Contact: Delis G. Alejandro, Staff Contact  |  310 566-1530  |  

About Us

Since 2002, St. Monica Catholic Community has enjoyed a sister relationship with Holy Cross Parish in Dandora, Kenya, creating avenues of mutual support and opportunities for prayer and service with one another. The Holy Cross Africa Ministry team coordinates various activities throughout the year including speaker nights, fundraising events, prayer and worship experiences in order to raise awareness and advocate for the spiritual, educational, and health needs of our sister parish.

Make a gift to any of these three areas:

Race 4 Veronika's Place: Fall Highlights

We run, walk and raise funds to support Veronika’s Place, a food distribution program that supports HIV/AIDS patients in the Holy Cross Church Community in Dandora, Kenya supported by St. Monica Holy Cross Africa Ministry.

In partnership with the Los Angeles Marathon we raise funds to feed over 500 people each month with basic provisions. These men, women and children cannot survive their battle with HIV/AIDS even with anti–viral medications, if they do not have nourishing food. Each year our team of runners and walkers participate in the Los Angeles Marathon 5k, Charity Half, and Full Marathon as team Race 4 Veronika’s Place raising about $40,000.00.

If you can be a runner or walker, contact us at

Marathon Warm Up

Saturday, Sept. 25 

8:00 a.m. Join us in Mass

8:15 a.m. Meet in Front of Church - 5k Run/Walk from Church to Totem Pole In Palisades Park

9:30 a.m. Donuts, coffee, and conversation about Veronika's Place, the Marathon and 5k.

LA Marathon Meet and Greet

Saturday, Oct. 16 | After 5:30 p.m. Mass | Caruso Center A/B

We will gather for food, fellowship, and learn more about our outreach in Dandora, Kenya.

Blessing of the Shoes

Saturday, Oct. 30 | 5:30 p.m. Mass

We will pray over our shoes, that they may prove steadfast on our LA Marathon journey!

Los Angeles Marathon, Charity Half-Marathon and 5K

Nov. 6 & 7

Click HERE for the Race Veronika's Place Facebook Group

 Contact: Delis G. Alejandro, Staff Contact  |  310 566-1530  |  

About Us

Since 2002, St. Monica Catholic Community has enjoyed a sister relationship with Holy Cross Parish in Dandora, Kenya, creating avenues of mutual support and opportunities for prayer and service with one another. The Holy Cross Africa Ministry team coordinates various activities throughout the year including speaker nights, fundraising events, prayer and worship experiences in order to raise awareness and advocate for the spiritual, educational, and health needs of our sister parish.

 

Make a gift to any of these three areas:

 

  

Race 4 Veronika's Place: Fall Highlights

We run, walk and raise funds to support Veronika’s Place, a food distribution program that supports HIV/AIDS patients in the Holy Cross Church Community in Dandora, Kenya supported by St. Monica Holy Cross Africa Ministry.

 

In partnership with the Los Angeles Marathon we raise funds to feed over 500 people each month with basic provisions. These men, women and children cannot survive their battle with HIV/AIDS even with anti–viral medications, if they do not have nourishing food. Each year our team of runners and walkers participate in the Los Angeles Marathon 5k, Charity Half, and Full Marathon as team Race 4 Veronika’s Place raising about $40,000.00.

 

If you can be a runner or walker, contact us at

 

Marathon Warm Up

Saturday, Sept. 25 

 

8:00 a.m. Join us in Mass

8:15 a.m. Meet in Front of Church - 5k Run/Walk from Church to Totem Pole In Palisades Park

9:30 a.m. Donuts, coffee, and conversation about Veronika's Place, the Marathon and 5k.

 

LA Marathon Meet and Greet

Saturday, Oct. 16 | After 5:30 p.m. Mass | Caruso Center A/B

We will gather for food, fellowship, and learn more about our outreach in Dandora, Kenya.

 

Blessing of the Shoes

Saturday, Oct. 30 | 5:30 p.m. Mass

We will pray over our shoes, that they may prove steadfast on our LA Marathon journey!

 

Los Angeles Marathon, Charity Half-Marathon and 5K

Nov. 6 & 7

 

Click HERE for the Race Veronika's Place Facebook Group

 

Mission & History

The mission of St. Monica Holy Cross Africa Ministry is to share, pray, learn and join with our sister parish, Holy Cross Dandora, in their mission to “humanize city life and help people recognize their God given dignity” (Rev. Bob Dowd, CSC)

 

Contact:  Ann Chervenak, Ministry Chair, for more information.

 

Get Involved

 

Please find below updates on what is happening in our sister parish in Dandora and how our ministries in collaboration with Holy Cross Catholic Church are faring.

