About Us
OUR HISTORY
St. Austin’s Catholic Church has a rich history dating back to 1899 as the Oldest Church in inland Kenya and is currently a key historic site being considered for gazettement as a “Kenya Heritage Site”.
“A bleak, swampy stretch of soggy landscape, wind-swept, devoid of human habitation of any sort, the resort of thousands of wild animals of every species. The only evidence of the occasional presence of human kind was the old caravan track skirting the bog-like plain.”—THE GENESIS OF KENYA COLONY.
These words describe the Nairobi of a little more than a century ago, where lions, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, deadly snakes, and myriads of other forms of wildlife made their home. The brave Masai brought their beloved cattle to the fresh waters of a stream located there, a welcome sight for the nomadic communities. In fact, the Masai called the river Uaso Nairobi, meaning “Cold Water,” and the location Enkarre Nairobi, meaning “Place of Cool Waters”—thus providing the name for the area that would completely alter Kenya’s history. An important event in the development of Nairobi was the construction of the Kenyan railway, once known as the Lunatic Express and in mid-1899, the 530km of track stretching from the coastal city of Mombasa to Nairobi had been laid and arrived into Nairobi.
On May 31st 1899, the Uganda railway or the ‘iron snake’ reached “Uaso” Nairobi. This railway facilitated movement and on Saturday, August 12, 1899, French Holy Ghost Missionaries led by Bishop Emile Allgeyer, Fr. Alain Hémery and Br. Blanchard Dillenseger arrived at St. Austin’s. The following day, they had their first Mass marking the birth of St. Austin’s parish. The First Catholic Parish Inland Kenya.The mission was established to serve the spiritual needs of the community in the Westlands/Parklands area, which was a significant hub for evangelization in accordance with the Spiritan Charism.
The missionaries also secured land from a local chief Mzundo to build another church which is the site of present Holy Family Basilica. From St. Austin’s the Catholic Church spread out to other parts of Kenya with the Holy Ghost Missionaries evangelizing the Archdioceses of Nairobi and Mombasa as well as the Diocese of Machakos. The Spiritan missionaries did not only plant the word of God but also planted coffee, the mocha coffee which flourished in the highlands. Already, it had been grown at Holy Ghost missions in Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) with great success. Although coffee had grown in the wild for many years earlier,
St. Austin’s mission is regarded as the birthplace of coffee in Kenya. A memorial tree was planted at the parish in the year 1999 in collaboration with the Coffee Board of Kenya.
Initially, the parish began as a small mission under the guidance of the Holy Ghost missionaries. Over the years, it grew in response to the influx of people from various backgrounds, contributing to its diverse congregation.
In addition to religious services, St. Austin’s has been involved in various outreach programs such as the POKOT PEACE CARAVAN, supporting local communities and refugees from neighboring countries of Burundi, Congo etc.….and fostering a sense of unity and belonging among its members. The parish has evolved with the times, adapting to the changing needs of its congregation while maintaining its commitment to Catholic teachings. The Parish now hosts both the communauté catholique francophone de nairobi C.C.F.N and the Catholic International Communities C.I.C. The parish has played a pivotal role in community development and has been instrumental in various social and educational initiatives.
Today, St. Austin’s Parish remains a vibrant center for worship, spiritual education, and social action, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of Nairobi and the enduring legacy of its founding mission.
Many blessings to you.
ONE HEART ONE MIND
For more information and enquiries email us : communicationsstaustinsparish@gmail.com
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of all that is, visible and invisible .
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.
Through him all things were made.For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Our Approach
We Facilitate Unforgettable Worship Experiences.

01.
— Our Motto
ONE HEART ONE MIND
(Cor unum et anima una)

02.
— Our Mission
To be commited to the Gospel Values by promoting human dignity through education, health, development works and pastoral apostolate.
03.
— Our Vision
A Congregation witnessing to God’s Love and Human dignity with the most vulnerable people through sustainable development.
04.
— Core Values
- Gospel values
- Social teachings of the Church
- Dignity of the human person
- Empowerment
ORDER OF MASS
Weekdays
Monday – Friday : 7:OOam English Mass and 5:45pm English Mass
Adoration and Benediction – Every Thursday at 4:30pm
Saturdays
7:30 am English Mass and 5:30pm English Mass
Sacrament Of Penance
Every Saturday from 4:30pm and on Sunday, half an hour before Holy Mass. (On Request)
Public Holidays
Mass is at 9:30am and No evening Mass .
Sundays
- 7:00am English Mass
- 8:30am Swahili Mass
- 10:00am English Mass
- 12:00pm English Mass
- 5:30pm English Mass
Sunday School
Sunday School available during the 8:30Am, 10:00Am and 11:30Am Masses..
Walking Rosary
Every 1st Saturday of the month immediately after the 7:30Am Mass.
our location
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
We are Located in Parklands, Rhapta Road ,Nairobi next to St.Marys School.
Good question.We would Love if you were part of St Austins Family.Join us for one of our sunday mass and afterwards our ushers will guide you to the Parish Office or Contact us through +254726896364 / staustinsparishnairobi@gmail.com
All our Masses are family oriented,characterized by praise and spirit-filled music,followed by a creative message that is sure to challenge and inspire you.
We have Sunday School and Chatechism classes for Kids of all ages and your kids will Love it here.We have fantastic programmes for all age groups.Just ask one of our ushers to direct you to the childrens facilities.