One of the pillars of our parish life is the network of Small Christian Communities (SCCs), locally known as Jumuiya. These are neighborhood-based groups of Catholic families who gather regularly, usually weekly, for prayer, Scripture sharing, and mutual support. SCCs help to “make a large parish feel small” by fostering fellowship at the grassroots. They are the domestic church in action, ensuring that each parishioner is known, cared for, and able to participate actively in the life of the Church.
We currently have 15 Small Christian Communities affiliated with the parish, each named after a saint or holy patron. (Fourteen are in the main parish area and one corresponds to our Msoloni outstation community.) Here is an overview of each SCC and its spiritual focus:
- St. Josephine Bakhita – Emphasizes resilience and faith in the face of adversity, reflecting St. Bakhita’s life story. Members draw inspiration from her journey from slavery to freedom in Christ, reminding us to forgive and find hope even in hardship. This SCC is known for its active charity outreach, helping those who feel “enslaved” by poverty or addiction to find freedom and support.
- St. Charles Lwanga – Named for our parish patron, this community upholds courage and fidelity to the faith. Particularly in challenging social or cultural situations, members encourage one another to imitate St. Lwanga’s bold witness. They often lead youth mentorship programs (since Charles Lwanga himself guided the younger pages in faith) and promote chastity and moral values among young people.
- St. Veronica – Focuses on acts of mercy and compassion, inspired by St. Veronica’s legendary gesture of wiping the face of Jesus on His way to Calvary. This SCC regularly organizes visits to the sick and homebound, bringing them comfort (both spiritual and material). In their weekly Bible sharing, they highlight the Corporal Works of Mercy and encourage each member to be a “Veronica” to those who are suffering.
- St. Bhakana (likely referring to Bl. Daudi Okelo or another local martyr, often pronounced “Bhakanja”) – Emphasizes youthful zeal and dedication. Named after a young Ugandan martyr (possibly Bl. Daudi Okelo or Jildo Irwa, or another figure whose name “Bhakanja” suggests devotion), this community encourages youth participation in Church activities. They have many young families and youth members who animate lively choir sessions and outreach. They remind the parish that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians” – inspiring us to deepen our own commitment.
- St. John the Baptist – Highlights the call to repentance and evangelization. Just as John prepared the way for Christ, this Jumuiya takes initiative in evangelizing others. They run an adult Scripture class for any neighbors interested in the faith and take lead in Advent penitential services and Lenten observances. Simplicity and courage in speaking the truth are virtues they strive for.
- St. Padre Pio – Draws inspiration from St. Pio of Pietrelcina, known for deep spirituality, prayer, and bearing the wounds of Christ (stigmata). This community encourages members to cultivate a strong prayer life, trust in God’s providence, and devotion to the Eucharist. They often host the parish rosary and Adoration when scheduled. Many intercessory prayer warriors belong to this SCC, praying daily for the parish’s intentions.
- St. Michael – Under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel, this group focuses on spiritual warfare and moral courage. They promote prayers of protection (like the St. Michael Prayer) and awareness of spiritual realities. This SCC might lead the way in parish deliverance prayers, catechesis on resisting evil influences, and support for those struggling with various addictions or oppression. Their meetings frequently include testimonies of God’s protection.
- St. Gabriel – Named after the Archangel Gabriel, the messenger of God. This SCC emphasizes the role of proclaiming the Good News. Members are encouraged to be modern-day “angels” – evangelizers who bring messages of hope to others. They often spearhead Bible study programs and ensure that parish communications (like announcements and news) reach everyone, including those who might miss Sunday Mass. They remind us of our duty to share God’s message joyfully with others.
- St. Francis of Assisi – Promotes simplicity, care for creation, and service to the poor, reflecting the charisms of St. Francis. This community is particularly active in environmental efforts (tree planting, clean-ups) and charitable works. Many members are involved with the St. Vincent de Paul society. They take joy in simple gatherings and praise God often outdoors in nature. (Note: Not to be confused with the outstation church of the same patron; this is a local SCC in the main parish).
- St. Luke – Inspired by St. Luke the Evangelist, this Jumuiya focuses on spreading the Gospel through storytelling and compassionate outreach. They emphasize using personal testimony and narrative (like St. Luke did in his Gospel/Acts) to share faith. Members might organize creative evangelization like Christmas pageants, Bible skits, or reaching out to lapsed Catholics with gentle invitation. Healthcare workers in the parish (since Luke was a physician) often belong here and coordinate medical camps or assistance for the sick poor.
- St. Jude Thaddeus – Named for the patron saint of hopeless causes, this community fosters persevering trust in God amid life’s difficulties. Members support one another especially in seemingly “impossible” situations—serious illnesses, family crises, unemployment. They have a strong intercessory prayer chain for urgent intentions. The devotion to St. Jude (popular in Kenya) is promoted especially on last Thursdays of the month when many pray a novena together for desperate needs.
- St. Cecilia – Celebrates the role of music and the arts in worship, in honor of St. Cecilia, patroness of musicians. Naturally, many choir members and instrumentalists are part of this SCC. They ensure our liturgies are filled with joyful song and also encourage the youth to develop musical talents for the Church. This group occasionally hosts “praise and worship” evenings and helps train upcoming choristers. Their patron’s example inspires them to “sing to the Lord” even amid challenges.
- Maria Mama wa Mungu (Mary Mother of God) – A community dedicated to Marian devotion, emphasizing prayer, humility, and maternal care for the Church. They frequently pray the Rosary together and lead Marian processions or the May/October devotions. This SCC also imitates Mary’s concern for others by practical service: helping new mothers, visiting mothers who have lost children, and encouraging family prayer at home. They strive to echo Mary’s fiat: “Let it be done to me according to Your word.”
