St. Charles Lwanga Parish does not exist in isolation – we are part of the larger Church and benefit from numerous partnerships and friends who support our mission. Some important connections include:
- Malindi Catholic Diocese: As a parish of the Diocese of Malindi, we actively participate in diocesan programs and initiatives. Our Bishop, Most Rev. Willybard Lagho, has been very supportive of our parish’s growth. We join diocesan events such as the annual Pilgrimage of Hope, diocesan youth days, and workshops organized by the diocese. We also collaborate with nearby parishes in our Cathedral Deanery for retreats and seminars. The diocese provides oversight in areas like pastoral planning and financial administration, ensuring we remain aligned with the diocesan pastoral vision. (Visit the Diocese of Malindi website for more information on diocesan activities.)
- Jesuits Eastern Africa Province (AOR): Being under Jesuit care, we are closely linked to the Jesuit Province that covers Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and other areas in East Africa. The province provides our priests (we currently have three Jesuit priests assigned) and supports some of our programs. We often host fellow Jesuits who visit or pass through Malindi. The Jesuit ethos can be seen in our emphasis on education, Ignatian spirituality, and social justice initiatives. For example, the Magis Youth movement here is part of a global Jesuit youth network. Parishioners have access to Ignatian retreats and resources through our Jesuit connections. We also contribute stories to the Jesuit newsletter, sharing our experiences with the wider Jesuit world. (For more about the Jesuits in Eastern Africa, see jesuits-eastafrica.org.)
- Twin Parish Relationship: We are blessed with a friendship with St. Xavier Parish in Cincinnati, USA (a Jesuit parish). This relationship, fostered through the Jesuit network, has yielded moral, spiritual, and material support. St. Xavier’s community has prayed for us, exchanged letters and visits, and generously supported some of our projects. For instance, the initial setup of our nursery school and parts of the church construction had contributions from friends in Cincinnati. This solidarity across continents exemplifies the Catholicity of the Church – that we are one family of God. We occasionally share news and cultural exchanges, enriching both parishes.
- Religious Communities: Apart from the Jesuits, we collaborate with other religious orders in the area. The Franciscan Sisters of St. Anna (FSA) work with us (Sr. Mary is from this congregation). The Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM) historically served Malindi and continue to run some parishes nearby; we maintain cordial relations, sharing insights and occasionally co-hosting events (like when the MHM regional assembly visited Malindi in 2025, our parish participated in welcoming them[13]). The presence of these communities provides opportunities for combined prayer events (e.g., a joint novena with the Poor Clares in town) and mutual support.
- Local Church and Interfaith Partners: We believe in ecumenism and inter-religious partnership for the common good. Locally, we have friendly ties with the Anglican and Presbyterian churches in Malindi – occasionally joining in World Prayer Day or Christian Unity Week services together. Moreover, given the predominantly Muslim context of Malindi, we have fostered respectful relationships with local Muslim leaders. Our parish Justice & Peace Committee has organized small interfaith dialogues, especially with Muslim youth on topics like peace and avoiding radicalization (linking to Strategic Issue #3 in our plan). During times of public tension, we have stood together with other faith leaders to call for calm and understanding. One concrete example of partnership: in 2024, our parish youth and a local madrasa’s youth group teamed up for a community clean-up day, followed by sharing a meal – a simple but powerful act of unity.
- Donors and Friends: We gratefully acknowledge individual benefactors and organizations that have supported our mission. Groups like the Xavier Network (a consortium of Jesuit mission offices in Europe/North America) have given grants for our Kadongoleni farm project and COVID-19 relief efforts. The Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD) helped fund part of our water project in the early days. Many generous tourists or expatriates living in Malindi (some from Italy, as Malindi has an Italian community) have also donated to the parish after attending Mass as visitors. We maintain transparency and send reports/updates to donors to show how their help is making a difference.
- Government and NGOs: While not formal partners, we cooperate with local authorities and NGOs in service of the community. For instance, our parish health desk worked with a health NGO to run a free medical camp for children in 2023. Our environmental efforts align with the County Government’s tree-planting campaigns – we’ve received seedlings from the forestry office. We also collaborate with child protection officers in cases of child welfare (strengthening safeguarding). These partnerships extend our reach beyond what we could do alone and witness to our faith through action.
In all these relationships, our aim is two-fold: to enrich our parish life (through shared resources, knowledge, and spiritual gifts) and to contribute to the wider Church and society using the blessings we have. St. Charles Lwanga Parish may be young and comparatively small, but through collaboration and God’s grace, our impact is multiplied.We remain open to new partnerships – if you or your organization feel aligned with our mission and want to journey with us, please get in touch! United in Christ, we can do magis – more – for the Greater Glory of God.