CONCLUSIONS OF THE CONFERENCES
HELD AT THE S. HEART’S (MISSION) STATION
IN FORT HALL [MURANG’A], 1-3 MARCH 1904

Present: 10 Missionary Priests.
[Frs. F. Perlo, T. Gays, A. Borda, G. Perlo, R. Bertagna, G. Giacosa, S. Scarzello, F. Cagliero, D. Vignoli, G. Barlassina].

1. Best ways and means of our missionary activity

Considering the character and customs of the Akikuiu [= Agikuyu] people, it seems to us that the best means of beginning to establish relationships with them may be summed up as follows:
catechesis, schools, visits to villages, mission dispensaries, formation of the environment.

2. Selection and initial formation of catechists at the [mission] station, to be later sent to the [training] college

cf “Regolamento” [Rule/Regulations], art. 18, p. 35.
- A trained catechist will go back to his village, where he will exercise his function. Therefore, for the advantage of the mission itself, everyone should be concerned about making a diligent selection, so as to have a core of good catechists, and not to send to the [training] college people who are unsuitable.
The initial formation of future catechists, carried out in each [mission] station, should aim above all at knowing and testing the candidates.
At the beginning we should not be too strict in selecting them; later on, as we grow in our knowledge of people, a better selection will be possible.
- Preferred qualities: from 15 to 25 years of age; sufficiently good health; even married, but with only one wife; for the time being, it does not matter whether they are circumcised or not.
- Moral qualities: good reputation in their villages; confidence in the Patri [Father/priest]; eagerness to learn; willingness to work.
- During their trial period in the various missions, they are considered as workmen or “house-boys”; therefore, they work and are paid at the normal rate. For their food and clothes they have to provide out of their wages; for this reason, at times their work will be paid with cotton cloth [instead of money]. It is convenient to insist on their leaving their money in deposit [at the mission], so that they become used to trust in us, and to save.
When they return from the [training] college, they will be treated according to special regulations.
- At the beginning we could try with “mezzi-catechisti” [quasi-catechists], i.e., good and reliable men -- even if a bit older -- who are sent to the centres of villages to repeat, even only mechanically, some basic notions of natural religion, ordinarily one at a time, as they will be taught by us. In this way they will be preparing the way for us and will be helping us in our work of visiting villages. There would be no need of imparting to these people a special and complete training; they would simply serve as our spokesmen, in order to widen our sphere of action. If their work is continuous, they would be paid as ordinary workmen; if they work only now and then, they would be paid as casual workers. Their work would be parallel to our own, i.e., by going before us and accompanying us into the villages we would be visiting. Aspirant catechists and the “trustworthy men” of our houses could very well be engaged for this work.

3. Schools

- They are urgent at Tusu [Tuthu] for the support of [chief] Karoli; at [Fort] Hall for the government; at Limuru for the people’s desire. (They would also be very convenient at the other mission stations). At the “Sega” [Saw-mill], classes will be offered only on feastdays [Sundays and other feasts].
The teaching will be imparted in Kikuyu. Matters to be taught are: reading and writing [the Kikuyu language], plus some notions of Arithmetic. Later on also some English could be taught. Italian, besides being difficult for the Agikuyus, is not useful for our purpose; therefore, it will not be taught. To attract students and to avoid boring them, classes should be short, mixed with manual works, gymnastics, military exercises, games, etc. All of this, however, should go on in an orderly way, so as to educate them also from a civil point of view.
The students should be registered and their grades recorded; the local chiefs should be invited to see their progress, exhibited by means of public displays; small prizes, allotted to these, will be distributed.
- There will be schools [and teaching carried out] at those mission stations where the [local] chiefs compel students to attend; otherwise, or at the same time, schools should be established at the centres of numerous groups of villages, next to their chiefs, starting, however, in the areas nearer to our missions, where we are better known.
- Some gifts could be given to the chiefs, and insist that they gather their people on the fixed days.
The time-table will be adapted to the local people’s customs; people will be assigned to classes according to the superior’s judgement.
It should be noted that a school is an easy means to find catechists and try them; this purpose alone should be sufficient, at any rate, to urge us to establish schools soon and everywhere.
It is always understood (of course) that teaching in school is carried out so that we may teach catechism.

4. Visits to villages - what to do...

- They are necessary in order to make ourselves known, to come to know the people, and be able to start enlightening them. The experience we have gained so far suggests the need of an intense and ordered development of this activity.
- The visits will take place every day, except on Sundays; every time we are forced to omit one, we should explain the reasons for it to the “local general Superior” [the Superior of the Consolata Missionaries in Kenya] in our quarterly report. Once a week the visit should possibly last the whole day; for this purpose, small portable tables and chairs will be provided, and the food will be sent from the [mission] station already cooked.
- The schedule [for the visits] will be arranged by the superior of each [mission] station, according to the people’s customs and the seasons [of the year], so as to find as many people as possible in their homes; copy of it should be sent to the Superior.
We should start with the areas near our [mission] stations, and return often to those villages where special [good] dispositions are manifested. We should prefer the centres of villages, where there are chiefs, by whom we could be helped in gathering people in designated places.
- The personal initiative and individual zeal of each missionary will suggest the best things to do in the villages. As a general norm, we should try to gain the affection and confidence of the people, by curing their sick, being concerned about their life, speaking to them little by little about principles of natural theology, and, if they so wish, teaching them some school topics.
- We should never enter into their houses, nor ask about their inhabitants. If they ask questions about government and taxes, we should answer evasively, making sure, however, that we always emphasize the fact that we are others ]different from European government people] and our purpose is another [different!].
Nothing should be given to people, except medicines, without the Superior’s permission, to be asked each time. When taking care of sick children, pour water on their head (so that, when they are dying, they may be baptized without giving rise to any suspicion). Special care should be given to those who are seriously ill. They should be visited even outside the usual times, and should be briefly instructed about those basic truths [of our faith] that are strictly necessary. A record should be kept of all treatments given to the sick, as well as of the number of villages visited and by whom: missionaries [priests], Sisters and catechists.
- Outlines of the topography of the areas should be prepared soon, so as to be able to perform the visits in an orderly way. Before leaving for a visit, the “Veni Sancte Spiritus” [Come, Holy Spirit] and the “Hail Mary” should be prayed together in the Chapel. On the way [to the villages] the Kikuyu language should be practiced. On returning, coffee should be provided.

5. Mission dispensaries

- Our taking care of the sick is at the service of our main purpose. Through our affectionate and free care, the local people should come to understand that we are good, that we want their good [their welfare], and that we are not looking for any selfish advantage; in other words, it should serve to create in them good dispositions towards us. For this reason, we should not make people wait; we should treat them with the greatest charity, speak with them, and always give them something (as a medicine).
- We should give medical care only to the local Agikuyu people; for other cases, permission from the Superior is needed each time. As a rule, no medicine should be given to be taken away from the dispensary. Accustom the sick people to come during the morning hours; at other times, only urgent cases will be taken care of.
- The [dispensary’s] register will contain the date, the progressive number [of the patient], sex, illness, and where the treatment was given: at home or at the dispensary.
Those who care for the sick should be very careful to avoid any ill effect for themselves or for others: they should not touch anything in the house before having thoroughly disinfected their hands.
To make bandages, the cotton cloth reserved for this purpose should be used. Used bandages should be given to the sick who will wash them and then return them [to the mission]. Gauze dressings, or any other medications that were in direct contact with the infected parts should be burnt. We should recommend and watch that medicines and bandages are used only in the quantity and quality strictly required.
Medicines marked with a blue cross are exclusively reserved for missionaries [priests and brothers] and Sisters.

6. Formation of the environment, i.e., mass education

- It is the first work we have to do, which should open the way to the rest; it should be our immediate purpose, to be pursued by using the above mentioned four means of missionary activity. It consists in educating the population, so that they may be ready for Baptism at the point of death. Therefore, we should see to it that the mass of people -- not only a few individuals -- may acquire those notions of natural theology which will be the foundation of our future further instruction in the Catholic religion. As the Agikuyus lack a proper religion [according to what we understand...], it is necessary that they start learning that our souls are immortal; that there is a God who is just and, consequently, rewards and punishes; that the devil cannot do any harm, except to bad people, because he is subject to God; proceeding then to the purpose of our life here on earth, and eventually to some notions about Redemption.
This should be our first step; to make it easy and secure we should follow mordicus [strictly] the relevant written material, in Kikuyu, that will be distributed.
- When the catechists are ready to work (to whom alone we shall give individual instructions, for the time being), we shall proceed to the second stage of our work. But at the beginning, all our efforts and activities at the mission stations, on our journeys, in the villages, always and everywhere should aim at this formation of the environment.

