In Marereni, on Kenya’s northern coast, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth are building a mission that starts with a school and reaches into parish life, clean water, senior health, and the growth of Associates.

The road into Marereni runs alongside the Indian Ocean. In the distance, fishing boats sit on the sand. Goats weave between homes. Markets are filled with the trade of fish. Salt flats shimmer in the heat.

In this setting, a small community of Sisters of Charity of Nazareth are learning the pace of the village and, in time, becoming a vital part of it.

Their newest home in Kenya is not marked by a large campus or a clinic with long hallways. It is revealed by their presence and their trust in God who calls them to live close to the people they serve. That presence shows up in classrooms and parish gatherings. It shows up in conversations with families and in practical projects meant to make daily life better.

The center of this mission is St. Francis of Assisi Academy.

Each morning, children arrive in their uniform and gather before lessons begin at 7:30 a.m. Three times a week, they assemble as a community for prayer, song, and announcements. Then they head into classrooms where English is the primary language of instruction. Subjects range from math and science to social studies and religion.

“Children arrive with energy and excitement, eager to learn here in Marereni,” said Sister Helan Sathiya, head of the school. “Even when resources are few, the students make the most of what is in front of them.”

Textbooks are in English. Some are shared. Many are worn from use, passed between small hands year after year. They are handled carefully because families understand what those books represent. A chance at a stronger education. A better shot at employment. More choices for the next generation.

For families in Marereni, school fees can be heavy. The cost of books can be even harder. And yet parents keep choosing St. Francis, even when it requires sacrifice, because the school has become known for strong academics, especially in English.

That reputation matters. In Kenya, English competency can change a student’s path, opening doors to secondary education and work that is harder to reach without it.

The Sisters see that reality every day. They also see what is missing. More desks. More books. More classroom space. As the student body grows, the limits of the current campus become more visible.

So they began building.

Expansion

St. Francis of Assisi Academy began with the essentials. Classrooms for pre-primary levels PP1 and PP2 and grades one through four are complete. But the growth came quickly.

In 2025, construction began on a new school building to extend the academy to grade six. The foundation was designed with a broader horizon in mind. It was laid strong enough to support a second floor and even a third floor in the future.

That kind of planning is not common in rural communities where the next month’s needs can be hard to meet. But the Sisters and school leaders see what is already happening. More families are asking for enrollment. More children are coming. Expansion is the response.

When the community gathered for the groundbreaking and blessing ceremony, the tone matched the place.

It was not grand in scale. It was simple, focused, and full of meaning.

“It was a simple and beautiful ceremony,” said Sister Vinaya Chalil. “The blessing reminded us that every beginning carries the promise of growth.”

Children stood with their teachers. They sang. They prayed. Their presence made the purpose unmistakable.

“It was so lovely to have the children and teachers present,” said Sister Phelomena Hembrom. “They are the heart of the school, and their joy made the day complete.”

During the ceremony they not only blessed bricks and mortar alone but also blessed what will happen inside those walls.

Lessons that shape young minds. Friendships that strengthen children across differences. Confidence that grows quietly when a child finally reads a sentence without help or solves a problem on their own.

For the Sisters, this is what ministry looks like. It is steady work, day after day, built on relationships.

Sister Anita Murmu, new to the school, spoke of what she sees in the students, “I am excited to begin teaching here and to spend time with the children,” she said. “Their joy and energy inspire me every day.”

Teachers carry much of the daily load. About 10 teachers guide the children and hold the classroom structure together. The Sisters support them closely. Lessons are planned carefully. Teachers show patience when children struggle, staying with them step by step.

“The teachers give so much of themselves,” said Sister Reema Tigga, who continues to assist the school. “They are eager to learn and improve, and I see the children growing stronger because of their efforts.”

Parents are part of this structure, too. Each class has a representative parent who communicates between families and teachers, helping to build accountability and trust.

“Parents see that their children are cared for here,” said Sister Anita. “They know it is a place where learning is taken seriously, and where each child is respected.”

Parish Life

In Marereni, the Sisters’ mission does not stop at the school gate. Parish life and family life are woven together, and the Sisters’ work touches both.

