A Brief History

The Congregation of the Cottolengo Fathers was founded in Italy in 1840 by St. Joseph Cottolengo. We are a Society of apostolic Life with a special concern for the poor, the sick and the suffering in general in the society. We are guided by the teachings of our Founder who understood very clearly that the poor are Jesus. We provide pastoral and spiritual care in our centres for the poor, in the parishes, in hospitals and in schools. Here in Kenya we are present in the Diocese of Meru and in the Arch-diocese of Nairobi.the solemn words of Jesus: “Anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mk 10:15). The Brothers in the world also work as nurses, either in dispensaries or in homes, where they care for physically handicapped, aged, and long-term sick people. Their apostolate is geared towards children and abandoned young people, especially to victims of new forms of poverty, such as drug addiction.