St. Pantaleon Parish is situated on the grounds overlooking the Siaya-Nyadorera Highway within Siaya Township. Established as a center in 2003 under Fr. Richard Odhiambo, Holy Mass was often celebrated beneath a mango tree that still stands today. Fr. Uwe joined Fr. Richard Odhiambo at Holy Cross and linked up with Deacon Ries from his home church, St. Pantaleon Badorf, Germany; hence the name St. Pantaleon. On the 5th of May, 2013, St. Pantaleon was declared a parish by Emeritus Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth during the Aluor Centenary Celebrations. The parish was carved out of Holy Cross Parish under Fr. Paul Ogola. Initially, St. Pantaleon had eight sub-parishes derived from Holy Cross and Mbaga parishes. Currently, it comprises 10 sub-parishes: Anduro, Bar Olengo, Malanga, Nyandiwa, Nyang’anga, Nyalula, Ting’wang’i, Town, Upanda, Usenge, and Prisons Community.

The population of registered Christians, based on data from Family Day 2018 stands at approximately 2,600, captured under 84 small Christian communities. To bring more Christians on board, networks and links have been established with sons and daughters in the diaspora. The land where the church stands was acquired through the collaboration of Christians led by Fr. Richard Odhiambo and the Siaya Municipal Council under former Mayor Mr. Nicholas Oluoch Lwanda. The funds used to lay the foundation of the church were donated by St. Pantaleon Badorf during a visit by Emeritus Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth in 1999. Consequently, the church building was blessed by Emeritus Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth on the 29th of July, 2006. The land occupied by the priest’s house was purchased through the efforts of Christians of Town sub-parish in 2005.

Growth

The ECD center land was acquired through the collaboration of Christians led by Fr. Richard Odhiambo and the Siaya Municipal Council. The then mayor was Hon. James Obiero Otare. Due to the demand for spiritual nourishment, there was a need for the construction of the priest’s house. This was facilitated through the efforts of Christians led by Fr. Vincent Ouma and continued by Fr. Paul Ogolla, who nurtured the newly created St. Pantaleon Parish until 2015 when Fr. Thomas Ouma was posted as Father in Charge. The final finishes to the house were overseen by Fr. Thomas Ouma, who also initiated a green environment by planting trees. In July 2017, Fr. Norbert Ogonya took over from Fr. Thomas as Father in Charge. He then combined efforts with Christians to establish an ECD center with two classrooms already built, a modern two-storey building with space for offices, accommodation, and boardroom facilities.

To enhance the spiritual nourishment of Christians, a Marian shrine and adoration chapel was built. Recently, the church has proved to be too small to accommodate the growing number of Christians, and so the need to expand the church to meet spiritual growth. St. Pantaleon Church celebrates morning Masses from Mondays to Fridays at 6:30 AM and on Sundays, there are two Masses. The first at 7:00 AM and the second at 9:00 AM, along with at least one Mass at any of the outstations. Additionally, we visit Catholic-sponsored schools (secondary and primary) together with the prison community and KMTC. Office days are scheduled on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:00 AM, and infant baptism takes place on the first Saturday of the month.