BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING HIGHER

Today, the phrase mission sounds ambivalent. For some, this word resembles paternalism in contrast to meeting other cultures on equal terms. However, the "white missionary" travelling with the Gospel through the Global South to indoctrinate, is nowadays a rarity. In the congregation of the St. Ottilien Missionary Benedictines, the model of mutual support has prevailed since long. Monks from Tanzania support German monasteries; Korean confreres live and work in North American communities. The model of exchange, reciprocity and dialogue has become established.

The mission museum shows quite a few portraits of St. Ottilien missionaries. The collection reflects the older mission history starting from 1887. For this reason, some biographies show the typical "old school missionary".

Father Florian (Franz Joseph) Prinz von Bayern represents a new type of St. Ottilien missionary. On June 22, 2023 was the first anniversary of his premature death with only 64 years. Fr. Florian was one of the last Missionary Benedictines working in an area where Christianity was still a novel thing. His work was dedicated to an ethnic group where education and schooling scarcely took root - the Daasanach herdsmen at Lake Turkana with their nomadic lifestyle.

He searched for ways for a mobile primary school and resulted in founding a nomadic education system. His lifetime achievement lies not only in evangelization but also in a holistic capacity building in the education sector. Today, indigenous instructors teach the Daasanach children in their respective living area.

The exhibition referred to stages of his life to honour the memory of Fr. Florian's lifetime work; from his life's dream to work "far away from big cities as a true missionary", multiple projects in Northern Keya resulted.
 

Pfeil runterBiographical data

1957
Franz Joseph is born at Leutstetten Castle near Starnberg in Upper Bavaria, Germany, on September 21. He spends his childhood and youth at the Rieden family estate. His love for nature and interest for technology combines with his enthusiasm for mission work. He achieves his high career goal in several steps:
- vocational qualification as an educator and kindergarten teacher
- certificate of technical college Weilheim
- theological studies at Heiligenkreuz near Vienna

1982
Franz Joseph enters St. Ottilien Archabbey and, as a novice, is given the name Brother Florian. 

1984
After his first vows, Archabbot Notker Wolf sends Br. Florian to Kenya as a missionary.

1986
On December 21, Br. Florian is ordained priest at St. Ottilien.

1987
Fr. Florian returns to Kenya. Through the years, he takes over a number of different tasks and mission assignments, among others as a youth chaplain in Nairobi's slums and as a parish priest in Kerio Valley.

2003
Fr. Florian founds Illeret mission station St. Peter the Fisherman at Lake Turkana in Northern Kenya and works there for 16 years.

2005
During this time, Fr. Florian is Prior of Tigoni monastery until 2009.

2020
Fr. Florian is taken seriously ill. On 22 June, 2022, he passes away in Nairobi.
 

Pfeil runterFr. Florian in text and photos

Autobiography Because there is something higher: My life in Africa by Florian von Bayern and Christian Weisenborn, Herder publishing house, 2010

Title photo of Missionsblätter St. Ottilien 4-2014: Fr. Florian with young people from Illeret

Large-formatted printed plate: Fr. Florian at Holy Mass

Objects of Daasanach culture

The objects displayed in the special exhibition were acquired and given to the Mission Museum by Fr. Florian; they are the only objects from this area in our inventory.

"The Daasanach live in the dry zone in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia, which is difficult to access. […] the traditional way of life of mobile pastoralism is sustainable, as the sensitive ecosystem is supported by the change of pastures and mobile pastoralists can react more flexibly with their pasture routes in times of drought and lack of rain than, for example, settled farmers. The goats, sheep, cattle, donkeys and dromedaries supply milk, meat and fur to the Daasanach family groups of different sizes and are suitable as draught and pack animals on the permanent search for suitable grazing grounds and water points. Arable farming is out of the question for the Daasanach in northern Kenya due to the soil conditions, heat, lack of rain, the alkaline Turkana Lake and deep groundwater.” (source: https://en.illeret.org/daasanach-nomads/)
 

Pfeil runterCamel bell

Wooden bells are tied to the animal's necks.

Pfeil runterStool and headrest

On the move, the Daasanach herdsmen sit on a low stool and put their heads on a headrest to prevent contact with the ground or vegetation and bugs.

Pfeil runterSkirt

The traditional dress of the Daasanach is a leather skirt or loincloth around the hips. 

INES educational materials

Especially dear to Fr. Florian's heart was the contact with children and youngsters. For the youngest generation of the Daasanach people he founded a mobile schooling system, Illeret Nomadic Education System (INES). School here does not mean a fixed place for lessons; teams of teachers follow the nomadic extended families. In this primary school "on the road" the students go through a flexible curriculum of course units, so-called "ladders of learning". 
 

Pfeil runterThe Ladders of Learning

Besides basic skills as reading, writing and arithmetic the system also contains course units of Kenya's curriculum like hygiene and nutrition counselling or peacekeeping. 

"To provide area-wide basic education, INES conceptualizes a school system which is mobile and activity-oriented. The learners – not the teachers – organise their learning process with the help of so-called ladders of learning. They learn material-based, individually in heterogeneous learning groups." (source: https://www.illeret.org/mgml-methodology/

Acquisitions of St. Ottilien's Kenya missionaries from the Turkana and Marakwet districts 

The Marakwet and Turkana people live at Lake Turkana near Illeret monastery. They are mainly traditional pastoralists.
 

Pfeil runterLoincloth

Loincloth of an unmarried Turkana woman.
Beads, leather.

Pfeil runterNecklace

Marakwet.
To ensure the round form of the necklace, the beads are threaded on wire.
Beads, wire. 

Pfeil runterArm decoration

Turkana.
The beads are stitched on thick leather.
Beads, wire, leather.

Pfeil runterMilk vessel

Turkana.
Camel leather, plug made of wood.

Pfeil runterTobacco vessels

"The Marakwet value tobacco, either as snuff or as chewing tobacco, which is mixed with salt from Lake Turkana. They cultivate both species themselves. The vessels are crafted and used by men." (H. Kiefer, St. Ottilien Mission Museum, 2014)
Marakwet.
Horn, leather, metal work.