Parishioners begin work on building church to seat 600

By DELILAH WAPU
(DWU Journalism Student)
THE Catholic community in Mapenda, Kuare Parish in Ialibu/Pangia, is building a church that will cater for 500 to 600 people.
The effort is aimed to change the attitude and behaviour of the younger generation.
Frank Kulu, the organising committee chairman for the project said: “The landowners from the Kuri tribe in Mapenda came together and agreed to build the church, knowing that it would look after, nurture and mold the younger ones, both spiritually and physically.
“The new church is expected to hold 500 to 600 people and will help shape the future of our children,” Kulu said.
Kulu said the initiative was for the good of all Kuare LLG, comprising 17 council wards.
“The building belongs to the Kuare Parish that caters for 14 outstations. Our main centre is at Mapenda.
“Out of the 2,000 people in Mapenda, more than 400 are parishioners of the Catholic faith from two council wards.
“What we’re doing is to change the attitude and behaviour of our younger children and get rid of beer, homebrew, marijuana and petty crimes in our local community,” Kulu said.
The community collected funds from offerings and support from the church to build the church with the help of their parish priest.
“In a time of economic uncertainty, getting financial help from outside sources can be challenging.
“We didn’t seek any financial help from outside,” Kulu said.