ST. PAUL KARANGIA CATHOLIC PARISH

1. Basic Parish Information

  • Parish Name: St. Paul Karangia Catholic Parish

  • Patron Saint: St. Paul

  • Date Established: 30 December 2015

2. About the Parish

Brief Parish History

St. Paul Karangia Catholic Parish traces its origins to 1938 when a small group of Christians, including Anastacia Kagiri, Joseph Githinji, Alexander Gichuki, Damasio Irote, Anastasia Njanjau, Christina Wamaitha, Angelica Wairimu, and Margaret Nyakarura, began gathering for prayer in the home of Alexander Gichuki. Other faithful travelled to Wamagana Local Church for worship and church services.

In 1940, Natare Kamau donated land for the construction of the first church, a simple mud-walled structure roofed with banana bark and fitted with wooden seats. Evening prayers were held daily, and Christians travelled to Tetu Mission for major liturgical celebrations.

During the State of Emergency in 1952, public prayers were suspended, and residents were moved into villages. In 1956, with the support of Rev. Fr. Mogiano of Tetu Parish, the church was relocated and rebuilt with mud walls and an iron-sheet roof.

In 1971, the late Bishop Caesar Maria Gatimu proposed Karangia as a future parish. Three years later, Rev. Fr. Francis Vaccari initiated the construction of permanent churches throughout the area. When Wamagana Parish was later created from Tetu Parish, Karangia was identified as the most suitable location for a future parish centre.

On 30 December 2015, Archbishop Emeritus Peter Kairo officially established St. Paul Karangia Parish, carving it from Wamagana Parish. The late Rev. Fr. John Maina (Wateresia) became the first Parish Priest, celebrating the first parish Mass on 8 January 2016. He renovated existing buildings into a priests’ residence, established a Marian Grotto and parish dais, and oversaw the purchase of the parish pastoral vehicle.

Rev. Fr. Anthony joined as Assistant Parish Priest on 18 July 2019. Following the passing of Fr. Wateresia on 22 January 2021, Fr. Anthony became Acting Parish Priest before being officially appointed Parish Priest by Archbishop Anthony Muheria on 15 May 2021. Rev. Fr. Charles Wangai later served as Assistant Parish Priest before his transfer in 2024, when Rev. Fr. George Gitonga assumed the role.

The parish has produced three diocesan priests, one Consolata Missionary priest, four religious sisters, and one seminarian. Since its establishment, it has celebrated 479 baptisms, 200 confirmations, 33 marriages, and 25 sanations, while currently preparing 108 catechumens. In 2026, the parish celebrated its 10th Anniversary, presided over by Archbishop Anthony Muheria.

Mission Statement

We, the people of Karangia Parish, brothers and sisters in Christ, accept as our mission to know our faith, live by truth and love, serve the needs of others, teach by example, and thereby strengthen and inspire the parish family.

Vision Statement

Our parish we love and serve with joy.

Core Values

  • Alive in Christ

  • Faith Formation

  • Family

  • Joyful Service

  • Eucharistic Worship

  • Moral Formation

  • Sacraments

  • Human Dignity

  • Prayer

  • Community

  • Disciples Shaping Society

  • Evangelization

Notable Milestones and Achievements

  • Improved quality of liturgical celebrations in Small Christian Communities.

  • Increased family Masses.

  • Strengthened parish community life.

  • Renewal of pastoral vehicles.

  • Improvement of church buildings and compounds.

  • Acquisition of office equipment.

  • Water harvesting initiatives.

  • Increased number of marriages.

  • Growth in catechumen enrolment.

  • Ongoing construction of the Priests’ House.

3. Worship & Sacraments

Mass Schedule (Parish Centre)

  • Monday – Saturday: 7:00 a.m.

  • Sunday: 9:30 a.m.

Confession

  • Daily after the morning Mass.

Adoration

  • Every Thursday:

    • 7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

    • 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

4. Outstations & Small Christian Communities (SCCs)

Outstations

  1. Karangia

  2. Mathakwaini

  3. Kiambugu

  4. Gathuthi

  5. Ihithe

  6. Hubuini

  7. Kindara

  8. Gura

Small Christian Communities

Karangia

  1. St. Anthony

  2. St. Mary

  3. St. Esther

  4. St. Charles Lwanga

  5. St. Nicholas

  6. St. Charles Borromeo

  7. St. Lawrence

  8. St. Clare

  9. St. Catherine

  10. St. Fidelis

  11. St. Peter

  12. St. James

  13. St. Francis

  14. St. Cecilia

Mathakwaini

  1. St. Agatha

  2. St. Martin

  3. St. Mary of Carmel

  4. St. Felistus

Kiambugu

  1. St. John Paul II

  2. St. Ambrose

  3. St. Mary of Fatima

  4. St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus

Gathuthi

  1. St. Peter Claver

  2. St. Augustine

  3. St. Faustina

Ihithe

  1. St. Andrew

  2. St. John

  3. St. Peter

  4. St. Anne

Hubuini

  1. St. Charles Lwanga

  2. St. Monica

  3. St. John

Kindara

  1. Blessed Irene

  2. St. Joseph

Gura

  1. St. Rose of Lima

5. Institutions Under the Parish

Schools

  • Karangia Secondary School

  • Karangia Primary School

  • Mathakwaini Primary School