Capital "M" Mission

Within a week of returning home from Nairobi, Kenya in 2017, the core team had already selected dates for the following year and I had already cashed in points for the flight. Now in 2022, it's my fourth journey to our sister parish, Holy Cross Dandora, and I must say as the week comes to an end, this has been one like no other. There is so much to share and I am grateful and impressed by the leadership of Kathleen Gallanar who serves as the Holy Cross Africa Ministries core team chair. Although this is the anniversary of 20 years of traveling to Kenya, we assure our brothers and sisters that we will celebrate in a grand way next year. Since this is a focused trip, with a long agenda built up over the past three years, we have cut the more recreational elements: elephant orphanage, giraffe rescue, and the house of Karen Blixen. We have spent quality time connecting and the leaders of the parish keep calling it a rebirth.

Somewhere amidst all this work, I realized we hadn't made time just to play. So I quietly slipped out of lunch early and went out on the field. Mzungu (polite translation = wanderer; but really closer to 'gringo') are magnets. Within seconds, there were dozens and dozens of littles longing for high fives, hugs, and to touch my hair. It's humbling, indescribable, and you cannot quell the joy inside.

This trip puts the mission in "mission" statement. The forming and shaping into a "loving disciple" feels tangible. You may think you're going out to transform Dandora, but in fact, the transformation takes place in your own heart and mind.

Let us share with you all of the remarkable transformations that are taking place at Holy Cross Dandora, and how that in turn is transforming lives here in Santa Monica. Fr. Bob Dowd will be with us at all Masses this weekend to celebrate our annual Mission Cooperative. Spend time with him after the morning Masses or at a reception Sunday evening following the 5:30 p.m. Mass. Your generosity not only to the parish but its Mission—capital "M"—has a face. It has tens of thousands of faces and every time I meet someone, they tell me to offer their thanks directly to YOU. So: asante sana and may God bless you. We're so glad to be home!