Nyeri (Fides Service) - On February 21 February the Church in Nyeri, central Kenya, welcomed back the earthly remains of its founder, Italian Consolata missionary Fr Filippo Perlo. Father Perlo was 29 years old when he celebrated the first Mass at a Tuthu, now diocese of Muranga, on 29 June 1902. The date is considered to mark the beginning of evangelisation in this region. According to African information service CISA, Father Perlo was accompanied by Father Tommaso Gays and Brothers Celeste Lusso and Luigi Falda. In 1909 was appointed first Bishop of what was then a Vicariate apostolic. In 1924 he returned to Italy where he died in 1948.
The Sisters of Immaculate Mary, a diocesan congregation founded by Bishop Perlo asked for the body of the Bishop to be returned to Kenya. Recently the earthly remains of the Bishop arrived in Nyeri accompanied by Fr Giano Benedetti, representing the Consolata general Council and were laid to rest in the chapel of the Sisters house at the end of a Mass presided by Archbishop Nicodemus Kirima of Nyeri, concelebrated by his coadjutor and the Bishops of Muranga, Maralal, Nyahururu and Embu.
In his homily the Archbishop thanked God for the great work of evangelisation carried out by Bishop Perlo and the other Consolata missionaries. With his dedicated service and special concern for evangelisation, education, improving farming methods, promoting printing and social works, Bishop Perlo laid the foundations for the future archdiocese Nyeri and seven other ecclesiastical circumscriptions. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 23/2/2005 - Righe 24; Parole 278)