Mariapolis Piero

The little town of Piero is located at around 27Km from the city of Nairobi, in Kenya’s central Province. It iso ne of the 32 little towns of the Focolare Movement in the world.

18 hectares of green land. We are close to the equator, at 1.620 m above sea level, with a moderate climate of two seasons ( rainy and dry seasons), enjoying almost constantly splendid sunshine.

Where did the idea of locating one of these little towns here come from?

… a little history

During her visit to Kenya on the 12 May 1992, Chiara Lubich inaugurated the little town of Mariapolis Piero, a little town that she personally defined as “ the centre, the heart, of all the Movement in Africa”.

In her speech she said: “The specific characteristic of the little town is the calling of the movement in Africa, it will be a particular accent on a particular duty, namely evangelization. To realize this, this centre will specialize in Inculturation”.

This is how the “School for focolare-style Inculturation” was born. Its goal deepen the life of the Gospel “trying to dialogue” with various cultures and cultural practices of the African peoples from the point of view of the spirituality of unity.

From that time, as Chiara Lubich had specified, the little town has become a place of formation for all the branches of the movement.

After almost 20 years, the little town is composed of :  Focolare Houses, Formation schools, Centre for African Inculturatio, A youth centre known as the “The source”, A spiritual centre called “Living water” for priests and religious, The “Wim” Mariapolis centre which hosts visitors: has the capacity of  lodging more than 80 people. It  has a Conference hall for 400 people and other meeting halls, a carpentry, craft workshops “Virgo” and “Gazelle”, the editorial office of New City Africa Magazine, the Church “Our Lady of  Light”  (currently under construction).

There is a project underway to build a nursery school in the serve of local peoples.

Giving witness of evangelical life holds the primacy, so as to build unity among all, and informs the daily life of the permanent inhabitants of Mariapolis Piero, who come from 17 nations of all continents. This experience also involves our friends and visitors to the Mariapolis.

The little town opens its door to individual or groups who find it to be a suitable place for retreats, courses of formation, for professions conferences or just for relaxation.

How to reach the Mariapolis Piero : from Nairobi take the Thika Road. The little town is found on Kenyatta Road, just before Juja.

Contacts:

Mariapolis Piero
P.O. Box 552   01001 Kalimoni
Nairobi -Kenya