Amigos celebran las Bodas de Plata del P. Claude Kathembo Masimengo

At Emmanuel House, Nairobi

Twenty-five years of priesthood is not simply a measure of time. It is a story of God's faithfulness, a journey marked by sacrifice, service, challenges, friendships, and countless encounters with people whose lives have been touched by the ministry of a priest.

From 26 August 2001 to 26 August 2026, Fr. Claude Kathembo Masimengo has journeyed through 25 years of priestly ministry. His Silver Jubilee has therefore been an occasion not only to celebrate a milestone, but also to look back with gratitude at the many ways in which God has accompanied him throughout his vocation. The jubilee celebrations continued on Saturday, 6 September 2026, when a good number of friends, Christians, religious sisters, and collaborators gathered to surround Fr. Claude with affection, prayers, friendship, and thanksgiving. From as early as 8:30 a.m., the community compound began to take on an atmosphere different from an ordinary day. There were footsteps, conversations, preparations, laughter, and the movement of people coming together to make the celebration possible.

The preparations brought together many people who generously offered their time, skills, money, and energy. Among those who arrived were the invited were the Sisters of the Company of Mary, the Orants of the Assumption and friends from 12 parishes in the Archidiocese of Nairobi. Each group contributed in its own way to ensuring that the celebration would be worthy of the occasion. The kitchen became one of the busiest places of the morning. Working together, the different groups prepared a delicious meal for the guests. At the same time, others concentrated on decorating the celebration area and putting in place everything that was needed for the day's programme.

By midday, the preparations were complete. The compound was ready, the food was prepared, the decorations were in place, and the guests had begun to gather. Everything was set for the central moment of the celebration: the Holy Mass. At 12:30 p.m., the Holy Mass began. The liturgical celebration was animated by a choir composed of members from Rosa Mistica, Classic, and Cantores, whose singing added beauty and solemnity to the celebration. The atmosphere was one of thanksgiving and joy as friends and Christians gathered to celebrate 25 years of Fr. Claude's priestly ministry. Fr. Claude himself presided over the Eucharistic celebration. For him, however, the Mass was more than simply a celebration of an anniversary. It became an opportunity to remember the beginnings of his priesthood, the people he had encountered along the way, the challenges he had experienced, and, above all, the faithfulness of God.

In his homily, Fr. Claude took the congregation back to the early days of St. Monica Parish, Njiru, and shared a personal story of how the parish began. Recalling the events of 2001, he explained: “It was 2001. Fr. Protais Kabila and I were appointed to start a parish in Nairobi. When we met the Archbishop of Nairobi, Mwananzeki, by then, he suggested to us a very nice parish in Kiambu. However, when we went there, we discovered that the dominant pastoral language was Gikuyu. None of us could speak Gikuyu. That is how we requested if we could be given another parish.”

Their request eventually led them to Njiru, which at that time was only an outstation of Kayole Parish.The Njiru they encountered was very different from the community that exists today. According to Fr. Claude, the Christian population was very small. “As a second option, we were sent to Njiru, which was by then an outstation of Kayole. The place did not have a big population. If I can remember very well, our first Christians could not reach even fifty.” There was also no priests' residence. The missionaries therefore had to depend on the generosity of the local Christians.

One of the most memorable stories Fr. Claude shared concerned their first accommodation. A Christian named Waititu, who was running a bar from his home, generously offered some rooms to the priests: “The place did not have the Fathers' house. One of our Christians called Waititu was running the business of a bar in his house. As we did not have any place to stay, our dear Christian, Waititu, had to sacrifice some rooms of his house for us to stay. The bar was run on the ground floor and we fathers were sleeping on the first floor.” It was certainly not an ideal arrangement: “We did not have any option than just coping with the situation. With loud music in the bar the whole night, it was not easy, I tell you.” Yet Fr. Claude looked back at those difficult circumstances with gratitude rather than regret. “But as missionaries, having nowhere to lay our heads, we had to, and God was with us.” The priests remained in that situation for about six years while the parish was gradually being established and the construction of the parish facilities was undertaken.

Fr. Claude also remembered another important aspect of his early ministry in Njiru: accompanying pregnant women who needed medical attention. At that time, there were not many hospitals in the surrounding area. Some women would come to the parish when they were about to give birth, sometimes even in the middle of the night. As a missionary and priest, Fr. Claude often found himself leaving his bed to help them reach the hospital. “Some pregnant women, when getting ready to deliver, used to come to the parish, even late in the night, and as a missionary I used to wake up and rush the pregnant woman to the hospital. Some could even deliver on the way before we reached the hospital.”

