Holy Martyrs Formation House

Nairobi, Kenya

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What Is The Holy Martyrs Formation House?

The Holy Martyrs Formation House is the fourth phase of the initial formation of the Missionaries of Africa. In other words, it is the formation Centre for the Missionaries of Africa’s candidates who have completed their philosophical studies of 3-4 years and thereafter pursued a year of spiritual formation – Noviciate, as well as 2 years of pastoral experience. This last phase of initial formation prepares the candidate for the mission through theological studies, which take a duration of four years. The house is an international/ intercultural community because it receives students from all over the world.

Where Is It Located?

The centre for theological formation in the East Africa Province – EAP, is situated at Balozi, South B in Nairobi, Kenya. It is opposite Balozi Estate and not far from Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish. The choice of this location of the house was first for pastoral reasons. The historical background was mainly to facilitate access to the pastoral milieu of the two slums, namely Mukuru Kwanzenga, Kayaba and Kibera, where currently our students do their apostolate in the weekends.

OUR DAILY COMMITMENT: Academic, Community, apostolate, and Spiritual life

The purpose of the Holy Martyrs Formation House is foremost academics. It is a phase where the future priests and future missionaries of Africa, get to familiarize themselves with theological reflections and principles. According to the Constitutions and Laws, CL 139 of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa:

“The theological disciplines, in the light of faith and under the guidance of the magisterium of the Church, should be so taught that the students will correctly draw out Catholic doctrine from divine revelation, profoundly penetrate it, make it the food of their own spiritual lives, and be enabled to proclaim, explain, and protect it in their priestly ministry. The students are to be formed with particular care in the study of the Bible, which ought to be, as it were, the soul of all theology. After a suitable introduction, they are to be initiated carefully into the method of exegesis, and they are to see the great themes of divine revelation and to receive from their daily reading of and meditating on the sacred books inspiration and nourishment.”          

(Optatam Totius, 16.)

Moreover, the spirit of this formation house is always led by the vision of our Founder Cardinal Charles Martial Lavigerie (Cf Art. 35 to Art. 50 of the Constitutions and Laws), who insisted on the four pillars without which the missionary life would not be Christ’s mission. These four pillars are Community life, Spiritual life, Apostolic life, and dialogue with Muslims. It is a moment of holistic formation where students deepen their living together, through prayer: Breviary, recollections, retreats, and theological reflections. Furthermore, the apostolate is one of the key pillars that prepares theologians for the mission.

Furthermore, our house is a true witnessing community because of our way of life, the sharing of love among ourselves, the good relationships we build with those around us, and the interesting effort we put into carrying out apostolate in Mukuru slum, Kamithi prison, and visiting the destitute, sick people, and street boys. We also commit to interreligious interaction, notably with Muslims, where we have a good connection with the Harmony Institute.

Get in touch with us on

mafrrecsouthb@gmail.com

P.O. Box 26052 Nairobi 00504. Kenya