Fr. Joseph Mwashigadi - Parish Priest
Fr. Benedict Kitonyi - Associate Priest
Fr. John Correa - Associate Priest
Contacts
P.O. Box 85656-80100 Mombasa
TEL :
Email:
Office Days
Tuesdays to Fridays 8.30am to 4.30pm
About the Parish
Introduction
Our lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Kongowea Parish forms one of the 61 parishes that form the great Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa. Pastorally we form one of the six founder parishes of Mombasa North deanery. Administratively, is in the Kenyan coastal region precisely the Nyali constituency in Mombasa county. Our neighborhood experience a diversity of cultural resources that brings forth secularism, modern-urban social influences affected by market philosophy, radicalism, and the erosion of Christian family values.
History of the Parish
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Parish Kongowea was formally an outstation of Our Lady Help of Christians (Mama Wa Shime) MAKUPA. They were praying at Wanja Wa Mbuzi main stadium ground in from the 1950s. Due to hostility from Muslims, they relocated after buying land at the current compound with a Makuti church structure being raised where the Kongowea primary school toilet is in the year 1954. It became a fully-fledged parish in 1961 with the Late Fr. L. O'Connor as its first parish priest. Later on, it spread out to Shimo la Tewa 1954 current Prison Chaplaincy, Bamburi factory church 1955, Utange/Shanzu outstation in 1956 became a parish in 1982, Mtopanga 1983 as an outstation and pronounced parish on 3rd June 2001, Kiembeni, M’bungoni and Customs in the year 2012. All the above outstations are now self-sustainable parishes except Bamburi.
Parish priests who served at the parish include Late Fr. Born, late Fr. N. Rourke, Fr. Martin Kivuva current sitting archbishop, Fr. Joseph Kenga, Fr. Cyril Owambo, late Fr. John Kizito Mbondo, Fr. Henry Katana, Fr. Samuel Irungu, Fr. Francis Njua, Fr. Laurent Mutisya, Current bishop of Malindi Right Rev. Willybard Lagho and Fr. Joseph Mwashighadi.
Many assistant priests and visitors have equally added value to the parish, these include the late Fr. Joseph Omoga, the late Fr. James Osimbo, Fr. Partrick Munishi, Fr. Linus Japan, Fr. Agapitus Mtsotso Masaa, Fr. Harrison Yaa, Fr. Boniface Mungai, Fr. Crispin Owiny, Fr. Ronald Wafula, Fr. Venant Mwazumbi, and Fr. Benedict Kitonyi among others.
Vocations
The parish celebrates a great number of vocations to the religious life. Many vocations have been realized undoubtedly because of strong Christian family values. A great number of priests have been ordained both as diocesan and religious clergy. They include the following: Late Fr. Lucas Oduor Onyango, Late Fr. Aloice Ohonjo, and late Fr. Joseph Omoga. Fr. Crispin Oneko, Fr. Charles Wafula. Fr. Thomas Apil, Fr. Harrison Mativo and Fr. Joseph Wesonga currently serving in Malindi. Fr. Augustine Lape Okoth, Fr. Boniface Mungai, Fr. Marcus Owama Were, Fr. Stephen Anjeru, Fr. Polycarp Ong’era Arori and Fr. Erick Onyango Malla. Others who were raised up in Kongowea and moved to other parishes due to family relocation include Fr. Daniel Dodoy, Fr. Richard Ooko, and Fr. Sewe.
There are currently seven seminarians in formation, Joseph Odhiambo, Augustine Opondo, Joseph Kitheka, Samson Musee, Richard Odhiambo, Raphael Muthini and Shedrack Akisa. We have nine home grown sisters namely Sr. Philis Momanyi, Sr. Maureen Momanyi, Sr. Anjela Momanyi, late sister Beatrice Atieno, late sister Elizabeth Anyango, Sr. Jane Bomani, Sr. Sophia Bomani and Sr. Juliana Wavinya. We have Sr. Triza Mukuni who chose Diaspora formation under Kitui diocese, at Loreto sisters.
Population
Kongowea parish covers the great majority of Nyali Constituency. It has four locations namely Mkomani, Maweni, Kongowea, and Kisauni. We border M’bungoni, Nyali, and Mtopanga parishes all within North deanery.
From the area Public office on a census done in 2019, the area population is at 400,000 people. Christians are the majority at 250,000. Catholic population at 4500.
Due to the Corona Pandemic great exodus and relocation has been experienced. Urban-to-rural migration can be attested.
The first Baptism was done on 1st January 1962 namely Joseph Peter on the feast of Mary Mother of God. This is recorded in Volume one of the Baptism registers. On this day, ten persons were baptized. Caroline Leoni was baptized on 6th march 2021 making the total number of baptisms to be 27,975 as found in volume seven of the baptism register. Many more have been received into the Catholic faith from other denominations, conversion to faith many adult pagans and people of other faiths including Muslims.
The parish appreciates, congratulates, and wishes well all those who have received various sacraments including baptism, confirmation and Holy Matrimony.
Parish Pastoral Council Executive Members
- Chairman - Patrick Juma
- Asst. Chairman - George Orek
- Treasurer - Felix Birongo Ogaa
- Secretary - Patrick Kiarie
- Asst. Secretary - Stanley Mwaivu Ngui
- Alice Akisa - Coopted
- Audry Mwasi - Coopted
CHURCH SODALITIES
List of available Church sodalities and their respective leadership
- Catholic Men Association - Felix Ngusu
- St. Joseph - Gilbert Nasonga
- Catholic Women Association - Audrey Wawuda
- St. Anne Monica - Kesa
- Young Christian Adults - Michael Ombewa
- Senior Youth - Mark Ian
- Pontifical Missionary Children - Benedict Kyalo
- Charismatic Peter - Muthee
- Marriage Encounter - Jane and Peter Kimwaki
- Neo catechumenate - Joseph Okoth
Mass Schedules
Sunday
- 1st Mass (Kiswahili): 6.30 a.m.
- 2nd Mass (English): 8.00 a.m.
- 3rd Mass (Kiswahili) 9:30 a.m.
- 4th Mass (Kiswahili) 11:00 a.m.
Monday
- Mass 6:30 a.m.
Tuesday
- Mass 6:30 a.m.
- Mass 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday
- (Secondary School) Mass 7:00 a.m.
- Mass 5:30 p.m.
- Mass 6:15 a.m.
Thursday
- Mass 6:30 a.m.
Friday
- (Primary School) Mass 8:00 a.m.
Confessions
Saturday: 3:00 p.m.
Infant Baptism
Every 1st Saturday of the Month
Visits to the sick
Every Tuesday and Friday.
Visits to the sick
Every Tuesday and Friday.
Institutions
OUR LADY OF FATIMA MIXED SECONDARY SCHOOL
Projects
Construction of the new Parish Church
