About Our Parish
Discover our rich history, vibrant community, and dedicated leadership that has served Mombasa for over 50 years.
Our Mission
To be a vibrant Catholic community that worships God, serves others, and grows in faith together.
Our Vision
To be a beacon of hope and love, transforming lives through the Gospel and building a stronger community in Christ.
Our Values
Parish Statistics
Parish Leadership
Rev. Fr. Michael Mwambegu
Parish PriestRev. Fr. Michael Mwambegu has served as the Parish Priest since 2018, leading the community with faith and compassion.
Sr. Mary Atieno
CatechistSr. Mary is dedicated to religious education and nurturing the faith of parishioners of all ages.
Mr. Peter Otieno
Pastoral Council ChairpersonPeter leads the Pastoral Council, fostering collaboration and growth within the parish ministries.
Mrs. Grace Wanjiku
Finance Committee ChairGrace oversees the parish finances with integrity and transparency, ensuring proper stewardship of resources.
Groups & Ministries
Charismatic Group
Charismatic prayer and renewal community
Cluster
Cluster group for coordination and fellowship
CMA
Catholic Men Association
Holy Trinity choir
The 3rd choir of the parish
Joseph Wanaume
Men's group under St. Joseph's patronage
Mama wa Matumaini
Marian devotional community focused on hope
What Our Parishioners Say
"Our Lady of Fatima's has been my spiritual home for over 20 years. The community here is like family."
Sarah Mwangi
Parishioner
Parish Timeline
Wanja Wa Mbuzi Gatherings
Kongowea faithful prayed at Wanja Wa Mbuzi (now Karama Stadium) as an outstation of Our Lady Help of Christians Makupa.
Land Purchase & Makuti Church
The community acquired the current compound and built a Makuti church beside Kongowea Primary School.
Bamburi Factory Chapel
Bamburi factory church opened as one of the earliest outstations to serve industrial workers.
Utange & Shanzu Mission
Utange/Shanzu outstation was launched; it matured into a parish in 1982 after decades of growth.
Parish Erected Canonically
Our Lady of Fatima Kongowea became a fully-fledged parish under the late Fr. L. O'Connor.
Mtopanga Outstation
Mtopanga was established as an outstation (later a parish on 3 June 2001) to serve the expanding faithful.
New Parishes Born
Kiembeni, M'bungoni, and Customs were elevated, leaving Bamburi as the remaining dependent outstation.
Dedication of the New Church
The new church was dedicated, honoring the legacy of the original Makuti structure and documenting the parish history.
Parish History
Parish Introduction
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Kongowea Parish is one of the sixty-four parishes that make up the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa. Pastorally we belong to the historic Mombasa North deanery while administratively we serve Nyali Constituency in Mombasa County. Our neighborhood is shaped by the cultural diversity of the coastal metropolis—modern urban influences, bustling marketplaces, rising secularism, and rapid social change—which makes the parish a vital anchor for Christian family values.
Historic Journey
Formerly an outstation of Our Lady Help of Christians (Mama Wa Shime) Makupa, the faithful first gathered for Mass at Wanja Wa Mbuzi—today's Karama main stadium—throughout the 1950s. Persistent hostility forced the community to purchase the current compound where they erected a Makuti church near Kongowea Primary School in 1954. The mission was elevated to a fully-fledged parish in 1961 under the late Fr. L. O'Connor and soon birthed thriving outstations: Shimo la Tewa (1954, now the Prison Chaplaincy), Bamburi factory church (1955), Utange/Shanzu (1956, parish from 1982), Mtopanga (1983 outstation, parish on 3 June 2001), and later Kiembeni, M'bungoni, and Customs (all 2012). Every milestone has strengthened our witness, culminating in the dedication of the new church that now houses this living history.
The new church honors the legacy of the Makuti structure that sheltered earlier generations.
Historic Photos from the Makuti Era
The original Makuti church structure built in 1954 near Kongowea Primary School
Early parish gatherings at the Makuti church
Parish community during the early years
The old church building before renovation
Vocations & Ministry Roots
The spiritual soil of Kongowea is fertile. Strong families, prayerful communities, and courageous catechists have nurtured priests, sisters, deacons, and seminarians who now serve across Kenya and abroad.
Parish Priests
- Late Fr. L. O'Connor (founding parish priest)
- Late Fr. Born
- Late Fr. N. Rourke
- Fr. Martin Kivuva (now Archbishop of Mombasa)
- Fr. Joseph Kenga
- Fr. Cyril Owambo
- Late Fr. John Kizito Mbondo
- Fr. Henry Katana
- Fr. Samuel Irungu
- Fr. Francis Njua
- Fr. Laurent Mutisya
- Right Rev. Willybard Lagho (now Bishop of Malindi)
- Fr. Joseph Mwashighadi (former parish priest)
- Fr. Michael Sebastian Kenga Mwambegu (current parish priest)
Assistant & Visiting Priests
- Late Fr. Joseph Omoga
- Late Fr. James Osimbo
- Fr. Patrick Munishi
- Fr. Linus Japan
- Fr. Agapitus Mtsotso (Masaa)
- Fr. Harrison Yaa
- Fr. Boniface Mungai
- Fr. Crispin Owiny
- Fr. Ronald Wafula
- Fr. Venant Mwazumbi
- Fr. Benedict Kitonyi
Priests Nurtured in Kongowea
- Late Fr. Lucas Oduor Onyango
- Late Fr. Aloice Ohonjo
- Late Fr. Joseph Omoga
- Fr. Crispin Oneko (USA)
- Fr. Charles Wafula (Italy)
- Fr. Thomas Apil
- Fr. Harrison Mativo
- Fr. Joseph Wesonga (Malindi)
- Fr. Augustine Lape Okoth (Malta)
- Fr. Boniface Mungai (Nairobi)
- Fr. Marcus Owama Were
- Fr. Stephen Anjeru
- Fr. Polycap Ong'era Arori
- Fr. Erick Onyango Malla
- Dn. Joseph Odhiambo
- Fr. Daniel Dodoy (relocated)
- Fr. Richard Ooko (relocated)
- Fr. Sewe (relocated)
Religious Sisters
- Sr. Philis Momanyi
- Sr. Maureen Momanyi
- Sr. Anjela Momanyi
- Late Sr. Beatrice Atieno
- Late Sr. Elizabeth Anyango
- Sr. Jane Bomani
- Sr. Sophia Bomani
- Sr. Juliana Wavinya
- Sr. Triza Mukuni (Loreto Sisters, Kitui Diocese)
Seminarians in Formation
Theologians
- • Acolyte Augustine Opondo
- • Joseph Kitheka
- • Samson Mucee
- • Richard Odhiambo
- • Raphael Muthini
Philosopher
- • Shedrack Akisa
Aspirants
Two 'Come and See' aspirants (awaiting academic qualifications).