiano Hazen and Anthony Koning.

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A NEW NOVICIATE IN OYUGIS (2) The congregation appoints two brothers responsible for the new formation programme, brothers Salesiano Hazen and Anthony Koning. And they open two new communities: in 1983 a noviciate in Oyugis, close to Sikri, and in 1984 a pastoral centre and postulant community in Sotik. New African candidates will be coached intensively and get a long acquaintance programme with religious life. The new formula is immediately successful and from the early 1980s a number of young Kenyan brothers joins CMM. Picture: the new noviciate in Oyugis in 1983, brother Vincent Odhiambo together with postulants and the brothers Salesiano Hazen, Linus Schoutsen and Leo Weijers.

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SHIRIKISHO SENTA – CHRISTIAN AWARENESS PROGRAMME From the early 1980s the brothers organize many bible meetings for young people in the so-called Christian Awareness Programme. In this way they get into contact with young people interested in religious life.

Br. Anthony Koning starts in the Shirikisho Senta (Sharing Community) in Oyugis as well with a series of publications about the spirituality of Mercy and Brotherhood. Picture: a meeting of the Christian Awareness Programme in Oyugis.

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50 YEARS

UNDERSTANDING THE EUROPEAN ROOTS One of the challenges in the Kenyan noviciate is making a link with the congregational roots in Europe and bridging intercultural differences.

Picture: the brothers James Makovo and Peter Chiori with a novice in the Oyugis community before the congregation bulletin board.

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50 YEARS

BISHOP ZWIJSEN IN AFRICA Young African brothers in the Sikri community, the brothers Athanasius Onyoni, Paul Onyisi and Balthazari Musyoki Karingi. Behind them the portrait of bishop Joannes Zwijsen, founder of the congregation.

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50 YEARS

OYUGIS - CARING FOR THE SICK Among the young brother’s tasks is caring for the patients in a local clinic in Oyugis. This work of mercy is becoming more and more demanding with the quick dissemination of AIDS in the 1980s.

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50 YEARS

OYUGIS INTEGRATED PROJECT There are also many orphan children in Oyugis who depend on the brother’s support. The brother’s don’t want to build a separate orphanage for them, but prefer to enable their relatives (grandmothers & aunts) in caring for the children. They develop their comprehensive care into an integrated project, which is coordinated by the brothers from 1996. The OIP aims at the prevention of AIDS through education and information; the care for AIDS-patients; the support of AIDSwidows and widowers and orphan children. It employs about 20 staff members and cares for more than 4000 children. Pictures: orphan children and grandmothers in Oyugis.

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50 YEARS

OIP IN THE NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM The work of the OIP is supported by a huge network of schools and volunteers in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Pictures: The brother house in Oyugis; CMM Associated Members Henk and Christianne van der Wal, coordinators of the Dutch OIP-network, together with brother Francis Otieno Odoyo.

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SHARING Br. Kees hems started in Oyugis with a small library next to the brothers community, a place of reflection and sharing. ‘We consider our fraternal sharing to be an act of justice, convinced as we are that the goods of this world are meant for all’ (CMM Constitutions, 139).

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CMM-HEADQUARTERS IN NAIROBI In 1986 the brothers open a new community in Nairobi. In this way they can allow their young fellow brothers to follow studies at schools in the capital. And the congregation gets closer to the government and church administration (Nairobi is also called ‘the small Vatican’). In 1993 the growing community in Kenya gains the ‘provincial’ status in the congregational organization, with more autonomy, and Rhapta Road Nairobi becomes the CMM-headquarter in the country.

Picture: brother Rob Swinkels in front of the old brother house.

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THE GOSPEL IN THE SLUMS In 1989 the congregation opens a community in Umoja, one of suburbs of Nairobi. Many of the poor moved from the countryside to the city, where they live in enormous suburbs under difficult circumstances. The brothers try to be present in the slums, offering all kinds of support and living close to the poor. Picture: one of the brothers visiting a poor family.

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NEW FORMATION HOUSE IN SIGONA In 1999 the brothers open a new noviciate community in Sigona, not far from Nairobi. As many novices join also other formation programmes, it is better to have the formation house in a central position.

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HOSPITALITY IN NAKURU In 2005 also the postulants community moves closer to Nairobi, in Nakuru. It has more rooms and a nice chapel. And it offers better hospitality facilities than the house in Sotik. It allows brothers to organize meetings and retreats.

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COACHING PROGRAMMES The brothers continue their educational work also in Nairobi.

They set up several ‘informal’ secondary schools for the poor, also called Coaching Programmes (CP’s), which are gradually developing into official secondary schools. Pictures: St. Justino secondary school in a provisional building.

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NEW SCHOOLS IN NAIROBI The CP’s are succesful and gradually develop into official schools. Picture: a new building for the St. Justino school in Nairobi in 2006.

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TECHNICAL EDUCATION Over the years, technical training also remains an important activity of the brothers. In this technical workshop for street boys, in Nairobi, brother Peter Ochieng teaches young people to make a living.

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VISITING PRISONERS Following the example of Saint Vincent de Paul, brother Linus Schoutsen develops a special pastoral activity, visiting prisoners all over the country. He speaks and prays with them, supports a study programme for them and provides books.

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NAMIBIA From 1995 the brothers in Kenya and Namibia start to cooperate in the field of formation. This results in 2001 in a common CMM formation programme, with young brothers from both countries. Picture: Brothers Sebastianus Seters and Lawrence Obiko with young Kenyan and Namibian brothers in Sigona.

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TANZANIA Picture above: opening of the new brother’s school Saint Vincent the Paul in Urambo, Tanzania.

Picture below: Brother Superior Broer Huitema speaking to students in Urambo.

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INTERNATIONALISATION The CMM-brothers in Kenya work together with brothers from many other countries.

Picture above: young brothers singing during a study visit to the Netherlands. Picture below: an international meeting with Kenian, Indonesian and Namibian brothers.

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AMBASSADORS OF A WORLDWIDE BROTHERHOOD The participants from Kenya in the CMM programme of the Ambassadors of a Worldwide Brotherhood, traveling to Tomohon Indonesia and Sydney Australia in July 2008.

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BUILDING A BETTER WORLD We consider it to be our task to co-operate in building a more human world, to devote ourselves to the Kingdom of justice and peace.

(CMM Constitutions, 27)

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Picture: the Samaritan Woman, glass stained window in the CMM community in Nakuru.

50 Years Brothers CMM in Kenya: a Photo History in 50 slides

50 YEARS

Acknowledgements: Texts & photo selection: Charles van Leeuwen (the Netherlands) Photo’s taken from the CMM archives in Tilburg, the Netherlands.

We could not find back all the photographers’ names, but we would like to mention the names we could identify: the photographer * and the brothers Roeland van Geloven, Adelbert van de Heuvel, Innocens de Kok, Sixtus van Elewout, Henk Schilders, Ad de Kok, Broer Huitema & Lawrence Obiko.

Grateful acknowledements as well to the brothers archivists Jan Heerkens and Ad de Swart, to Paul Simons for the technical support and the brothers Lawrence Obiko, Edward Gresnigt, Louis Visser, Ad Mommers, Wim Verschuren and Broer Huitema for most valuable information and remarks.