- St. Anna – Named after St. Anne (Hannah), the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This group focuses on family values, intergenerational faith, and the role of women elders in the Church. Many grandmothers and senior parishioners belong here, mentoring the younger ones. They hold sessions on parenting, Christian marriage, and often take care of organizing infant baptisms and weddings (behind the scenes support). They exemplify the wisdom of age and the importance of passing on the faith in families, much like St. Anne taught young Mary.
- St. Francis of Assisi – Msoloni Outstation – This is the community of our Msoloni outstation, which has its own chapel dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. It operates much like an SCC, bringing together Catholics in that remote area. They extend the parish’s mission to the peripheries, often in economically poor and marginalized neighborhoods. Despite challenges (like lack of easy transportation or resources), this community shows great unity and faith. They meet for weekly prayer and a Liturgy of the Word service when a priest cannot be present for Mass. Their patron’s spirit of peace and goodwill guides them to be a light among their neighbors, many of whom are not Catholic. (See also Outstations below for more on Msoloni.)
Role and Activities of the SCCs: Our Small Christian Communities are not just prayer groups; they serve as centers for both spiritual nourishment and social action. Key activities common to all SCCs include:
- Weekly Bible Sharing: On a designated weekday evening, members gather in one family’s home (rotating) to read and reflect on the upcoming Sunday Scripture readings. They discuss how God’s Word applies to their daily lives – challenges at work, family decisions, moral dilemmas – and encourage each other to live the Gospel. This builds a strong foundation of faith, as everyone gets to speak and learn in a relaxed environment.
- Prayer Meetings: SCC members pray together for personal and community intentions. Whether it’s saying the Rosary, a Divine Mercy chaplet, or spontaneous prayer, these small groups become “families of faith” interceding for one another. Many have prayer intentions books where they note down needs (e.g., a sick relative, a job search, exam success) and then later share testimonies of answered prayers.
- Sacramental Preparation and Support: The SCC is often the first point of contact for those preparing for sacraments. For example, when a couple is to marry, their SCC will accompany them with prayer and sometimes material help. SCCs help identify babies to be baptized, children ready for First Communion, or the sick needing Anointing. They then coordinate with the parish priests to ensure these sacraments are received.
- Social Outreach: Practicing the faith in action is a hallmark of our Jumuiya. Communities engage in various works of charity: visiting the sick or elderly in their homes, assisting members facing financial hardship (through small collections or harambee fundraisers), cleaning the homes of the infirm, or providing food to a neighbor in mourning. SCCs also adopt local issues – for instance, one might help clean up a littered street, another might advocate for a water well to be fixed. By doing so, they transform their neighborhoods with Christian love.
- Integration with Parish Life: SCCs take turns animating the liturgy at parish Masses (e.g., one Sunday, St. Veronica Jumuiya will lead the choir and readings; the next week St. Jude Jumuiya takes over). They also collaborate in parish-wide events like the feast day celebrations, Way of the Cross (each SCC might erect one Station of the Cross during Lent procession), and fundraising activities. This integration ensures that the life of the parish is truly rooted in the communities and not just in the church building.
- Leadership Development: Each SCC is led by a small team of lay leaders (Chairperson, Secretary, etc.) who are trained through parish workshops. This provides grassroots leadership formation. Many of these leaders go on to serve in the Parish Council or diocesan roles. The SCC framework thus empowers lay people to take ownership of the Church’s mission. Ongoing formation sessions are held so leaders can learn conflict resolution, how to conduct Bible sharing, and other skills.
In essence, the SCCs make real the vision of the “Church as Family of God.” They help break the anonymity that can occur in larger parishes – here, every individual is noticed and important. When someone is absent, the Jumuiya will check on them; when someone is celebrating, the Jumuiya rejoices with them. This living fellowship has been vital especially during difficulties like the COVID-19 pandemic, when SCCs coordinated local support and kept faith alive in small gatherings even when large Masses were suspended.
Challenges and Future Directions: While our Small Christian Communities are thriving, they do face some challenges. Limited resources can hamper their social projects – sometimes the needs (for school fees, medical bills, housing) in a group exceed what the members can provide. There is also a need for continuous training of catechists and animators, as new members join or leadership transitions. The integration of youth into SCC activities is ongoing work; many youths prefer centralized youth group events, so SCCs are looking for creative ways to involve them (like sports or youth-friendly prayer styles). Additionally, in an area with many transient residents, keeping cohesion can be tough – people move for jobs, etc., meaning SCC membership shifts.
Our Parish Strategic Plan (2023–2028) addresses many of these issues. It prioritizes catechist training (so every SCC has a well-formed catechist to guide them), promoting Catholic traditions and devotions (to deepen faith at the grassroots), and fostering interfaith dialogue at community level (especially important where Christian and Muslim neighbors live side by side). There is also encouragement for SCCs to initiate income-generating activities – for example, one Jumuiya might start a small poultry project or a savings group to improve their economic resilience and capacity to support members in need. We envision that over the next few years, each SCC will grow not only in numbers but in self-reliance and outreach.Conclusion: The 15 Jumuiya of St. Charles Lwanga Parish are a living testament to the Church’s commitment to grassroots evangelization and community building. Through their diverse patron saints and activities, these small communities embody the values of faith, service, and unity that our parish cherishes. They truly are the “church in the neighborhood,” making Christ present in every corner of Muyeye and beyond. We encourage every parishioner – if you haven’t yet – to join your local SCC and experience the warmth and strength that comes from journeying in faith with a small group of brothers and sisters. Karibuni sana! (You are all most welcome!)