The village Subukia is situated 210 km West from Nairobi, within the Grate Rift Valley,
right at the Equator, in the Nakuru Catholic Diocese.
The Marian Shrine in Kenya was proposed by Michael Cardinal Otunga (+2003). It was him and
Rt. Rev. Raphael Ndingi Mwana ‘a Nzeki then the bishop of Nakuru, who had been asked
“to look for a suitable site”. It was at this time that Cardinal Otunga proposed
that the Shrine be called ”Village of Mary, Mother of God”.
In 1984 some people claimed that they did see a Lady. Although the Church did not
officially confirm the apparitions, surely they have helped the Christians to rediscover
the importance of Our Lady’s presence in their lives and made the place popular for
the pilgrims who come to praise God, asking Mary to intercede for them.
In 1988 the “Village of Mary, Mother of God” was officially proclaimed as
National Marian Shrine. One year later an expected “good wisher“ has offered 50
acres (with an opportunity for more) of land for the new site of the Shrine since the one
at the parish of St. John Evangelist became too small. On 9th May 1991 first Eucharist was
already celebrated at the new place as a thanksgiving for the generosity of the local
people. A significant date was the 8th December 1991, the Feast of Immaculate Conception
of Mary. On the eve of that day, the headman of the workers clearing the thick bush on the
hill came upon a wet patch of ground, which had a small spring of clear water init. On
opening a small gully down the slop, the water started flowing out, and has continued to
flow without fail ever since. For the people it was a clear sign from heaven, since that
time it was a terrible drought and the tribes fought for the water.
A shocking incident took place on the night of 19th April 1998, when shelters for the
statue and the altar with its shelter were burned down. The statue of Mary from Ireland
was completely smashed, and the damaged head later found in the bush. One of the groups
that admitted responsibility for this vandalization stated that was told by God to go and
destroy the statue, that for them was an idol, and God forbade idol worship. After that
Fr. John Jones (then the administrator of the Shrine) set about replacing the old statue
with a new one, carved out of jacaranda wood from Papal Nuncio’s residence in Nairobi
and after approval of the bishops was brought to Subukia and blessed on 9th December 2000.
It soon became obvious that the Village of Mary at Subukia is a place of great national
potential in bringing Kenyans into one Family, under our Mother, Mary. Sacrament of
Reconciliation and Mass are offered at the Shrine for the pilgrims who come from allover
the country fasting and praying so that the peace and unity may prevail in Kenya. They
also come because of their love for Mary, and for their own personal physical and
spiritual needs.
After return to Ireland of Fr. John Jones, the bishops start searching for the religious
order to continue the mission. Fr. Francis Ruiru from Eldoret Diocese was administrator of
the Shrine for a time being but in 2005 Episcopal Conference proposed Franciscans to take
over. On 29th August 2005 Definitory of the Franciscan Custody in Kenya accepted the
proposal and on 5th October 2006 the Friars officially entered the Shrine.
The Pilgrims who visit Subukia will find there a Grotto – chapel with the statue of
our Lady, The Way of the Cross, chapel of the Spring. However the new administrators
– Franciscans, make already the plans to develop it into a beautiful place of prayer
and meditation. Depends of the financial support of the faithful, there shall be big
church, pilgrims’ hostel, retreat centre, monastery of the Poor Clare Sister, chapel
for the sacrament of reconciliation and perpetual adoration, multipurpose conference hall,
etc.
Address:
Conventual Franciscan Friars
Our Lady, Mother of God Friary,
National Shrine of Our Lady, Mother of God
P.O. Box 14250
20100 NAKURU