They visit homes scattered along village lanes, spending time with the elderly and families. These visits bring conversation and prayer, but also something else: the sense that someone sees the struggle and stays present in it.

At parish gatherings, the Sisters join in programs that strengthen community life, like Eucharist, youth events, and catechism classes. The mission is not separate from the village. It sits inside the village’s rhythms.

During one Sunday liturgy, the priest paused and said, “Good family, good church. Good church, good family.” The parish nodded, understanding fully. The strength of the community depends on both.

The Sisters also face a reality that reaches beyond education … water.

In Marereni, water can be difficult to obtain. Some sources are salty. Dry seasons can make access less reliable. For families, the effort to secure enough clean water can shape the entire day.

The Sisters, working with local leaders, have completed and begun new projects aimed at providing clean and safe water supplies at key locations. That includes rainwater harvesting and other measures tied to sustainable use.

Energy is another challenge. Power can be inconsistent and expensive. Solar panels offer a practical solution. They can provide light in the evening and reduce dependence on generators.

These choices connect to the Sisters’ wider commitment to care for creation, but in Marereni, they also connect to basic survival and daily stability. A family with reliable water and light has more capacity to keep children in school, to care for elders, and to plan beyond tomorrow.

The mission is also growing in another way, through Associate relationships.

In September 2024, the Associate program in Kenya was launched. Six women began formation last fall and have met for prayer, reflection, and learning about the Congregation’s history and mission. They include catechists, businesswomen, parish leaders, and teachers. Their service includes visiting the sick, teaching catechism, and supporting parish life.

At a recent meeting, the Candidates gathered with Sisters serving in the region and a visiting Associate from Kentucky. They talked about belonging to a wider community that spans countries and cultures. Associates extend the mission into places and relationships where Sisters cannot always reach. In Kenya, it is already becoming a reality.

Into the Future

The future in Marereni is being built on multiple fronts. The most visible is the school, but it is not the only sign of growth.

The Sisters and local partners are also addressing senior health, a need that many families cannot solve on their own. In the coastal villages around Marereni, elders often live with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and epilepsy. Government clinics are often understocked. Private pharmacies can be too expensive.

A community health outreach has been taking shape, supported by trained volunteers. They monitor vitals, check on isolated elders, and respond when someone is heading toward crisis. The plan includes a community-run pharmacy, located in the parish office, with medications distributed at monthly meetings. Each elder will have a small identification card to keep records clear and fair. Local doctors and diocesan health officials will guide procurement and dosage standards.

One elderly woman lived with frequent seizures tied to epilepsy and uncontrolled blood pressure. With access to treatment, the seizures subsided. Her strength returned. Her story is one of many that show what consistent care can do.

For the Sisters, education and health do not compete. They belong together. A child learns better when a household has water. A grandparent lives with more dignity when medicine is reliable. A family can make better decisions when basic needs are not constant emergencies.

Even the school expansion is structured this way. The building is not only for the children enrolled today. It is for the families deciding whether they can keep a child in school, and for the community that will rely on those students as future leaders.

When the blessing ceremony ended and the day closed, the meaning was not in the size of the gathering, but in the direction it pointed.

A new classroom is a simple thing. But in Marereni, it can be the difference between a child leaving school early or staying long enough to gain skills that reshape a life.

The mission in Kenya is still young. There are still many needs . But Marereni is no longer a point on a map where a few Sisters happen to live. It is becoming a place where education, community life, and practical support for families are growing together, one foundation at a time.

For the Sisters, this work is rooted in trust in God and in the Gospel call to love one’s neighbor. That belief shapes how they show up each day, in classrooms, in parish life, and in quiet visits to homes. They pray with the people. They listen. They keep building, even when progress is slow, because they believe God is present in the daily lives of families and children in Marereni.

In that spirit, each new classroom and each act of care becomes more than a project. It becomes a sign of God’s presence and a reminder that hope can take root in ordinary places when people choose to walk together.

This magazine article originally appeared in The Journey Vol. 01, 2026.
Source: https://nazareth.org/