SMA Priest thanks "Ballinasloe LIfe" for support in Africa

By Ken Kelly

​SMA priest, Fr. Anthony Kelly from Tristane, Aughrim and now ministering in Nairobi, Kenya, has thanked Ballinasloe LIFE for supporting his appeal for donations to “Kit out” newly ordained priests in Africa. Following an article in the last issue of LIFE, Fr. Anthony sent an email stating “There has been a very generous response from people around Ballygar, Newbridge, Ballinasloe, Clontuskert, Kiltormer, Killimor and Aughrim following your story.

Every year we have between 6 and 10 ordinations from our S.M.A. formation house here in Nairobi and as they leave us we try to fit them out with Mass Kits to help them get started in their new parishes. At present we have 40 students studying for missionary priesthood with S.M.A. from 14 different countries, They come from India, Poland, Slovakia, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Central Africa, Congo, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya. In addition to our seminary here in Nairobi we have seminaries also in Nigeria and Ivory Coast with similar numbers training to be missionaries for S.M.A. and the people of Africa. They will be replacing the many Irish S.M.A. Missionaries who are retiring or have already retired from the above countries. It is a great source of joy for our retired missionaries in our houses in Cork and Claregalway to see young students preparing for priesthood from the parishes where they laboured in their earlier years as S.M.A. missionaries in West Africa. Wishing you and all your readers God’s Blessings at this time. Fr. Anthony Kelly S.M.A.”. Email: [email protected] 

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