Catholic priest walks for 1,200km across 15 counties to raise funds for new church

Fr Maloba Wesonga speaks to an inmate at Shimo La Tewa Prison on Monday celebrating Mass. The priest is on a 2,000 kilometre walk dubbed “Journey of Faith” in which he hopes to raise Sh250 million for the construction of a church in Karen, Nairobi. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • After completing the walk last Saturday, Fr Maloba celebrated Mas at Shanzu Catholic Church on Sunday.
  • The priest reminded worshippers to embrace individual love that would guarantee peace and stability at family and societal levels.
  • Fr Maloba, 44, started his seven-leg walk on March 13, 2016 from Khaimba in Kakamega County.
  • He engaged Christians on various faith-based topics to inspire them to renew their faith through prayers.

A Catholic priest, Fr Wesonga Maloba, has successfully completed a 1,200 kilometre walk which he undertook in order to raise funds for the construction of a new church at Regina Caeli Catholic Church in Karen, Nairobi.

After completing the walk last Saturday, Fr Maloba celebrated Mas at Shanzu Catholic Church on Sunday.

In his sermons, Fr Maloba told the faithful to adhere to Jesus Christ’s ‘new law of love’ for one another that was the foundation of Christianity.

“Christ’s love for us is unconditional and is different from human love that is tinged with conditions, some of which are unattainable,” he said.

The priest reminded worshippers to embrace individual love that would guarantee peace and stability at family and societal levels.

“Without love we will harvest disunity, corruption, bribery and favouritism at every aspect of our lives thus missing on the virtues of integrity for public office-bearers,” he said, adding that for people to gain genuine love they must sacrifice in the name of Jesus Christ.

The priest, escorted by ‘My Journey of Faith Team’, arrived at the Tudor centre at 8.50am for a temporary stopover before walking to Shimo-la-Tewa Prison through the Technical University of Mombasa, Buxton, Nyali Bridge and Bombolulu.

SEVEN-LEG WALK

Fr Maloba, 44, started his seven-leg walk on March 13, 2016 from Khaimba in Kakamega County, in line with the seven Catholic sacraments, to build faith among the people of God.

“One of the seven-leg journey required me to walk to-and-fro Nairobi-Murang’a route before embarking on the Mombasa finale,” he said.

The priest celebrated another Mass Monday at the Shimo La Tewa Maximum Security Prison.

According to him, his main motivation for the walk was a call from Pope Francis that the faithful needed to take a spiritual pilgrimage this year which the Pope declared the year of divine mercy.

The walk covered 15 counties and took him over two months to complete with the hope of raising Sh250 million for the new church.

“My special appeal goes to all men and women of God to send their donations through M-Pesa Pay Bill Number 488300 for this mission of faith,” he said adding that all the donors’ names will be given prominence in the new church.

“We intend to publish a special booklet that will contain names of all those who have given donations with the intention of displaying them when the church project is completed,” he added.

In between his journey, Fr Maloba engaged Christians on various faith-based topics to inspire them to renew their faith through prayers and reading the word of God.