7. Internal time-table, and time-table for the Sisters in regard to mission work

cf “Reg.” [Rule/Regulations], art 5, p. 29.
- Time-table for missionaries [Fathers and Brothers]:
5.15 a.m.: Rising; 5.30: Prayers and Meditation; 6.00: Mass; 6.45: Breakfast; 7.30: Mission Work; 11.45: Visit to the Bl. Sacrament (and examination of conscience); 12.00: Lunch; 2.00 p.m.: Manual Work for Brothers; 3.00: Mission Work; 6.00: End of work for all, Study and Writing of Diaries; 7.00: Rosary, Prayers, Reading of Martyrology, Supper; 9.30: to rest; general silence.
- On Sundays: the same time-table, except what is indicated for 7.30 a.m., 2.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.: during these times there will be liturgical celebrations, spiritual reading, Divine Office for Brothers, study, outings, etc. according to the judgement of the [mission] station’s superior.
- Time-table for Sisters:
From 7.30 to 11.00 a.m. and from 3.00 to 6.00 p.m.: Mission Work, except on Sundays: these are at their disposal.
The time-table will be posted in a public place.

8. Relationships with Sisters, and their work

Although united in spirit and work, we must live our life as much as possible apart form the Sisters.
- Therefore:
a) nobody should enter their dormitory, except in case of illness or other extraordinary reason;
b) no Sister alone should go into the missionaries [Fathers and Brothers]’s rooms; in case of need, she should send what is needed, or be accompanied by the house-boy;
c) if there is a need to speak to a particular Sister, this should be done in public, in the open, or in church;
d) we should not write to them; if there is a need to communicate with those of other [mission] stations, we should do it through the superior of that station;
e) no Sister, even if accompanied, may leave the territory of the [mission] station to which she belongs, without an order from the local general Superior;
f) when visiting villages or going out with missionaries [Fathers and Brothers], the Sisters should always be at least two;
g) Sisters should never go far from their house, without being accompanied by at least some mission worker;
h) in regard to mission work they depend on the superior of the [mission] station; however, he should not interfere with their community life and rules: their own superior is responsible for that, and she will make sure they perform their duties and are obedient; she will be careful not to change the orders of the [mission station’s] superior;
i) during the times for mission work, Sisters should ordinarily attend to this according to the directives of the mission personnel [mission’s superior]; during other times, they attend to their needs, etc. according to the directives of their own superior; ordinarily they should not be asked to do mission work outside the times set apart for this; (only Sundays should be considered as times when Sisters are free from mission work);
j) we should see that the Sisters gradually learn to substitute for one another in their various offices;
k) nobody is authorized to hear Sisters’ Confessions, except the superior for those of his [mission] station; therefore, every time they ask for one, an extraordinary confessor will be sent to them;
l) the first and main work of the Sisters is to help in all possible ways the missionaries in their work, above all in the schools, in visiting villages, and in the dispensaries; secondly they should take care of, or, better, supervise the works of the house and kitchen, acting as mothers of the missionaries, so that these may have their minds and time totally free and available for attending to their ministry.
- However -- and this is important -- Sisters should make use of the local workers to do everything these are able to do in the house, especially physical and heavy works.
- It is necessary not to neglect the above, so that neither missionaries nor Sisters spend their time and energy in doing what can be done by local workers -- even if perhaps not so well...; the same works, performed by European personnel, end up being too costly for the mission and take away time that should be used for far more important matters.
- Copy of the above article No. 8 will be kept posted in a public place, next to the time-table; another copy should be posted in the Sisters’ house.

