JUST ONE MONTH AWAY
DEDICATION SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 10, 2025
LOCATED IN THE DIOCESE OF MACHAKOS - EAST OF NAIROBI, KENYA
ON THE EAST COAST OF CENTRAL AFRICA
LOCAL CATECHIST, VERONICA KITILI, HAD A VISION
Veronica, an illiterate catechist, taught the Catholic faith out of her home from memory. She is said to have been the godmother of over 1,000 new Catholics. There was no church in her village so she had to walk miles to get to church for Mass. As she got older, she did what she could to talk the local priest into building a church in her village. He agreed, but she died before it could be built. When the first church was built in her village, the people named it St. Veronica Church in her honor. It is pictured below.
Her daughter, Clementine, became Sister Stephen, a Little Sister of the Poor, who ended up being stationed at St. Joseph Home for the Aged here in Louisville, Kentucky, where Father Ronald Knott helps with weekday Masses. Even though Father Knott had sworn off any more missions projects, he was moved by the story of her mother, Veronica, and decided to see if he could help. The rest is history.
Father Benedict, pastor, blesses the ground where he wanted the new church to be built. 
Mr. Julius Kitili, son of Veronica Kitili and brother of Sister Stephen, who oversaw the details of building the new St. Veronica Church in honor of his mother.
The concrete footers for the foundation stones went first.
The foundation stones before dirt-fill was hauled in and packed down before concrete floor was poured.
Below, notice the windows going in and the terrazzo floors being installed. Notice the cross in the floor (center). The doors are built and ready to be installed.
A view of the new St. Veronica Church as it looked on June 20, 2025
Even though not finished, the new church (seating 500) was reported as being filled for the first Mass on June 29, 2025
The old stick and sheet-metal church (photo above) has been torn down to make way for landscaping.
The new St. Veronica Church will be finished by, and dedicated on, August 10, 2025
1,000 people are expected for the community dedication celebration.
Watch this blog for further developments and photos.
The new St. Veronica Church has taken shape quite nicely. I can't wait to see it finished with its bell tower, church sign out front and landscaping. I have been assured that it will be ready for dedication on August 10, 2025. (Father John Judie will represent Father Knott at the dedication on his way back to his volunteer work in Tanzania - next country south of Kenya.) The pews are being built off-site and will be assembled on-site once the terrazzo floor is finished and the doors and windows have been installed. It should all be finished during the next four weeks leading up to the dedication and community celebration.
If you want to know more, contact Father Knott at jrknott@bellsouth.net
"Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is....life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you."
Pope Francis
FOR A GOOD STORY ABOUT THIS PROJECT FROM OUR DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER
https://therecordnewspaper.org/retired-priests-collaborate-to-bring-an-illiterate-catechists-dream-to-life/
STAY TUNED FOR A POST-DEDICATION REPORT AND PHOTOS
August 12, 2025, two days after the dedication on August 10, 2025
St. Veronica's Feast Day
This Coming Saturday, July 12
Saint Veronica is one of the lesser-known saints in the Catholic Church, but her story has captivated the faithful for centuries. She is known as the patron saint of laundry workers and photographers. A major life event, as depicted in religious tradition, was her act of compassion towards Jesus Christ during his journey to the cross.
Veronica was born in the 1st century in Jerusalem, although little is known about her early life. Her name, which means "true image" in Latin, refers to her encounter with Jesus on his way to Golgotha. Veronica was moved with compassion for Jesus and offered him a cloth to wipe the sweat from his face. As she did so, the image of Christ's face was imprinted on the cloth, and it became known as the "Veil of Veronica".
Veronica's act of compassion towards Jesus during his crucifixion has become a symbol of the importance of mercy and kindness in the face of suffering. Her story has been told and retold in various forms of religious art and literature, and she has become a beloved figure in Christian iconography. The cloth believed to be the "Veil of Veronica" is preserved in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome and has long been one of the most prized relics of Christianity. Veronica’s act of charity is commemorated in the Stations of the Cross.
Despite her status as a popular saint, there is little historical information about Veronica beyond her legendary act of compassion towards Jesus. Some traditions suggest that she may have been a follower of Christ, while others speculate that she was a wealthy woman who supported the early Christian community. However, these details are not well-documented.
Veronica is celebrated on July 12th, which is her feast day in the Catholic Church. She is traditionally thought to have died around the year 50 AD, however, her exact date of death is unknown. She was canonized in the 16th century.
In addition to her association with laundry workers and photographers, she is also considered a patron saint of those who suffer from skin diseases, as her legendary act of compassion towards Christ has been interpreted as a symbol of healing and compassion towards those who are sick.
Saint Veronica's life is somewhat of a mystery, but her story of compassion towards Jesus has made her a beloved figure in Christian iconography. Her life and legacy continues to inspire and captivate the faithful to this day.
SAINT VERONICA PRAYER
Feast Day, July 12
O My Jesus, Saint Veronica served You on the way to Calvary by wiping Your beloved face with a towel on which Your sacred image then appeared. She protected this treasure, and whenever people touched it, they were miraculously healed. I ask her to pray for the growth of my ability to see Your sacred image in others, to recognize their hurts, to stop and join them on their difficult journeys, and to feel the same compassion for them as she did for You. Show me how to wipe their faces, serve their needs, and heal their wounds, reminding me that as I do this for them, I also do this for You. Saint Veronica, pray for me. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment