ABOUT US

About Us: Portfolio

HISTORY

The Diocese of Bungoma used to be part of Kakamega Diocese as one of its parishes. As the Catholic faithful increased, the administrative concerns grew bigger that it was deemed necessary to separate Bungoma including some parishes, thereby its inauguration as a new Diocese in 1987.

The parish of Christ The King is one of the 32 parishes and being the parish where the cathedral is located, it is the center of convergence for the Catholic faithful in the Diocese. It is headed by a Parish Priest with one assistant Priest.

The parish is part of the Catholic church hierarchy. In the implementation of programmes and projects, it coordinates with the Diocesan Development Office which links the Parish to local and international community. It works closely with the local and national governments especially in health, education and children's welfare and with religious organizations for its pastoral work.

Major changes were made as to the structure of the organization. Being a separate Diocese, it implemented its own programmes and activities making use of its local resources. Likewise, parishes are independent to plan and address concerns of its constitutents however, coordinating programmes and projects with Diocesan Strategic Plan.

As part of its efforts to be transparent and accountable to all Christians, the Parish has installed policies and procedures on its financial transactions; checks and balances are properly installed to avoid wastage of resources.

LEADERSHIP

The parish as stipulated in its constitution has a Parish Pastoral Council for purposes of mutual coordination of the various lay associations and undertakings, the autonomy and particular nature of each remaining untouched. It is composed of those who are members by right (i.e. priests,, sisters, and brothers), members who are elected by the various committees in the parish and members who are nominated by the Parish Priest. The Parish Pastoral Council is a representative group of Christ's faithful established to assist in the apostolic work of the church which is the continuation of the mission of christ, particularly among all the people within the confines of the Parish.

There are 6 elected officers who together with the Parish Priest form the executive committee of the council.
There are 33 members in the Parish Pastoral Council which are drawn from each of the 14 Sub Parishes i.e. two members from each sub parish; the Chairperson and the Secretary, since there are 7 sub parishes, the total number is 14.

There is one person from each association or prayer group and since there are 13 prayer groups and associations, then 13 members represent each group plus the Parish Priest, the Head Catechist, The Curate and 3 co-opted members making a total of 33 members.

In order to ensure various affairs run smoothly, the various groups meet regurlarly, for instance, the Small Christian Community meet once a week, the Sub Parish councils once a month, the Executive Committee at least every two months, the Parish Pastoral Council three times a year. The Executive can convene an extra ordinary meeting of the council if there is special need.

STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

In consultation with the Parish Priest the objectives of the parish council are:

Establish income generating pastoral activities with a view to attaining financial self reliance and sustainability.
Strengthen Small Christian Community for deeper and effective evangelization.
Strengthen our church groups: Liturgy, Youth, Legion of Mary etc
Train members of the Parish Council and relevant parish groups for self sustainability.
Build the church as a family of God by continuing to foster and revitalize the Small Christian Communities.
Human Resource Management and Development by ensuring all Christian groups are functioning properly.
Ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue, that collaborate with other parishes and religious groups in addressing social problems is encouraged especially in areas where basic human rights are restricted.
Strengthening structures for local fund raising initiatives.
Sensitize communities on human and legal rights and empower them to spearhead their own development initiatives.
Conscientise the communities at the grassroots level to be actively involved in identifying and participating in their own development work.
Intensify training of the youth through technical training programmes e.g. Computer training, tailoring etc that will provide them with skills and start up tools and mobilize them to establish collective productions and marketing centers.
Strengthen and deepen the Christian faith that is relevant, effective, inculturated and responsive to society needs and aspirations of the parish.
Foster deep spirituality and active liturgical participation among Christians in the parish.

The parish has the full support of the Bishop, the parish council, the management Board and the communities that directly benefit from the programmes and projects. Being part of various committees within the church hierarchy and municipal government, the parish priest has the respect and support of all key actors to implement statutes geared toward changes in people and the society at large.

In the Education sector the Parish Priest sits in at least 20 Management Boards for primary and secondary schools being sponsored by the Catholic Church in Bungoma as representative of the Diocese.