9. The superior of a [mission] station should be a true father in everything

cf “Reg.”, art. 4, p. 29.
- He should be the head who directs everything: his personality, initiative and activity should be felt in everything, even in material and small things. His [mission] station should receive from him a characteristic aspect which distinguishes it from all others: in a spirit of holy competition, there should be the effort to make it better than all others in good spirit and missionary activity; however, all the norms and methods proper to our Institute should, naturally, be faithfully followed, so that all of us truly work as one body and one soul.
- [The superior of a station] should take great care of the people entrusted to him, especially of the Brothers, as the ones who mostly need to be helped, encouraged, guided to perfection. Therefore, he should strive to gain their confidence, see that they get along well with one another, and that they work with a truly apostolic spirit; he should arrange solemn liturgical celebrations for them on feastdays, and -- suaviter [suavely] and in a proper way -- see that they receive Holy Communion daily; he should give them a chance -- when possible -- to perform some mission-pastoral work, so as to boost their morale.
- He should demand the obedience of all mission personnel not only to the general rules and the orders he gives, but also to his ways of seeing things and to his direction, so that everything in the house may be as uniform and perfect as possible. In his station he always has priority [over others], even over people older than he is, and visitors.

10. Monthly Day of Recollection on the first Sunday of each month

- It must be held at all [mission] stations, and should consist above all in a special attitude of recollection. Therefore, there will be no changes in the time-table; only a suitable meditation and, in the evening, the Prayer for a Blessed Death will be recited.

11. Clerical Cassock

- In order to distinguish ourselves from government people and other Europeans who start being seen in the area, and also for our advantage, the [clerical] cassock should be worn every time that -- according to our kind of life -- does not become too uncomfortable.
Practically:
a) it should always be worn in our “functioning” [mission] stations;
b) in other stations, it should be worn in church, all day long on Solemnities, and partially on Sundays;
c) when travelling in a caravan, when going out of one’s [mission] station’s territory, and outside of it, the cassock is not worn;
d) the Brothers always follow the rule given above at (b) in any [mission] station they happen to be;
e) for the time being, our “functioning” stations are Tuthu, [Fort] Hall,Limuru, Nyeri and Kekondi [Gikondi].

12. Register of main mission events, of Baptisms, of visits to villages

- In each [mission] station there should be a register, kept by the superior, which will be like a diary of the mission. It should contain the date of [the mission’s] foundation; arrivals and departures of personnel; visitors; important events, etc.; works accomplished, and, on the last day of each month, the total [number] of villages that were visited, sick people who were treated, catechism lessons imparted, school teaching carried out, and Baptisms administered.
- The Baptismal register should contain the date, the name of the baptizer, the name given to the baptized person, the names of his/her parents, village, sex; whether the baptized person is still living or dead, and, in this last case, the date of death.
Do not forget those who survive; make a note if they change residence, and visit them often. When dealing with children of people close to the mission, be more liberal in determining a danger of death; in fact, if they survive, there is a very good chance for us educate them later in our religion.
- The register of the visits to the villages should contain, for each day, the number of villages visited, as well as of the missionaries, Sisters, and catechists who visited them.

13. Kikuyu language: how to write it

- There is no need of insisting on the necessity to learn it soon and well: without it, there is very little that missionaries can do in the missions. In each [mission] station there is a copy of the grammar by Fr. Hemery for the use of all. Everybody should be concerned, however, about putting down in writing any new and/or more suitable word, as well as any new grammar rule he may learn in dealing with people; and, naturally, share his findings with all other missionaries.
For the time being, in order to put down into writing Kikuyu words, the following rules should be followed:
- all consonants and vowels are written according to the way they sound in Italian, except the following:
- the sound of the Italian “c duro” [c in front of a, o, u], is always written as k (“kappa”, i.e., “key”];
- the Italian sound of ii, or a long i [English sound of ee], is written as j [called “i lungo” -- long i -- in Italian];
- the sound of the Italian “s dolce” [English sound of z] is written as s;
- uu, ua, va: when they do not sound as in Italian, they are written with w [“v doppio”, i.e., “dubleu”]: wu, wa;
- when there is an aspiration, it is indicated by h [“acca”, i.e., “eitch”];
- when the stress of a word does not fall on the penultimate syllable, it should be indicated by an accent;
- f, p, q, z [“effe, pi, cu, zeta”, i.e., “ef, pea, kue, zed”] are never used.

