Memorial Mass Held in Honour of Rev. Fr. Martin Rijk, MHM
St. Cecilia Parish, Dahiro – Diocese of Bungoma, Kenya
10 February 2026.
A solemn Memorial Mass in honour of Rev. Fr. Martin Rijk, MHM, was held on 10th February 2026 at St. Cecilia Parish, Dahiro, in the Diocese of Bungoma, Kenya. The Eucharistic celebration brought together clergy, religious, the faithful, and friends of the Mill Hill Missionaries to remember and give thanks for the life of a missionary whose ministry left an enduring mark on the Church and communities he served.
A Life Given to Mission
Rev. Fr. Martin Rijk was born on 22nd June 1937. He professed his Perpetual Oath at St. Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, on 1st May 1966, marking his lifelong commitment to missionary service. He was ordained to the priesthood on 29th June 1967 at the New Missiehuis, Roosendaal, by Bishop Cornelius de Wit.
His missionary journey led him to Kenya in 1980, when he was assigned to the Diocese of Kakamega. There, he was tasked with opening Kibuk Parish on the slopes of Mt. Elgon, near the Kenya–Uganda border — a region characterized by geographical remoteness and rich cultural diversity, with communities drawn from about nine different tribes.
Building Faith and Community
With characteristic determination, Fr. Martin built a missionary residence and a church, laying both spiritual and structural foundations for the young Christian community. He also established a sawmill, contributing to local development and sustainability.
Pastoral ministry in Kibuk required extraordinary resilience. Fr. Martin regularly travelled to outlying villages to visit Christians — sometimes using tractors when roads were impassable by jeep. His closeness to the people shaped his pastoral vision.
Concerned about unemployed and landless youth, he initiated plans for the Mt. Elgon Farming Youth Project, aimed at engaging young people in agriculture and discouraging rural-urban migration in search of limited opportunities.
Renewal and Continued Service
In 1992, after years of intense pastoral and development work, Fr. Martin undertook a sabbatical renewal programme at Ecce Homo in Jerusalem, in the Holy Land. The experience proved spiritually enriching and restorative.
He returned to Kenya in May 1993 and was appointed to the remote Dahiro region in Bungoma Diocese, where he continued his missionary ministry with dedication and zeal.
A Fitting Memorial
Presiding over the Memorial Mass, Bishop Mark Kadima paid tribute to Fr. Martin’s missionary witness. In his homily, he expressed deep appreciation for the contribution of the Mill Hill Missionaries within the diocese, noting that Fr. Martin was never afraid to establish mission stations in response to Christ’s call.
He described him as:
“A generous missionary who left everything and became a blessing to the people he loved and served.”
Words of Gratitude
In his remarks, Rev. Fr. Hillary Awiti, MHM, the Regional Representative, expressed gratitude to the Diocese of Bungoma, the deanery, and St. Cecilia Parish, Dahiro, for organizing a befitting celebration of Fr. Martin’s life and legacy.
He invited the faithful to pray for the Friends of Mill Hill and Fr. Martin’s family, whose generous support sustained his missionary work over the years. He concluded by entrusting Fr. Martin’s soul to God’s eternal mercy.
Enduring Legacy
Martin lived the motto, “to love and to serve” until the end.
With declining health, Martin passed away in the evening of Friday, the 21st November 2025. The funeral mass was held on Saturday, 29th November 2025. His remains were buried in the Mill Hill graveyard in Oosterbeek.
The Memorial Mass held on 10th February, 2026, organized by the Diocese of Bungoma, was not only a moment of remembrance but also a celebration of a life poured out in service. Fr. Martin Rijk’s missionary witness — marked by generosity, courage, simplicity, and love for God’s people — continues to inspire the Church today.
May the soul of Rev. Fr. Martin Rijk, MHM, rest in eternal peace.
By Rev. Hillary Awiti, MHM
