“Even in their poverty, the Turkana people are friendly and welcoming.”
The SMA international media Center had an opportunity to interview Fr. Ephraim Joseph Kway SMA, from the Catholic Diocese of Moshi in Tanzania. Fr. Ephraim is currently serving at St. Peter’s Parish in Lorgum in the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar and here is what he had to say:
SMA MC: What motivated you to become a priest and an SMA priest for that matter?
Fr. Ephraim: The closeness and the friendly nature of my parish priest to the people influenced my desire to become a priest. When I was in high school, Fr. Denis O’Sullivan, SMA from the Irish province, visited our school for vocation promotion, and I was deeply touched by the SMA spirituality and lifestyle. After listening to him and reading the little pamphlets he distributed to us, I developed an interest to become a missionary with the Society of African Missions, and today I am a happy SMA Missionary priest.
After his priestly ordination, Fr. Ephraim first appointment was at St. Charles Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Kano in the northern region of Nigeria where he served for a period of four years. SMA MC: What joy do you find in serving the people in your mission?
Fr. Ephraim: Despite the daily challenges occasioned by the tough semi-arid situation, I am happy to be with the people and celebrate the liturgy with them. Though it was tough in the beginning, I now enjoy village life. Even in their poverty, people here are friendly and welcoming.
Like every mission, even where joy abounds, there are always some cracked walls. There are always things that worry missionaries that may make them less effective in their quest in announcing the gospel of Christ.