14. Quarterly report to the local general Superior

cf “Reg.”, art. 12, p. 33.
- It should be prepared by each station’s superior on the first day of January, April, July and October. It must contain a brief but precise report on the work and on the material and spiritual situation of the house during the previous quarter, and specifically: the number of villages visited and of the people who visited them; sick people treated; catechism lessons taught; school teaching imparted; health situation of the mission personnel; signed quarterly financial report; total number of days spent by people in the house; and important happenings.
- Furthermore (it should contain): a report on the [mission’s] personnel, their work, “pietà” [prayer life], obedience, improvement or decline, plus the number of Masses celebrated for our Institute with monthly totals.
At the head of the report there should be the name of the [mission] station, and at the end the [superior’s] signature.
It should be neatly written in ink, on paper of Exercise-Book size, so that, in case, it could be conveniently sent to the “Signor Rettore” [Reverend Rector, i.e., the Founder: Fr. Joseph Allamano].

15. Diaries and letters to the “Sig. Rettore” [Fr. Allamano]

cf “Reg.”, arts. 12, 14, pp. 33, 34.
- Both diaries and letters will be sent to the local general Superior together with the quarterly reports, so that he may send everything to the “Sig. Rettore” [Fr. Allamano]. Each mission superior will send his own and those of the other missionaries, who should be informed on time, so as to have them ready. They will be sent sealed, and on the outside of each there will be the sender’s name and mention of letters and/or diaries enclosed. The mission superior should see to it that all missionaries regularly write their diaries, during the times set apart for this.

16. Financial Administration

cf “Reg.”, arts. 15, 19, pp. 34, 36.
- Mission superiors administer the finances, so as to make the best possible use of them; this consists in using them only according to the given directives, and with a spirit of saving, remembering that we are living out of other people’s charity; if we do not want this stream to dry out, we should limit our expenses to what is truly necessary. Ordinarily nobody else should administer the Institute’s finances, except the Sister in charge of the kitchen, who can directly spend the small amounts of money needed to buy from local people milk, chickens, and other foods, and then gives a detailed account of the expenses [to the superior]. In registering the expenses, it should be clearly stated how much was spent and for what. Possible expenses incurred for other [mission] stations should be clearly distiguished in the register.
- In our functioning [mission] stations, the people working for us will be the following:
a) a “trustworthy man” to watch over the house, accompany the missionaries into the villages, deal with local people, do house work and some maintenance: he will be paid the full salary of a workman;
b) a woman, or a young man, for water, firewood, washing, etc. at half salary;
c) a young man for the kitchen: if he cooks, he will be paid 2 rupees per month (and after many months of service, if he works well, 2 and a half, and then 3 rupees). If he only helps in the kitchen, he will be paid 1 rupee for one or two months, according to the work he does.
It is convenient that the “trustworthy man” build a house for himself next to the mission: if he is married, the wife will be chosen to take care of the water.
The salary of a workman varies from one station to another; however, it will never be superior to 4 rupees per month.
Except for special cases, the people working for a mission will be limited to those mentioned above.
- For the time being, each [mission] station will organize for itself the caravans needed to go to Limuru and collect the foodstuffs needed from our warehouse. The caravans (as well as any worker) will be paid by the station that organizes them and for which they work.
The remuneration for the caravans will be as follows:
- a quarter of a rupee (16 rolls of cotton fabric) for the journeys N.K. [Nyeri to Kekondi], K.H. [Kekondi to Fort Hall], K.T. [Kekondi to Tuthu], H.M. (Fort Hall to Metumi] [Metumi was the name of the area around Gaichanjiru];
- half a rupee [32 rolls of fabric] for T.N. [Tuthu to Nyeri], T. H. [Tuthu to Fort Hall];
- one rupee and a half for N. [Nyeri] to Naivasha, K. [Kekondi] to Naivasha, H. [Fort Hall] to Nairobi, H.L. [Fort Hall to Limuru], T.L. [Tuthu to Limuru];
- one rupee for L.M. [Limuru to Metumi].
- No new work will be started in the [mission] stations without a special permission from the local general Superior; those urgent repairs that are necessary for the preservation of buildings and/or furniture may be done.
- Each [mission] station must have an inventory of everything that belongs to it and for which the superior is accountable. The greatest care of all house supplies, clothes and furniture is recommended; above all they should be used only for the purpose for which they were given. The lack of proper care is one of the main causes of breakages or destruction of many of the above things, and, since it is not easy to find replacements, at times all people in the station have to suffer from the lack of them.
- The ordinary menu will be as follows:
- for breakfast: rice, meat, “caffè-latte” [milk with coffee];
- for lunch: soup, rice, two kinds of meat with vegetables, “caffè-latte”;
- for supper: soup, rice, meat with vegetables, “caffè-latte”;
- in those stations where fruit may be found, it will be given for lunch and supper; at supper it will preferably be boiled;
- on solemnities and “onomastici” [feastdays] of members of a station, something else may be added;
- Condensed milk, wine, liquors, biscuits, jam, and “pastine sagou” [special soups] ordinarily will be used only in case of sickness:
- Every time that “gallette militari” [soldiers’ biscuits] and essences for liqueurs are provided, the time for which they have to last will be indicated; the superior will judge how to use them during this time.
It is recommended to train a good cook, even by helping him personally at times.
Where it is not possible to have cow milk, we should try to get goat milk.
Do not leave any foodstuff within everybody’s reach; give the workers only the amount needed, and see that they do not take any of it. Replace the used foodstuff on time, in order to avoid that, because of negligence, other members may be subjected to privations. See that food provisions are not damaged by humidity, insects, or mice; for these last ones make sure that mouse-traps are always set.
For good health it is important to add vegetables to meat. Take care, therefore, to have a good vegetable garden that can always supply potatoes, legumes and other vegetables; this can easily be achieved by choosing places that may be irrigated, sowing at the end of every month, and also by preserving vegetables like tomatoes, peas, etc. by canning them.
Grow also flowers to decorate your Chapel.

