Caritas Kitui

As the world gears towards the marking of this year's World Donkey Day on Friday, May 8th 2026, Our Caritas Kitui Director, Madam Florence Ndeti and Dr. Raphael Kinoti, Brooke East Africa Regional Coordinator will be discussing the future of the African donkey on Spice FM tomorrow.

Do not miss out on this important discussion on the preservation and safeguarding of
donkeys across the continent.

Preserving Africa's Donkeys is our Collective Responsibility !

Our Lady of Africa ;
Pray for us.

Happy Feast Day!

FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF AFRICA – MOTHER OF ALL PEOPLES

LONG before the sands of North Africa echoed with the call to prayer of Islam, this land was one of the great heartlands of Christianity.
It gave the Church towering figures such as Saint Monica and her son Saint Augustine of Hippo, whose writings still shape Christian thought today.
Cities like Carthage and Hippo were vibrant centres of faith, theology, and missionary zeal.
Christianity took deep root especially after the conversion of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century.
Yet history would take a dramatic turn. Beginning in the 7th century, waves of Arab conquests swept across North Africa, and over time, Christianity faded from public life, replaced largely by Islam.
For centuries, the visible presence of the Church diminished, though the memory of its saints lingered like a hidden flame beneath the surface.

FRENCH PRESENCE
It was not until the 19th century, during the period of French presence in Algeria, that the Catholic Church began to re-establish itself in a visible way.
This rebirth, however, was not easy. The first bishop of Algiers, Antoine-Adolphe Dupuch, arrived with great zeal but faced enormous challenges.
The local population was wary and often hostile toward the French, making it nearly impossible to build churches or establish a stable Christian presence.
Bishop Dupuch soon realized that human effort alone would not be enough — he needed heavenly assistance.

STRIKING BRONZE STATUE
Returning to France, he appealed for help. It was there that a Marian sodality in Lyon, deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, responded generously.
They offered him a striking bronze statue of the Immaculate Conception. But this was no ordinary gift — it came with a remarkable intention: that Mary would be honoured not only as protector of Christians, but also as Mother and Protectress of all people in the land, including Muslims.
The statue arrived in Algeria in 1840 and was entrusted to the Cistercian monks at Staouëli.
Dark in color and simple in form, it carried a profound spiritual message: Mary belongs to all humanity. Over time, devotion to her began to grow quietly but steadily.
A new chapter opened under the leadership of Charles Lavigerie, Archbishop of Algiers and founder of the Missionaries of Africa (the White Fathers).
With great vision, he sought to build a shrine that would stand as a sign of hope, reconciliation, and faith.

NOTRE DAME DE AFRIQUE
On a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, he constructed the magnificent Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Afrique in Algiers.
There, the statue was solemnly enshrined.
In 1876, it was crowned, marking its official recognition as a powerful symbol of Mary’s maternal care. From that moment, she became widely known as Our Lady of Africa.
One of the most striking features of this devotion is the inscription found in the basilica:
“Notre Dame d’Afrique, priez pour nous et pour les Musulmans”
(Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and for the Muslims).
This prayer captures the very heart of the shrine’s mission — a place not of division, but of unity; not of conquest, but of compassion.

HEALING AND GRACE
Pilgrims soon began to flock to the basilica. Many came with deep faith and left with stories of healing and grace.
The sick reported miraculous recoveries — the blind seeing, the lame walking, and the suffering finding comfort.
Sailors, facing the dangers of the vast Mediterranean, would entrust their journeys to Our Lady of Africa, seeking her protection over stormy seas.
What makes this devotion especially unique is the deep respect shown to Mary even among Muslims.
In Islam, Mary (Maryam) is honoured as the mother of the prophet Jesus (Isa), and her purity and faith are highly revered.
This shared reverence has made the shrine a rare and beautiful meeting point between Christians and Muslims—a place where hearts can unite in quiet prayer.

SIGN OF PEACE, DIALOGUE AND HOPE
Over the years, Our Lady of Africa has come to symbolize more than just a local devotion.
She stands as a powerful reminder that Mary’s motherhood extends beyond borders, cultures, and religions.
In a region often marked by tension and division, she remains a sign of peace, dialogue, and hope.
Today, as we celebrate her feast, we remember not only the crowning of a statue, but the crowning of a mission — a mission of unity, healing, and universal love.
Our Lady of Africa, Mother of all nations,
Pray for Africa, pray for us,
And pray for all your children, everywhere.