There is a saying often attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel always; when necessary, use words.” For the Catholic Diocese of Wote, this is not merely a saying — it is a daily reality lived out through its social outreach arms: Caritas Diocese of Wote and the Commission for Justice, Peace, and Development (CJPD).
While the Diocese proclaims the Gospel through the Word and the Sacraments, it also proclaims it through the work of its hands — feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, educating children, accompanying the sick, and standing up for the dignity of those whose voices are too often ignored.
This is the Gospel in action.
Caritas is the social action arm of the Catholic Church, present in over 160 countries and united by a common mission: to serve the poor with love and dignity, irrespective of race, religion, or background. In the Diocese of Wote, Caritas operates as the primary channel through which the Church’s social teaching is translated into concrete, life-changing programmes.
Makueni County faces significant development challenges. It is a semi-arid region where erratic rainfall frequently leads to food insecurity. Many families live below the poverty line. Access to clean water, quality healthcare, and secondary education remains a challenge for large portions of the rural population. It is into these realities that Caritas steps — not with pity, but with solidarity.
Food Security and Emergency Relief
In times of drought and food crisis — which occur with alarming regularity in parts of Makueni — Caritas Diocese of Wote mobilises food relief to the most affected households. Working in partnership with international Caritas bodies, government agencies, and local parish structures, the Diocese ensures that the most vulnerable — the elderly, widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities — are not left behind.
Beyond emergency relief, Caritas promotes long-term food security through support for small-scale farming, kitchen gardening, and water harvesting techniques that help families sustain themselves between the rains.
Water and Sanitation
Access to clean water is a fundamental human right. Yet for many communities in the Diocese, it remains a daily struggle. Caritas has been involved in borehole drilling, rainwater harvesting projects, and the installation of water tanks in schools and communities — small but life-changing interventions that reduce the burden on women and children who walk kilometres daily in search of water.
Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Among the Diocese’s most consistent priorities is the care and support of orphaned and vulnerable children. Through parish-based outreach programmes, Caritas helps identify and assist children who have lost one or both parents, providing not just material support but also psychosocial care and the assurance that they are not forgotten.
Support for Persons with Disabilities
The Diocese is committed to the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the life of the Church and community. Caritas works to ensure that persons with physical and developmental disabilities receive appropriate support, access to rehabilitation services where available, and full dignity in their participation in parish life.
Alongside Caritas, the CJPD serves as the Diocese’s prophetic voice — speaking truth to power, advocating for the rights of the marginalised, and promoting peace and reconciliation in communities affected by conflict, inequality, and injustice.
The CJPD’s work is grounded in the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching, which affirms the dignity of every human person, the preferential option for the poor, the importance of the common good, and the call to stewardship of God’s creation.
Peace Building and Conflict Resolution
In communities where land disputes, resource competition, and inter-community tensions arise, the CJPD facilitates dialogue, mediation, and reconciliation. Through trained peace ambassadors at the parish and deanery level, the Diocese helps communities resolve conflict before it escalates, building a culture of dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Civic Education and Community Empowerment
The CJPD is actively involved in civic education, helping communities understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens. During election seasons, the Diocese plays an important role in promoting peaceful, free, and fair democratic participation — calling on all Catholics and people of goodwill to reject violence, tribalism, and corruption.
Environmental Justice
The Diocese takes seriously the call of Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ to care for our common home. The CJPD promotes environmental awareness, tree-planting initiatives, and sustainable land use practices — recognising that environmental degradation disproportionately affects the poor and that care for creation is inseparable from care for the human person.
The work of Caritas and the CJPD depends entirely on the generosity of donors, partners, and volunteers. There are several ways you can support this mission:
Every act of generosity, no matter how small, becomes part of something much larger — the ongoing mission of Christ himself, who came not to be served but to serve.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” — Matthew 25:35
To support Caritas Diocese of Wote or to learn more about our programmes, contact us at info@catholicdioceseofwote.org or call +254 704 173 288.
A Christ-centered Diocese witnessing the Gospel through faith, unity, justice, and integral human development.
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