 

Our Holy Cross Africa Ministry also offers a wide variety of ways that you can participate in the ministry. Details below. 

 

• Education and Youth Outreach

  Our primary mission is to support scholarship students and their families in their efforts to break the cycle of poverty. Our scholarship commitment to these children extends all the way through high school. In addition to scholarships, donations from St. Monica parishioners have provided funding for books, education supplies, projectors, sewing machines and so much more! Since 2019, we have supported the local youth through its music and sports programs, notably the Calvary Warriors Basketball Club of Dandora. We have also provided full scholarships to men and women who attend the Vocational Tailoring School at Holy Cross Parish. Over the past twenty years, we have been able to help hundreds of students and many more community members. If you are interested in supporting this mission or learning more, visit or contact us at

   

  News & Announcements:

  
  July 2021

  Our Youth Relief Outreach during the pandemic (starting in September 2020), amounting to nearly $10,000, has reached hundreds of children and their families. We provided monthly distributions of food, essential supplies and rental support to the poorest residents of Dandora. We could not have done this without your generosity. 

   

  June 2021

  During this school year, we have provided scholarships to 20 primary school, 17 high school, and 6 tailoring school students, in addition to continued youth outreach, and other efforts to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic to vulnerable children, families and teachers. Thank you!

   

  October 2020

  St. Monica Holy Cross Africa Ministry Team just approved a donation of $2,700 to fund the making of face masks by the tailoring students. 14,000 cloth masks were sewn and distributed for free to parishioners at Holy Cross.

   

  June 2020

  With school closures, we provided $5,000 to support salaries for staff at our sister parish, Holy Cross Parish in Dandora, Nairobi, Kenya. Fr. Luke, the pastor at Holy Cross Parish, used these funds to help with the most urgent needs, which include paying for rent and food.

   

• Veronika’s Place: Food Distribution

  Veronika’s Place is a food distribution program that supports HIV/AIDS patients in the Dandora Holy Cross Community in Kenya supported by St. Monica Holy Cross Africa Ministry [HCAM].

   

  In partnership with the Los Angeles Marathon, we raise funds to feed over 500 people each month with basic provisions annually. These men, women and children cannot survive their battle with HIV/AIDS even with anti–viral medications, if they do not have nourishing food.

   

  Each year our team of runners and walkers participate in the Los Angeles Marathon 5k, Charity Half, and Full Marathon as team Race 4 Veronika’s Place raising about $40,000.00.  So put on your sneakers to run with us, or support us with a donation.

   

  News & Announcements:

  November 6-7 2021

  We are recruiting walkers & runners or support us with a donation!

  Nov 6 is LA 5k (walk)

  Nov 7 is LA Marathon (Full & Charity Half)

   

• Trip's: The Dandora Experience

  The Trips Committee leads a group of St. Monica Parishioners on an immersive experiential trip to Dandora, Kenya, home of our sister Parish, Holy Cross Catholic Parish Dandora. Travelers have the opportunity to become a part of this amazing, faith-filled community and witness the difference St. Monica's has made in the lives of the people of Dandora. Come and see the school, hospital and church all built with gifts from St. Monica's parish. More importantly come meet, interact with, and find new friends from the Dandora community.

   

  Fr. Bob Dowd (who helped to bring St. Monica's into a relationship with Dandora) wrote:  "Every so often something happens to us that changes the way we see ourselves, others and the world around us. The experiences (from the trip) I have in mind are not necessarily pleasant but they are wakeup calls that lead to deeper insight and ultimately help us to grow in understanding, wisdom, and love."  

   

  The Trips Committee is committed to creating an experience for all to grow in understanding, wisdom and faith, sharing our blessings with the people of Dandora.

   

  News & Announcements

  June 2022

  The Trips Committee meets monthly to discuss and plan for the annual trip to Dandora, Nairobi. We are currently planning a trip for June 2022, at the same time we are assessing the impact of Covid and considering contingency planning. Check back often for more updates.

     

• Medical Support: Brother André Hospital

  The Medical Committee supports initiatives that help bring sustainable, compassionate, quality healthcare to the Dandora area. Formerly Brother André Dispensary and Visitation Maternity, Brother André Hospital provides services for Maternity, Pediatrics, Gynecology, Orthopedic, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Cancer screening, and many other outpatient health care services.

   

  News & Announcements:

  July 2021

  The Brother André Medical Center recently transitioned to a higher level designation and is now officially called Brother André Hospital. 

   

  Brother André Hospital received the 2020 award for Best Faith-Based Organization level 3 Hospital in Nairobi!