For 25 years, Fr. Chrispine Oduor Okello has devoted his life as a Consolata Missionary, spreading the Good News and bringing consolation to communities across Africa, Europe, and South America.
Most recently, he embarked on a journey of renewal and growth through the 23rd Session of the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program. Graduating on December 6, 2024, alongside 32 other participants, he earned a Certificate in Multicultural Psycho-Spiritual Counseling, and Human and Personal Development. This milestone offered him a moment to reflect on his 25 years of missionary service and the profound impact of the sabbatical program on his journey ahead.
His calling to the priesthood was shaped by his encounters with three missionary communities: the Mill Hill Missionaries, whose presence ignited his passion for mission work; the Benedictines, who invited him to a “come and see” experience but whose monastic lifestyle he ultimately did not feel drawn to; and the Consolata Missionaries, who ultimately won him over.
Growing up in the rural Archdiocese of Kisumu, Kenya, where the Church was distant, Fr. Chrispine and his siblings would trek for over an hour each Sunday at dawn to attend the 7:00 a.m. Mass. During this time, he developed a deep admiration for a Dutch Mill Hill Missionary priest, whom despite being far from his homeland, the priest fully embraced the local culture, spoke fluent Dholuo (the local language), and devoted himself selflessly to the community.
“He was always there for us,” Fr. Chrispine recalls. “If someone was sick, he would be there. If you needed something for school, like a pen or a book, he would provide it.” Inspired by the priest’s selflessness, Fr. Chrispine dreamed of one day serving as a missionary, living among people in unfamiliar lands, learning their languages, and embracing their struggles.
The impact of this priest’s example was so profound that young Chrispine became an altar boy, and from an early age—during primary school—he knew he wanted to be a missionary priest, rather than a diocesan one.
After completing his primary education, Fr. Chrispine moved to Nairobi for secondary school, where his dream of becoming a pilot temporarily overshadowed his missionary aspirations. Nonetheless, he remained active in church, becoming a youth leader and engaging in various programs within the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. Through these interactions, he developed a close relationship with the Benedictine Vocations Director, who invited him to a “come and see” visit. While he appreciated their way of life, he felt called to pursue a different path.
Instead, influenced by his uncle, a member of the Consolata Missionaries, and inspired by their way of life and the stories of their founder, St. Joseph Allamano, Fr. Chrispine joined the community in 1988 — a decision he has never regretted.
“That’s how I became a Consolata, and since then, I have never looked back,” he says, reflecting on his 25 years with the 123-year-old religious institute.
Venezuela: A Mission of Faith Amid Chaos
After his ordination in 1998, Fr. Chrispine was sent back to Spain, where he had undertaken his theological studies, for missionary work. He spent seven fulfilling years ministering to the faithful in the geographically and culturally diverse European nation, before moving to Uganda and later returning to Kenya. His most profound and challenging mission came in 2016 when he was sent to Venezuela, fulfilling a long-held aspiration to serve in the South American nation.
Venezuela tested the Consolata Missionary’s faith and resilience like no other mission. He describes it as “the toughest mission he ever worked in,” yet one that had a “strong impact” on him. Thrust into the heart of a nation grappling with severe economic and social crises, he witnessed firsthand the scarcity of basic commodities. Queues for essentials stretched for days, and the government regulated purchases based on ID numbers, forcing residents to endure endless waits just to obtain a single item.
“People were hungry. Children were just walking skeletons,” recalls Fr. Chrispine.
The political and economic instability created fertile ground for the proliferation of organized crime, with heavily armed and well-organized gangs taking hold. For two years, the Kenyan-born Consolata missionary served in a slum community in Caracas, where criminal groups involved in drug trafficking, murders, and other violent crimes made daily life even more perilous. “There wasn’t a day you could walk out without encountering a dead body,” he recalls. He vividly remembers the first shooting he witnessed—someone gunned down just outside the church during Mass. “The altar servers disappeared, and I found myself alone at the altar,” he recounts.
Seeking respite from the unrelenting violence, Fr. Chrispine was sent 700 kilometers away to minister to indigenous communities. For three years, he embraced the cultures and challenges of the people, following the example of the Dutch Mill Hill Missionary priest who had inspired his vocation. However, the weather was not friendly to his health, forcing him to leave the area
Reluctant to return to the slums of Caracas due to the violence, Fr. Chrispine moved to a nearby community, where he ministered to Black communities—descendants of enslaved people. At the time, there was a shortage of missionaries in the country due to the rampant violence, and he was tasked with overseeing four parishes: Our Lady of Incarnation in Caucagua, Saint John Nepomuk, Our Lady of Visitation in Panaquire, and St. Rose of Lima in El Clavo.
He describes his experience in this region as “jumping from the frying pan into the fire” compared to his time in the slums of Caracas. Gang violence was common, and in one chilling encounter, Fr. Chrispine witnessed gang members brutally decapitating a victim and playing with the severed head like a ball, laughing as they did so.
“It left me somewhat traumatized,” he recalls of the incident, which is one of many of its kind that contributed to the predominantly-Catholic nation being ranked second globally behind El Salvador for gang-related homicides in 2017, and remains one of the most violent nations in Latin America.
As the area was under the control of cartels, safe passage between parishes required notifying cartel leaders in advance. In one harrowing encounter, Fr. Chrispine failed to do so, bringing him face-to-face with their young, ruthless leader—a 16-year-old boy. “He told me, ‘Okay, Father, for this time I’ll let you go, but next time, if you don’t inform us, we’ll shoot you,” he recalls.
The constant violence and the resulting trauma, compounded by frequent news of murders involving people and parishioners he knew, took a significant psychological toll on him. “That period of my time in Venezuela was exceptionally difficult,” he reflects on his missionary work, carried out devotedly amidst the violence, driven by his love for the people, their hunger for God, and the hospitality that made him feel welcome.
Renewal Through the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program
After seven years in Venezuela, Fr. Chrispine returned to Kenya in late 2023, seeking solace and renewal. With the trauma and stress from his mission in Venezuela weighing him down, he took a one-year sabbatical, part of which he spent at St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program.
“One of the reasons I asked for the sabbatical was because the tension, the stress, and all that was weighing on me,” he reflects. “I wanted something to renew myself, spiritually and also psychologically, just as a person.”
Initially skeptical about the St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program, he soon found it to be transformative. “The sabbatical has helped me reconnect with myself,” he shares. “I’ve learned to manage my emotions, process trauma, and embrace joy again. It has given me the strength to say no without guilt and the space to heal spiritually and psychologically.”
Through self-awareness, journaling, and spiritual practices such as discernment and retreats, Fr. Chrispine created a space to process the trauma and embark on healing. He describes the Program as a ‘psycho-spiritual journey’ that provided him with the tools to overcome the emotional scars left by years of exposure to traumatizing events and violence in Venezuela.
“If you’re looking for a place to rest, renew, and grow spiritually, come to St. John Paul II Sabbatical Program. You will find peace and purpose,” he recommends.
Looking ahead, Fr. Chrispine remains steadfast in his missionary calling. With a renewed sense of purpose and resilience, he is ready to return to his mission field, prepared to face new challenges and serve with unwavering faith, dedication, and an enduring commitment to the people he is called to help.
