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Irish Catholic priest murdered in violent home invasion in Kenya

DONAL THORNTON,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Friday, December 11, 2009, 10:38 AM

Updated Friday, December 11, 2009, 1:45 PM

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Father Jeremiah Roche

An Irish priest has been killed during a violent robbery at his home in Kenya.

Father Jeremiah Roche, 68, from west Limerick worked in the St Patrick's parish in Kericho in North West Kenya.

It is understood he has brothers and sisters in Ireland and also family in Chicago.

Kenyan police have launched a murder inquiry.

Fr Roche lived alone in a house at the edge of the town and a staff member found his body shortly after the robbery which was believed to have taken place at about 4 a.m.

Colleague Fr Tom Kiggins said the death of Fr Roche was a great loss to the parish.

"He was a wonderful missionary and a great friend of mine," said Fr Kiggins. "He was very lively, full of fun and had great energy. He was always doing something and was very generous.

"Everything he did was for the mission, the people and the poor, anything he could to raise their living standards."

"He was broken into during the night and he was killed. He lived alone and he has been in Kenya since 1968. He spent all his time in the same area. He built a number of churches during his time and set up parishes in the area."

Fr Kiggins said had worked in the area himself and knew it well. Fr Roche had been a good friend of his and that he travelled back to Ireland every two or three years. He had just finished building a new church in his parish.

Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said he was shocked and saddened at Fr Roche's death.

"He had dedicated his life to helping the poorest of the poor in Kenya since 1968," said Martin.

"His untimely death is yet another terrible reminder of the threats faced daily by our missionaries and aid workers all over the world."

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jacersisityourself | Dec 13, 2009, 10:48 AM EST

Well said McNamara31. Since the 1970’s, some 80 Irish priests have been killed while on missionary work in foreign lands. We must never forget their sacrifices in spreading the message of Jesus.

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McNamara31 | Dec 12, 2009, 07:29 PM EST

In Rome, the Vatican canon lawyers discuss how to handle the latest wave of abuse in Ireland, while the Bishops sat by, or were directed to sit by, keeping silent and hoping it would all go away. Yet across the world in Africa, Fr. Roche, a simple Irish priest was murdered, while doing God’s work with the poor and the hungry, living the words, not just reading them aloud, living modestly, like his parishioners and not like the Bishops who go to Rome to talk to the Pope in the palatial quarters with all the painting, statues and men in silken clothes. This simple Irish priest was a light in the darkness, hope in place of misery, a shepherd of men. And, he died living out his faith, making a tiny portion of this world better because of his actions. It was reported, that Rev. Roche loved Irish music, played the tin whistle and liked to dance. "He was a jokester. He loved to have fun and make people laugh," and He became a priest because “He loved people and to spread the good news of the gospel”. In this time, when we view the morally bankrupt behavior of some in the clergy and in Rome, we must always remember the many like Fr. Roche, for their light is hope to the darkness cast over the present day church. And that darkness should never cast a shadow on the memories of those good and loyal religious who quietly did God’s work for centuries, within the Irish church here and around the globe.

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