NATIVITY OF OUR LADY KARIMA CATHOLIC PARISH

1. Basic Parish Information

  • Parish Name: Nativity of Our Lady Karima Catholic Parish

  • Patron Saint: Nativity of Our Lady

  • Date Established: November 1904

2. About the Parish

Brief Parish History

Nativity of Our Lady Karima Catholic Parish is one of the oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of Nyeri and the Mother Parish of all the parishes in Othaya Deanery. It is located in Karima North Location, Nyeri South Sub-County, and was established in November 1904 by the Consolata Missionaries.

The first missionaries initially settled at Witima Village, before relocating to Kinaiyu (present-day Mutitu Local Church) and finally establishing the mission at the current Karima Parish Centre.

The first Parish Priest was Fr. Filippo Perlo, one of the pioneer Consolata Missionaries in Kenya and later the first Bishop of the Vicariate of Nyeri. He played a key role in the evangelization of the Kikuyu people and was among the first missionaries to celebrate Holy Mass in Kikuyu land on 29 June 1902 at Tuthu.

Throughout its history, the parish has continued to expand its evangelization mission by establishing daughter parishes, strengthening pastoral outreach through Local Churches and Small Christian Communities, promoting Catholic education, and nurturing numerous religious vocations.

On 19 December 2021, after 117 years of evangelization, Karima Parish gave birth to Sacred Heart Witima Catholic Parish, leaving it with seven Local Churches.

The parish currently serves approximately 2,500 Christians, comprising children, youth, men, and women.

Mission Statement

To evangelize and proclaim the Gospel.

Vision Statement

To lead people to Christ through evangelization, salvation, and catechesis.

Core Values

  • Faith

  • Prayer

  • Love

  • Service

  • Stewardship

Notable Milestones and Achievements

  • Baptized over 52,000 faithful.

  • Celebrated over 3,000 Christian marriages.

  • Established five sponsored schools within the parish.

  • Nurtured numerous priests and religious sisters.

  • Founded Consolata School, Karima, which currently serves over 300 pupils.

3. Worship & Sacraments

Mass Schedule (Parish Centre)

Sunday

  • 7:00 a.m.

  • 11:00 a.m.

Monday – Friday

  • 6:45 a.m.

Saturday

  • 7:00 a.m.

Confession

  • Saturday: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Adoration

  • Every Sunday: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

  • Every First Thursday of the Month

Note: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place daily after the morning Mass.

4. Outstations & Small Christian Communities (SCCs)

Outstations

  1. Karima (1904)

  2. Gatugi (1955)

  3. Mutitu (1978)

  4. Gura (1991)

  5. St. Theresa (May 2012)

  6. St. Alexander (May 2012)

  7. St. Simon Peter (October 2015)

Small Christian Communities

Karima Local Church (6 SCCs)

  1. St. Charles Lwanga

  2. St. Joseph Allamano

  3. St. Michael

  4. St. Monica

  5. Our Lady of Sorrows

  6. St. Peter Claver

Gatugi Local Church (7 SCCs)

  1. St. Charles Lwanga

  2. St. John

  3. St. Joseph

  4. St. Monica

  5. St. Paul

  6. St. Peter

  7. St. Theresa

Mutitu Local Church (6 SCCs)

  1. St. James

  2. St. Joseph

  3. St. Maria Goretti

  4. Mary Mother of God

  5. Our Lady of Sorrows

  6. St. Paul

Gura Local Church (9 SCCs)

  1. St. Dominic Savio

  2. St. Francis of Assisi

  3. St. Luke

  4. St. Monica

  5. Our Lady of the Rosary

  6. Our Lady of Fatima

  7. Sts. Peter and Paul

  8. St. Scholastica

  9. Sts. Simon and Jude

St. Theresa Local Church (5 SCCs)

  1. Blessed Irene

  2. St. Charles Borromeo

  3. St. Monica

  4. St. Peter

  5. Sts. Peter and Paul

St. Alexander Local Church (5 SCCs)

  1. St. Ann

  2. St. Augustine

  3. St. Cecilia

  4. St. Jude

  5. Maria Consolata

St. Simon Peter Local Church (4 SCCs)

  1. St. Ann

  2. St. Benedict

  3. St. John the Baptist

  4. St. Peter

5. Institutions Under the Parish

Tertiary Institution

  • Karima Vocational Training Centre

Secondary Schools

  • Karima Boys Senior School

  • St. Gregory Karima Mixed Secondary School

Primary Schools

  • Consolata School – Karima (Primary & Junior Secondary)

  • Karima Primary & Junior Secondary School

  • Gura Primary & Junior Secondary School

  • Mutitu Primary & Junior Secondary School

Religious House

  • Karima Monastery – Perpetual Adorers of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Established November 1975)