A Tribute to Kisumu Fish Group

Shalom Brethren,

It is another Easter and another birthday for the Fish Group on Monday. If the FISH was any of us, then at 25th Birthday it would be a celebration of either graduation?wedding?ordination?Final vows?promotion?employment?etc,etc

The Fish celebrates this silver jubilee with gusto and pomp,the many members who passed through this group would tell you alot of success stories. We feel terrible that the young ones might miss out on some of the benefits we got during our teens. The chance to have bread, milk and mala, the Namgongo shrines visit, the Mji wa Furaha episodes,the numerous trainings that you never get anywhere - leadership,social work,healthwork, journalism, management/administration,community mobilisation,resposible adulthood etc, etc

Am not sure if we still have no reason to celebrate this Easter. The Fish has achieved so much that very few groups of her nature can manage.Let me take you down the memory lane, though we are not a seminary, we did produce many priests who did not go through the minor seminary but got their vocation to be clergy through the Fish Fr.James Juma,MHM,Fr. Josiah Okal IMC,others are Fr.Gordon IMC,Fr. Ephraim Juma MHM and many that you add to this list.

The religious sisters were also not left behind, Sr Pamella Gesimba, Sr Consolata, Sr.Emma Ganda and the others you know,kindly add these names to the list..

Amongst our equals, we have senior bachelors and bachellorettes who have equally devoted their times to community service,I will not name them but kindly names yourself if belong to this group.There are many successful families who have contributed ernormously to building our local churches and communities.Our group boast of being oneof its own kind that can proudly say to have produced the highest number of lay leaders at all levels of the church hierarchy.

We are equally connected within the NGO world, visit CDC KEMRI, World Vision,FACES,Tuungane,UNIM,The child right organisation,KUAP the biggest beneficiary and partner etc etc

We have accomplished journalists like Dr. Steve Ogongo,Jim Onyango,freelancer George Orido and many others. Senior consultants like Opondo Obwar,Silvery,Ogendi,Brendaus,Alphonce Lumumba, etc etc Educationist of international standards Mwalimu Emmanuel Okwatch,Snr Headteacher George Achiando,Mwalimu Okoth Matata,Mary Amimo etc etc Accountants and finance administrators of my kind, Jacob Okal,Akun Chris,Obudho Richard, Lwanga (Multi),Bankers Mary Mugwanga,Redemptor Ochumba,International operatives like Martin Okore,Leo Akwanyetc etc

We have businessmen and women, professionals in various fields like IT, bretthrens like Jeremiah Ochieng,Nick and Jerusha,Vincent woud Guardian, Mike Ochieng, John Oduor, Tony Owiti, Cosmas KInda, James Okal, Michael Simiyu,Gumbe Alaka, Steve Sule, and many others that I cant remember now are people of no mean achievements.

Despite all this long C.V , one of biggest achievement for the FISH was the election of The Founder Fr. Tony Chantry as the superior general of the Mill Hill Missionaries.Being the first Fish he did us proud and Ipersonally believe that amongst the experiences that earned him the positon was his idea of the FISH.

We have grown old enough to do our things, now thw parents can relax as the sons and daughters struggle with setting up their homes.

I AM SO MUCH PROUD OF FISH AND I KNOW SOME KEYS POSITIONS I HAVE OCCUPIED IN LINE OF DUTY ARE DUTY THE RIGOROUS TRAINING I GOT FROM RECH. I KEEP ON PRAYING THAT THE GROUP GAINS MOMENTUM FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BENEFIT. HAPPY EASTER TO ALL AND A HAPPY SILVER JUBILEE!!!!

Steve Owiti.