Posts Tagged ‘Father Francis Limo Riwa’

Gaining insight into the plight of young Kenyan women provides an awareness of the dangers they face.  Even more at risk are the abandoned and/or orphaned girls in Kenya.  Click the video to learn more about these girls and how St. Clare Centre for Girls is rescuing them.

As we celebrate this Easter season I am reminded that these beautiful children have been rescued from hunger, disease and violence because of all of you.My friends, it is so clear to me, these children have been given life by YOU!!!

Your compassion has returned them to life. At this time of the year I remember YOU are the Easter people who have rolled away the rock and allowed these children to escape the tomb of the streets and abuse.  The resurrection continues through YOU.

So on this Easter 2013 I say THANK YOU to all the sponsors and donors. You truly are Easter People.

Gratefully Yours in the Risen Lord,

Fr. Francis Limo Riwa

Several young primary girls from St. Clare Girls’ Centre along with their teacher, Mr. Musyimi have caught Father Riwa’s focus on creating food sustainability.  Under the guidance of Mr. Musyimi, over thirty primary school girls at St. Clare Centre began a “tomato club.”  They planted tomato seeds on a seedbed.  Approximately 1,500 seedlings were later transplanted into a small garden.  After planting these seedlings, the club members and Mr. Musyimi took care of them each day.  The care of the tomato plants was challenging due to interference from chickens, pests and diseases.  The tomatoes had to be watered daily and sprayed frequently.  In addition, it became very tempting to just grab a fresh tomato from the garden and take a secret bite.

Because the building of St. Clare is complete, Friends of Kenyan Orphans is now focusing on the care and feeding of the girls at St. Clare Centre.  In an effort to become self sufficient in the care and feeding of the children at St. Clare, Father Riwa is developing fisheries at The Children’s Village.  In addition to his farmland and greenhouse food, these fisheries will provide a nutritious protein supply and contribute to a more balanced diet for all at St. Clare. Thus, Father’s fisheries are a perfect project for Friends of Kenyan Orphans to support.

Lent is traditionally a time for more sacrifice and often focuses on fish.    Help us fill the fishponds.

• $25 will provide 5 fish
• $50 will provide 10 fish
• $100 will provide 20 fish
• $250 will provide 50 fish
• $500 will provide 100 fish
•  $1000 will provide 250 fish

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:1-15)

In early January, the children at St. Clare Centre for Girls welcomed their new principal, Madam Sylvia.  The staff and student body received her with grand applause when Father Riwa welcomed her.  Madam Sylvia attended her first staff meeting where Madam Sara turned over directorship of academic affairs.  (Madam Sara will continue as the administrator.)  We welcome Madam Sylvia.

We remember you with much love this Christmas season and wish you Christmas blessings and

peace in the new year.

Father Francis Limo Riwa

The Adrian Dominican Sisters

The Staff at St. Clare

The St. Clare Girls

When Father Riwa was in the United States this past October, he, and Bud and Sue Ozar stopped to visit the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubuque, Iowa.  The group spent some time with Sister Mary Martens, BVM and a half a dozen sisters.  When the drought killed the crops at the Children’s Village in 2011, Father Riwa did not know how he was going to feed the children.  At the point he would have to purchase cereals and grain on the open market at inflated prices and simply did not have the money.  When Friends of Kenyan Orphans sent out an SOS, the Sisters of Charity heard the appeal and responded with a contribution from the congregation’s Hunger Fund.  Their motto says it all: “FREED BY LOVE, ACTING FOR JUSTICE.”

Each year, the Archdiocese of Detroit holds a Gathering of Leadership from among the sixty- three men’s fellowship groups in the Archdiocese.  This year the meeting was held at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral where Father Riwa concelebrated the Eucharist with Msgr. Mike Lefevre, the rector of the cathedral.  After Mass,  Father Riwa met with the group to personally thank them for their support over the years, which enabled some of the building of St. Clare Centre.  Father urged the group to continue their support as he has a building which houses 350 girls, but he must continue to feed and educate them.  This gathering was Father Riwa’s final presentation before departing for Kenya.   (Father Riwa is pictured above with Gerry Connell, the coordinator of the fellowship groups.)

Brother Francis Boylan, CSC (pictured with Father Riwa) held a special event at the Samaritan Center on Detroit’s east side for the members of his board and major donors.  The day included Father Riwa celebrating and with a meal following the liturgy.  Brother Francis directs human services for youth and families in eighty of Michigan’s eighty-three counties.  Constantly on the road, he is probably the best fundraiser in the state.  Involved with one of the most respected human services agencies in Michigan, Brother Francis is a most personable, approachable and humble man.

A display consisting of photos and a DVD showing the progress of St. Clare Centre over the past six years invited people to stop and learn more about St. Clare.  Bud and Sue Ozar are very grateful to Brother Francis for including Friends of Kenyan Orphans and Father Riwa to his special “thank you” day for his supporters.

Father Riwa,  along with Bud and Sue Ozar attended a gathering at the home of Chris and John Miller.  Chris and her daughter, Kathryn Borio, (also in attendance and pictured with Chris, Father and Sue Ozar) traveled to Kenya in 2011.  Together they teamed up at St. Clare to work with the children in the early grades.  About thirty five of their friends and family attended.  Kathryn showed a video presentation outlining their experiences in Kenya followed by a DVD presented by Bud and Sue.  The latter presentation outlined the progress of the St. Clare Centre for Girls over the past six years.  It was a fabulous evening as the friends and family of the Millers were warm, welcoming and so open to the message of St. Clare.