Looking back after 25 years, Fr. Claude finds particular joy in seeing the children whose births he once helped facilitate, as well as those whom he later baptized, now grown into adults. “My joy is that when I see those children we helped, who were born, and others whom we baptized, today they are adults, I find a reason to thank God for the energy He had been granting me to render that service.” These memories transformed the jubilee celebration into something deeper than a personal anniversary. They reminded everyone present that priesthood is ultimately about accompanying people through the different moments of their lives—from birth and baptism to moments of suffering, celebration, reconciliation, and faith.

Having shared memories from the beginning of his ministry, Fr. Claude also spoke honestly about the realities of priesthood. He reminded the Christians that priesthood is not always easy. Behind the public ministry of a priest are moments of fatigue, uncertainty, suffering, and personal struggle. He particularly emphasized the challenges that can come with declining physical strength or prolonged illness. A priest can sometimes feel alone even when he is surrounded by many people. For this reason, he appealed to the faithful to remember their priests in prayer. Priests, he reminded the congregation, need the prayers and support of the people they serve. It is ultimately God's grace that gives them the strength to continue their mission, especially during difficult seasons of life.

Fr. Claude also recalled the profound identity and mission received through priestly ordination. Through ordination, the priest is called to participate in the mission of Christ as priest, prophet and king. His mission is fundamentally to bring people closer to God. He does this through the celebration of the sacraments, the proclamation of the Word of God, pastoral accompaniment, and particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the celebration of the Eucharist. The priest becomes, in this way, an instrument through whom people encounter God's mercy and are continually invited into deeper communion with Him.

At the conclusion of his homily, Fr. Claude expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all those who had taken the time to set aside their daily activities and family commitments to come and celebrate this special occasion with him. His gratitude was directed not only to those who were physically present, but also to the many people who have accompanied and supported him throughout his 25 years of priestly ministry, and especially to those who have continued to visit, encourage, and comfort him during difficult moments. Since 2013, Fr. Claude has faced a prolonged period of illness, making the presence, prayers, friendship, and support of those around him particularly meaningful. He acknowledged these gestures of love and solidarity as a precious source of strength throughout his journey.

After the Holy Mass, the celebration continued in a joyful and festive atmosphere. The Christians from the chapel gathered around Fr. Claude, singing traditional songs in his honour. They then accompanied him from the chapel to the community compound, where the celebrations continued with dancing, singing, and expressions of joy. The atmosphere became increasingly lively as people gathered for photographs with the jubilarian. Friends and Christians captured moments that will remain as memories of this special day. Following the photo session, the Master of Ceremonies invited everyone into the main celebration area. The programme then continued with animation, music, dance, speeches, and fellowship. The celebration was colourful, joyful, and memorable. More importantly, it brought together people whose lives have, in one way or another, been connected to Fr. Claude's twenty-five-year journey as a priest.

The Silver Jubilee of Fr. Claude Kathembo Masimengo is ultimately a celebration of God's faithfulness. 25 years ago, he began his priestly ministry. He could not have known everything that the journey would contain: the humble beginnings of a new parish, nights spent above a noisy bar, emergency journeys to hospitals, baptisms, pastoral challenges, moments of joy, moments of weakness, and countless encounters with people. Yet, looking back, one thing becomes clear: God has been present throughout the journey. The story of St. Monica Njiru, as recalled by Fr. Claude, is itself a reflection of the story of his priesthood. What began with fewer than fifty Christians and very limited resources has grown into a vibrant Christian community. Similarly, a priestly vocation grows through ordinary acts of service, perseverance, sacrifice, and trust in God. As Fr. Claude celebrates 25 years of priesthood—26 August 2001 to 26 August 2026—, the Church and all those who have shared part of his journey have reason to give thanks. His Silver Jubilee is not merely a celebration of the years that have passed. It is a thanksgiving for the lives touched, the people accompanied, the sacraments celebrated, the difficulties overcome, and the grace received.

Vingt-cinq années de sacerdoce, c’est avant tout une histoire de fidélité : fidélité à un appel, fidélité à une mission et, par-dessus tout, fidélité d’un Dieu qui accompagne son serviteur à travers les joies comme les épreuves. C’est dans cet esprit qu’amis, chrétiens et collaborateurs se sont réunis à Emmanuel House Nairobi pour rendre grâce à Dieu à l’occasion du Jubilé d’argent du Père Claude Kathembo Masimengo, ordonné prêtre le 26 août 2001. Au cours de la célébration eucharistique, le jubilaire a revisité avec émotion les débuts de la paroisse Sainte-Monique de Njiru, évoquant les conditions modestes dans lesquelles lui-même et le Père Protais Kabila avaient commencé leur mission, ainsi que les nombreux services rendus aux familles et aux personnes vulnérables. Son témoignage a également révélé les joies et les fragilités du ministère sacerdotal, notamment l’épreuve de la maladie. Ce jubilé est ainsi devenu une action de grâce pour une vie donnée au service de Dieu et de son peuple.

Fr. Dieudonne Kathembo Tsongo a.a