17. Sending letters to Torino and to our families

cf “Reg.”, art. 13, p. 33.
Every month, on fixed dates, a person will pass through the [mission] stations to collect mail. The “mail-man” must be able to continue his round the very next day.
For the time being, the fixed dates are as follows: on the first day of each month at M. [Metumi]; on the second at [Fort] Hall; on the 3rd at K. [Kekondi]; on the 4th at N. [Nyeri]; on the 5th at T.S. [Tuthu and Saw-mill].

18. Requests for various objects and foodstuffs

Any request for new objects for the house, clothes, or furniture must be addressed to the local general Superior. Clothes to be mended -- when this cannot be done at one’s station -- should be sent to Fort Hall; other objects to be repaired, soldered, etc. to the Saw-mill.
Requests for foodstuffs should be sent to the superior of our Limuru warehouse. Together with the request, send the needed carriers, containers, and regular and water-proof bags; without all this, requests cannot be taken into consideration.
To form caravans for the above purpose, it would be good if neighbouring [mission] stations could arrange things together.
Any shipment of goods from our warehouse will be accompanied by a detailed list; as soon as a caravan arrives, the person who receives the goods should check them, so that, if something is missing or broken, appropriate action maty be taken.

While waiting for our venerable “Sig. Rettore” [Fr. Allamano]’s judgement on the above conclusions of our Conference, I am glad to send you a copy of them. I recommend to your zeal and good will a scrupulous observance in Domino [in the Lord] of everything, even the smallest details, so that, corroborated by obedience and with God’s blessing, they may produce copious fruits.
Fr. [F.] Perlo

Fr. Joseph Allamano approved the conclusions of the Conferences with a letter, dated 6 May 1904, addressed to Fr. F. Perlo, as follows:
“My dearest Teologo [a priest with a dgree in Theology],
I thank the Lord for the excellent outcome of your [pl.] meeting at Murang’a. The resolutions adopted and the way the deliberations were carried out give me great hopes; and I praise the practical wisdom of your [pl.] conclusions. Even if I intend to reflect upon them individually in another letter, I can;t refrain now from mentioning the suitableness of the daily time-table, and of the regulations concerning food.
I approve all the conclusions, without exception, and I desire that each and all of their parts be implemented.
You [sing.], however, must watch and make others watch that they be implemented promptly, constantly, and cordially. The uniformity of everybody must prevail, in spite of some possible better ideas in some practical cases; et quicumque hanc regulam secuti fuerint, pax super illos et misericordia, et super Israel Dei [‘Peace and mercy to all who follow this as their rule and to the Israel of God’ (Gal 6:16 NAB]”.