The St. Steven Kenya Partnership Committee was officially formed on the feast of the Assumption of Mary, August 15, 1999, between St. Stephen Church in Bradshaw and St. Steven’s Church in Mombasa, Kenya. This relationship developed through the power of the rosary, when in the year 1998 mission rosaries were sent to St. Steven’s Kenya. Religious Ed teacher taught the eighth-grade students how to make rosaries as a service project, then sent them to the missions.  This eighth-grade class selected to send their rosaries to St. Steven’s, Kenya in honor of our patron, Saint Stephen.   

Fr. Joseph Okech, A.J. parish priest at St. Steven’s accepted the mission rosaries on behalf of the entire parish community and immediately saw an opportunity to develop a relationship between our parishes. Fr. Larry Kolson embraced this proposal and the catechist teacher, Mary Bauer, with the assistance of the Parish Council, proceeded to pursue volunteers to form the Kenya Partnership Committee.                                                                       
 
The Kenya Partnership has flourished taking on many projects, sponsoring an annual wood carving fund raiser event in November, establishing culture exchanges through pen-pal letter writing among the youth, and joining our parishes together in spirit on our “Kenya Day” celebration in the Spring. The concern to assist with some of the material needs of the faith community in Kenya brought forth much generosity from our parish, school and benefactors. 

Over the years the committee initiated many projects to build our relationship with St. Steven’s Bomu in Kenya. Contributions have been sent to our sister parish to complete their new church, dedicated on December 26, 2001. To better serve the needs of the Bomu community, a water well was installed, a four-story bell tower built with the installation of digital carillon bells while monthly stipends continue to provide for the sick.
St. Steven Catholic Church and Bell Tower 2020
St. Stephen, Kenya, Water Well 

"Bibles for Kenya" fundraiser 2025-2026

St. Steven Church, Mombasa, Kenya & St. Stephen Church, Bradshaw

Volunteers for our Kenya Committee are graciously welcomed! For additional information or to volunteer, contact the Kenya Fundraiser Coordinator, Pat Budzynski, at [email protected]​

Thank you for your ongoing support.