ROMAN Catholic Archbishop of Mombassa, Kenya, Reverend John Njenga, on Wednesday began an official six-day visit to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Montego Bay.

The visit forms the first leg of a reciprocal tour that will see Bishop of Montego Bay, Reverend Charles Dufour visiting Mombassa next year.

While in the island, Archbishop Njenga will tour several parishes in western Jamaica and along the north coast. He celebrated mass on June 13 at the Holy Name Catholic Church in Bamboo, St Ann and will do the same at the St Ignatius Catholic Church in the Brown’s Town section of the parish on Sunday.

The visiting Archbishop will also meet with several Roman Catholic church leaders, and attend a number of social functions that will be staged in his honour.

Two priests from Mombassa are currently serving in the Montego Bay diocese and Bishop Dufour said these bilateral trips will “strengthen a string bond of friendship” between both dioceses.

Bishop Dufour, who initiated the exchange visits, and Archbishop Njenga have been close friends for many years.

Archbishop Njenga served as bishop in his native Mombassa before being appointed archbishop.