Italian Priest Adolf Alleluia celebrates last Holy Mass in Nairobi

Father Adolf Poll-Alleluia celebrated his last Holy Mass in Kenya at the Holy Family Basilica on Sunday before returning to his home country Italy, where he will spend his time in retirement.

Father Alleluia, who has has been in Kenya for the last 53 years doing missionary work, has been praised for touching lives and reaching out to the less fortunate in the society.

While celebrating the last Holy Mass in a country where he has spent almost his entire life, his message was not any different.

The 81 year old Priest urged the faithful to dedicate their lives in serving Christ.

“I urge you all to welcome Christ in your lives, families and communities. Reach out to the less fortunate as much as you can and in the simplest ways,” he said

Father Simon Peter Kamomoe, the Administrator at the Holy Family Basilica lauded Father Alleluia for his humility and dedication in serving Christ.

“Father Alleluia arrived in Kenya at the age of 29 and he has since served the Catholic Church in the country with utmost dedication and commitment,” he said

Father Alleluia was ordained as a priest in 1966 in his home Diocese of Bolzano-Brixen, Northern Italy.

In December 1968, he left his hometown, South Tyrol at the border of Italy and Austria to serve as a Missionary priest in Kenya.

He was first posted at the Catholic Diocese of Kisii where he served for 31 years from 1969 to 2000 under the then Bishop, the late Maurice Cardinal Otunga.

Father Alleluia was later transferred to the Catholic Diocese of Malindi where he has served for last 20 years until his retirement.