St. Charles Lwanga Parish in Muyeye was officially erected on June 3, 2018, becoming the 21st parish of the Catholic Diocese of Malindi[3]. Prior to that, the Catholic community in Muyeye was an outstation of St. Francis Xavier Parish (Kisumu Ndogo). Seeing the growing number of faithful in this developing residential area, the Diocese entrusted the new parish to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), marking a renewed Jesuit presence on the Kenyan coast after centuries.
Jesuit Roots: The Jesuits (members of the Society of Jesus founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola) bring a rich heritage to Malindi. In fact, the first Jesuit to set foot in Kenya was St. Francis Xavier, who passed through Malindi in 1542 on his way to India[4]. His stop at the historic Portuguese Chapel in Malindi symbolizes the early seeds of faith and dialogue sown here[4]. Today, our Jesuit parish carries on that legacy of missionary zeal, education, and inculturation, serving a community in which Catholics form a minority amidst Muslim and traditional faith neighbors. We strive to emulate St. Charles Lwanga’s courage and St. Francis Xavier’s missionary spirit as we evangelize through witness and service.
Growth: The parish opened with roughly 450 Catholics from the local area. By 2022, registered Catholics had grown to 805, and in 2024 we number approximately 870+ faithful and catechumens, thanks be to God[5]. Our growth is attributed to active evangelization, the return of some lapsed Catholics, and the welcoming spirit that draws people from various cultures. Muyeye Ward itself has over 15,000 residents, so our mission field continues to expand. We have constructed a spacious new church (dedicated in August 2021) that can seat ~650 people, allowing us to accommodate our growing Sunday congregation. With improved facilities and outreach, Sunday Mass attendance has nearly doubled since the parish began. We remain a “young, vibrant parish” with a multi-ethnic community (local Swahili, Giriama, Luo, Kamba, others, as well as a few expatriates) all worshiping together[1].Our Patron – St. Charles Lwanga: We are proud to be under the patronage of St. Charles Lwanga, one of the 22 Ugandan Martyrs canonized in 1964. Charles Lwanga was a young Catholic catechist who, along with his companions, remained steadfast in faith and virtue unto martyrdom in 1886. His life inspires us to uphold courage, purity, and evangelizing zeal, especially in the face of trials. Each year on June 3 (Feast of St. Charles Lwanga and the Uganda Martyrs), we celebrate our patron with great festivity. This day also marks our Parish Anniversary, and we come together as one family to give thanks for our community’s growth. Pilgrimages to Namugongo (the Uganda Martyrs’ shrine) are occasionally organized around this time, deepening our connection with the wider Church in Africa.