A Homecoming Rooted in Hope, Service and AJAN’s Legacy

There are places that leave an indelible mark on one’s life and ministry. For His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Parish in Kangemi, Kenya is one such place. During his visit to Kenya for the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), the Cardinal returned on 17 July 2026 to the community where he had lived and served for eight years as the founding Director of the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN).

The visit was both personal and symbolic, offering an opportunity to reconnect with a community that shaped his ministry and to witness the enduring impact of AJAN’s mission in Kangemi and beyond. He was accompanied by Rev. Fr. Dumisani Vilakati, Msgr. Joseph Xavier Raj, Fr. Ismael Matambura, SJ, Director of AJAN, and Fr. Rampe Hlobo, SJ, Director of the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Office (JEO).

His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, accompanied by Rev. Fr. Dumisani Vilakati (first from left), Msgr. Joseph Xavier Raj (second from left), Fr. Ismael Matambura, SJ, Director of AJAN (first from right), and Fr. Rampe Hlobo, SJ, Director of the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Office (JEO) (far right), visited the offices in Kangemi that once housed the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN). Upon their arrival at the Saint Joseph Development Programmes, Kangemi, they were warmly welcomed by Fr. Beatus Mauki, SJ, Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Parish, Kangemi (second from right), and the incoming Director, Fr. Paul Kilonzo, SJ (far left).

“It is a joy to return to a community I consider home,” Cardinal Czerny said as he reunited with the people of Kangemi, reflecting on the years he spent accompanying the community and laying the foundation for AJAN’s mission of compassion, justice, and holistic care across Africa.

The visit was marked by a warm welcome from the parish community and the St. Joseph Development Programmes (SJDP), where the Cardinal revisited ministries that have continued to flourish over the years. These initiatives, many of which grew alongside AJAN’s early experience in responding to HIV and AIDS, remain living testimonies of faith in action and integral human development.

During the visit, Cardinal Czerny toured the The Upendo Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Programme, the Uzima Counselling Centre, Dolly Craft Vestments Kangemi, and St. Joseph Technical and Comprehensive School. He met with staff, students, and beneficiaries, celebrating the transformative impact these programmes continue to have on vulnerable children, young people, and families.

Addressing students at St. Joseph Technical and Comprehensive School, Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ encouraged them to remain committed to their education, reminding them that they have the potential to transform not only their own lives but also the future of the Kangemi community through service and compassion.

Reflecting on his years in the parish, the Cardinal shared:

“I used to say Mass and I was part of the community here, so I am very happy to meet you and happy to hear about your programmes and how you are preparing yourselves for life, service to your community and to your country. All of you know you are very fortunate to be in school, and the school is fortunate to have you. It is a happy moment to be grateful for what God gives us.

God has been generous to St. Joseph the Worker Parish, and now we have so many wonderful programmes that help people. This is the best way to prepare for life: we develop our talents, we develop our skills, we learn how to do things, and we learn how to make our way in life. But all this is to prepare us to serve others, to serve those who need our help.

I am happy to meet you. I pray for you and ask God to bless you with this great goal: I am getting ready to serve others. I am getting ready to meet the needs of others. I am ready to extend a helping hand. In this way, we receive God’s blessings every day. God bless you.”

He further urged the young people to nurture their spiritual lives through prayer and personal reflection, encouraging them to recognise God’s love and the many blessings present in their daily lives. His message reflected AJAN’s longstanding commitment to accompanying and forming young people who are intellectually competent, spiritually grounded, and dedicated to serving others in their communities.

Following his address, the students had an opportunity to engage Cardinal Czerny in a lively question-and-answer session.

One of the students asked, “Most of Gen Z have no interest in the Church. How do we balance life out there with life inside the Church?”

The Cardinal responded by saying:

“You speak with people who go to church and probably think you know why they go, yet you don’t. So, one good thing to do when you see someone going to church is first to ask them why they go, what they hope for, and what they receive. Another thing is to talk to your priests, sisters, and catechists. You will be able to learn from them. People serving in the Church want to serve you, but they don’t know you. You come from a different generation, very different from the one in which they grew up. Be courageous. Talk to your priests, sisters, and catechists. Tell them what you are looking for, why you are disappointed, and what keeps you coming to church. Finally, we often tell ourselves, ‘I want to go to church to get something,’ but the real reason for going to church is to give thanks. You have learned at home and at school that when you receive a gift, you say, ‘Thank you.'”

Another question raised by the students at St. Joseph Technical and Comprehensive School was, “How do we know our purpose on earth, and how do we serve God with our talents?”

The Cardinal responded:

“God’s way of communicating with us is gentle. God does not speak to us through our phones. Grow in your conversation with God. Tell Him about the things that are troubling you, what you are hoping for, and your future with Him, and He will surely find a way to guide you. Another important thing is to listen to the people around you. Discover how God is speaking to you through others. This is something we often miss because we are in such a hurry. But we thank God that He sends His message through the people around us, and listening to those messages can help you find your way.”

Cardinal Czerny also expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the parish and SJDP, thanking the outgoing Director Fr. James Mugwe SJ, the incoming Director Fr. Paul Kilonzo SJ, and the Parish Priest Fr. Beatus Mauki SJ, for their faithful service. He commended their dedication to accompanying young people, restoring hope, and promoting holistic human development within the Kangemi community.

Reflecting on the visit, the Cardinal shared his deep gratitude for returning to a place that continues to hold a special place in his heart—a community that shaped an important chapter of his Jesuit ministry and helped inspire a network that today reaches thousands of people across Africa through AJAN’s member centres.

Earlier that day, before his visit to Kangemi, Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, had undertaken a pastoral visit to Lang’ata Women’s Maximum Security Prison in Nairobi, accompanied by representatives of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops. There, he offered a powerful sign of the Church’s solidarity with those living on the margins of society, encouraging the inmates to cultivate hope, support one another, and never lose sight of their God-given dignity despite the challenges they face.

In his address, Cardinal Czerny described the prison as “a home of hope,” encouraging the inmates to embrace hope, share it with one another, and become signs of hope for those around them despite their circumstances.

Rev. Fr. Miringu, Director of the Catholic Prison Chaplaincy, who accompanied Cardinal Czerny reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to rehabilitation through pastoral care, spiritual accompaniment, counselling, and moral guidance. He noted that the Church’s ministry within correctional facilities contributes to building a more peaceful, compassionate, and reconciled society.

Fr. Miringu added that the Cardinal’s visit would strengthen the shared commitment of the Church and correctional institutions to promoting reconciliation, justice, respect for human dignity, and the transformative power of faith.

For AJAN, Cardinal Czerny’s return to Kangemi and the visit to Lang’ata Women Prison was more than a nostalgic homecoming. It was a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of accompaniment, compassion, and hope that continues to shape the Network’s mission. As AJAN prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2027, moments like these reaffirm the vision upon which the Network was founded: walking with vulnerable communities, promoting integral human development, and bearing witness to God’s love through service.

By, Mr. Dennis Owuoche,

AJAN Communications Officer.