Sisters of Mary of Kakamega

Sisters of Mary of Kakamega (SMK) in Africa and Oregon (USA)

Bishop Vasa with the first group of SMK Sisters to live in Bend, Oregon, USA.

SMK Superior General and Council 2021-2026: Mother Josepha, Sr. Wilfrida, Sr. Aligonda, Sr. Consolata, Sr. Beatrice

Sister Sabina and Sister Irene, pictured with Bishop Vasa, are the first two sisters to live in Bend, Oregon from the SMK Order.

The congregation of the SMK started off with only five girls in 1932 but today we have grown close to 500 Sisters. With time and God's blessing, the congregation has spread to many dioceses in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, and the USA with over 100 Houses Worldwide.

In 2009, The Most Reverend Bishop Robert Vasa invited the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega to the Baker Diocese. Rev. Sr. Maureen Oyiolo, the then Superior General of the SMK, visited the Diocese and soon arrangements were made for the Sisters to move to Baker Diocese. This was a fulfillment of the mandate for the 10th General Chapter held in 2005 which recommended Sisters to move out as Missionaries to other parts of the world to share Christ with others. The late Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga, first Cardinal of Kenya had said to the Sisters “Take Christ to people and bring people to Christ.”

We are forever grateful to Most Reverend Robert Vasa who granted us an opportunity to share the Gospel and our Faith with God's people in the new culture of Baker diocese. We Are grateful to Bishop Skylstad for his support during the transition after the move of Bishop Vasa. Our thanks too go to Bishop Cary for his support during his years of service until his retirement. May the Spirit of God be with Bishop Hennen with whom we continue to work for the good of the people of Baker Diocese, for our won sanctification, and for the Glory of God.

Bishop Thomas Hennen, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Baker

On July 10, 2025, Pope Leo XIV named Hennen the seventh bishop of Baker. He was ordained and installed by Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland in Oregon on September 29, 2025, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Bend, Oregon. Bishop Emeritus Liam Cary of Baker and Bishop Dennis Walsh of Davenport served as the principal co-consecrators. The Diocese of Baker is comprised of 66,826 square miles in the State of Oregon and has a total population of 532,734 of which 33,356 are Catholics.

Bishop Cary, Retired bishop of the Diocese of Baker.

Bishop Robert Vasa invited the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega to spread their mission in Baker Diocese in 2010

SMK Novices vising Kakamega Women's Prison with gifts to those in prison - Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me.

Congratulations are in order for our sisters graduating in the medical field. Go now to serve God's People.

SMK Novices vising Kakamega Women's Prison with gifts to those in prison - Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me.

The Sisters of Mary currently serve under St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Bend Oregon. We also operate an Adult Foster Care Home in the same area. Click here to visit Otunga House. We continue to support the Vision of Bishop Hennen for Baker Diocese as we also spread and grow the mission of the SMK. As St. Paul says: “There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts” (1 Cor.12:12-14).

Over the years, the SMK has spread service to the Archdiocese of Portland and the Seattle Archdiocese.

Click here to visit the Diocese of Baker website.

The Sisters of Mary of Kakamega welcome you!

The Sisters of Mary of Kakamega welcome you!