Joyce Oluoch rsm

I was born in Bondo, Siaya County, Kenya in August 1966.  I am the tenth child of twelve children of Vitalis Oluoch and Persilla.  We share our homestead with three step-mothers, step-sisters and brothers.

I went to Catholic Primary and High school.  Here I became aware of the different ministries in the church and the different religious congregations.  The desire to commit myself to a life of prayer and service to the poor drew me to religious life.  After my Leaving Certificate, I got in touch with the Sisters of Mercy.  The word Mercy touched me very deeply and filled me with so much enthusiasm to find out more about this congregation.  This was my first time to know about the Mercy Congregation.  They were not in our town.

I wrote to the Vocations Promoter expressing my desire to join them and asking plenty of questions.  Sr. Colette King replied to my letter with an invitation to visit Miguta.  Miguta was the Formation House for Postulants.

I entered the Postulancy on 15th June, 1986.  There were seven of us all together.  I did my Novitiate in Villa Maria, Westlands, Nairobi.  My father and mother both gave me their blessings to explore Gods call.

Immediately after my First Profession, I went Machakos Teacher Training College where I trained as a Primary School teacher.  I taught in primary schools in Mukuru Kayaba, Nairobi and Township in Kibwezi, worked with First Communion classes and in the Counselling office.

Machakos Teacher Training College

Further training followed in Formation and I have given several years of service in this ministry from 1997 – 2012.  I was missioned to help for a while in Nigeria and Zambia.  Working with others in a collaborative way proved life-giving and inspiring.

I have served on our Vice-Provincial Leadership Team for two terms from 1998 – 2003.  This helped me to develop leadership qualities and I am most grateful.

When I finished in Formation in 2012, I had the privilege of attending a sabbatical programme at the Institute of St. Anselm in England.  Here I learned the skills for growth facilitation.  At the moment, I work with groups and individuals at Chem Chemi ya Uzima in Karen, Nairobi.

I continue to be challenged to be the Compassionate presence of God in our world and I pray that as a Congregation, God may lead and guide us in His way.  May this be our everyday prayer.

Joyce Oluoch rsm
Kenyan Province