St. Peter the Apostle Kabiru-ini Catholic Parish

Basic Parish Information

Parish Name: St. Peter the Apostle Kabiru-ini Catholic Parish

Patron Saint: St. Peter the Apostle

Date Established: 1 September 2010

About the Parish

St. Peter the Apostle Kabiru-ini Catholic Parish is a vibrant Catholic community within the Karatina Deanery of the Archdiocese of Nyeri. Since its establishment as a parish in 2010, it has continued to grow in faith, evangelization, Christian formation, and service to the people of God.

Inspired by its patron, St. Peter the Apostle, the parish remains committed to proclaiming the Gospel, celebrating the Sacraments, nurturing Christian families, and fostering an active and welcoming faith community.

Our History

The history of St. Peter the Apostle Kabiru-ini Catholic Parish dates back to 1959, when the Christian community was established as an outstation of Ngandu Catholic Parish during the colonial period.

Around that time, members of the local community generously donated land to the Catholic Church, where Fr. Mario oversaw the construction of a dispensary. Completed in 1960, the dispensary became an important centre for healthcare and evangelization.

A nursery school was later established on the same site, with its classroom serving as the first place of worship for the Catholic faithful. The first catechism classes were conducted by Mr. Peter Riri, whose dedication laid a firm spiritual foundation for the growth of the Church in the area.

As the Catholic population continued to increase, the faithful united to construct the first church, which faithfully served the community for many years.

The continued growth of the Christian community eventually created the need for an independent parish. On 23 August 2010, an Interim Executive Committee was constituted to oversee preparations for the transition from Kahira-ini Catholic Parish and the establishment of the new parish.

The committee comprised:

Chairman – Mr. Peter Macharia
Vice Chairman – Mr. Stephen Muriuki
Secretary – Mr. Wilson Muya
Vice Secretary – Mrs. Catherine Wangu Mathenge
Treasurer – Mrs. Martha Gakinya Nyagitare

Following these preparations, St. Peter the Apostle Kabiru-ini Catholic Parish was officially established on 1 September 2010.

The first Parish Priest, the late Rev. Fr. Matthew Mwaniki, was officially received on the day of the parish’s inauguration and welcomed by Rev. Fr. J.B. Ndung’u, then Archbishop’s Secretary.

Under Fr. Matthew Mwaniki’s leadership, the parish experienced remarkable spiritual and infrastructural growth. Recognizing the need for a larger place of worship, he initiated the construction of the current parish church. The foundation stone was laid by His Grace Archbishop Peter Kairo on 10 February 2013. He also commenced construction of the parish priest’s residence.

Today, the parish continues to flourish through evangelization, catechesis, youth formation, and pastoral outreach while remaining faithful to its mission of proclaiming Christ to all.

Parish Leadership

Parish Priests

The Late Rev. Fr. Matthew Mwaniki
Rev. Fr. Charles Macharia
Rev. Fr. John Kagera (Current)

Assistant Parish Priests

Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Githui
Rev. Fr. Joseph Mwangi
Rev. Fr. Abraham Murage
Rev. Fr. George Gathara
Rev. Fr. Francis Ole Ntosho
Rev. Fr. John Gachemi
Rev. Fr. Alex Murage
Rev. Fr. Stephen Ng’ang’a (Current)

Vision

To be a vibrant, Christ-centred Catholic parish where every person encounters the love of God and grows in holiness through the Word of God and the Sacraments.

Mission

To be a faith-filled community united in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Core Values

The parish is guided by the following values:

Faith in Christ – Placing Jesus Christ at the centre of all we do and living according to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Prayer and Worship – Fostering a vibrant sacramental life through the Eucharist, the Sacraments, and personal and communal prayer.
Love and Charity – Serving others with compassion, generosity, and care, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Worship & Sacraments

Mass Schedule

Weekdays

Holy Mass – 7:00 a.m.

Sundays

Holy Mass – 9:00 a.m.

Eucharistic Adoration

Every Thursday – 3:00 p.m.

Confessions

Every Thursday – 4:00 p.m.
Also available daily upon request.

Local Churches

The parish is served through nine local churches:

St. Peter Kabiru-ini
Our Lady Consolata Sagana
Sacred Heart Ngorano
St. Andrew Kagati
Holy Cross Nyana
St. Joseph Kiamariga
St. Augustine Hiriga
St. Theresa Wamunyoro
St. Monica Gathu-ini

Together, these local churches comprise numerous Small Christian Communities that strengthen Christian fellowship, evangelization, and pastoral care throughout the parish.

Educational Institutions within the Parish

Catholic Sponsored

Sagana Primary School

Public Primary Schools

Kabiru-ini Primary School
Njathe-ini Primary School
Kianjogu Primary School
Iruri Primary School

Other Primary Schools

Gathu-ini Primary School
Ngorano Primary School
Hiriga Primary School

Secondary Schools

Kabiru-ini Secondary School
Iruri Secondary School
Ngorano Secondary School
Kiamariga Secondary School

Private School

Tip Top Academy

Tertiary Institution

Kiamariga Teachers Training College

Notable Milestones

The parish has continued to witness significant growth since its establishment, including:

1 September 2010 – Establishment of St. Peter the Apostle Kabiru-ini Catholic Parish.
10 February 2013 – Foundation stone of the new parish church laid by Archbishop Peter Kairo.
10 April 2016 – Blessing and opening of the new parish church.*
24 June 2018 – Official opening and blessing of the parish priest’s residence.
6 October 2024 – Establishment of St. Theresa Wamunyoro Local Church.
15 December 2024 – Blessing and opening of the new parish offices.
15 December 2024 – Blessing and opening of the parish kitchen.

St. Peter the Apostle Kabiru-ini Catholic Parish continues to grow as a vibrant community of faith, committed to evangelization, the celebration of the Sacraments, Christian formation, and service to all people. Guided by the example of St. Peter the Apostle, the parish remains steadfast in building a Christ-centred community for present and future generations.

*The dates relating to the construction, opening, and dedication of the church should be verified against parish records to ensure the historical sequence is accurately reflected.