Kenya:
Maasai designs and beads for Pope Francis’s vestments
(Vatican Radio) A well-researched article in the Kenyan daily
press gives an accurate “dress-down” of some of the garments you would find in
Pope Francis’ wardrobe.
What it doesn’t
mention is that here in Kenya all of his vestments and a beautiful rosary made
of beads have been prepared by a group of sisters and women who work in an
income-generating facility in Kangemi slum called “Dolly Craft”.
The sewery – which gets its name from its initial project of
making African dolls – is operated by the Jesuit-run St. Joseph the
Worker Parish in Kangemi slum. It has been working full steam to prepare the
vestments not only for Pope Francis, but also for all the priests and bishops
who will be celebrating Mass here in Nairobi.
One of the priests at
the Parish told me that for their special project, the women took design
samples they made to the bishops in charge of the preparations for Pope
Francis’ visit. The bishops approved the designs and gave the women a logo to
include on the three vestments.
He explained the women
designed three garments for the pope's main functions while he's in Kenya: a
simple white ankle-length alb, a classic golden sleeveless chasuble, and a
white chasuble embroidered with a Maasai tribe design in coloured beads which
have been hand-woven into the cloth itself.
The women working on
the project – he said – were overjoyed to be playing such a tangible part in
Pope Francis’ visit and have been working around the clock to make sure the
vestments were ready in time.
“It feels so
good”, Alice Wanjiru, a single mother of two boys who works at the project
told a local newspaper: “It is my first time and probably my last
to make a garment for a Pope. . . . and very few people get a chance like this.
The pope – she said - is a big person to wear what has been made with my hands.
I can already feel the blessings”.
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