Parish Ministry Website

Describe Your Ministry:

Project #1 - "BUY A NET, SAVE A LIFE"
This project has provided 8,000 pre-treated mosquito nets to protect 24,000 people (3 people sleep under each net). The nets were distributed to specific villages In western Kenya within the boundaries of Christ the King Catholic parish. We currently are fundraising to replace all of these nets when they wear out In about 3 1/2 years.

Project #2 - "KIBERA ORPHAN EDUCATION PROJECT"

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This project provides an opportunity for a high school and sometimes university education for orphans living In the slums In Kenya, primarily outside Nairobi. We currently have five children In the program with a goal of having 25 children being In the program each year.

Description of fundraising efforts (if any):

Both programs were supported by fundraising activities, including:

1. An email campaign inside and outside the parish.
2. Parish "kickoff" presentation.
3. "Red Cup" children donations during Advent and Lent.
4. Large donor solicitations.
5. Radio Interviews on Catholic Radio NW.
6. Catholic Northwest Progress articles.
7. Pancake breakfasts, Knights of Columbus and other events plus begging and more begging

Collaboration with individuals or groups outside of the parish/community:

1. Father Christopher Wanyonyi In Bungoma, Kenya.
2. Father Dennis Geng In Nairobi, Kenya
3. Dr. Tom Curran on Catholic Radio Northwest.
4. Challenge Catholic Girls Club.
5. Terry McGuire at the Catholic Northwest Progress.

Describe visits (if any) between your parish/community and your African Partners:

Ken Fabrizio went to Kenya in February 2007 to coordinate the mosquito net distributions. Father Wanyonyi was instrumental in setting this up.

Ken also spent time in the Kibera slum outside Nairobi and as a result the "Kenya Orphan Education Project" was created. Father Dennis Geng was Instrumental In setting this up.

How is your ministry organized and run:

The parish social justice commission supports both projects. A separate parish post office box Is set up for donations. The parish staff handles the accounting and provides monthly reports to the social justice commission. Ken and Carol Fabrizio manage both projects and serve as the parish contacts.

Describe Youth Involvement (if any):

The "Red Cup" campaigns are a core aspect of our fundraising. A display of the projects remains In the back of the church throughout Advent and Lent. During this time the children of the parish collect coins throughout the week and bring them to mass every Sunday In the red cups we provide. At the Offertory of each Mass the children all process up with their red cups and empty them Into a basket by the altar.

Describe areas of expertise that exist in your mission work:

We have learned much about malaria prevention and the role mosquito nets play in that.
We have learned about the education system within Kenya and much of Africa Including where primary (elementary), secondary (high school) and college fits Into the picture.