‘I’m Not Doing Again;’ Italian Catholic Priest Resigns to Marry Kenyan Woman

▪️Alter To Aisle: Intriguing tale of 12 year missionary journey in Kenya that made Father Sandro Ferretto say ‘I do’ to marriage and ‘I am done’ to Celibacy

Baringo, Kenya — In a village where he once blessed marriages, an Italian Catholic priest has now held his own. Father Sandro Ferretto, 55, has resigned from the priesthood and married Sharon Jepng’ok, a Tugen woman from Baringo South.

The traditional wedding ceremony took place on September 6 at Seretion village in Kasiela — the very community where Ferretto had served for years as parish priest. Elders, family and neighbors gathered to witness a union that has become the talk of the Rift Valley.

Ferretto was born in Italy but spent the last 12 years of his life in service in Baringo County. During that time he became fluent in local customs, learned the language, and built deep ties with the communities he served across the diocese.

According to The Kenyan Times, the decision to leave the priesthood was not made overnight. After more than a decade living among the Tugen people, Ferretto formed a close relationship with Jepng’ok, which eventually led to marriage.

In the Catholic Church, priests take a vow of celibacy. To marry, a priest must formally request laicization — a process that releases him from clerical duties. Church sources confirm Ferretto has stepped down from active ministry to pursue family life.

The wedding in Seretion was conducted according to Tugen traditional rites. Dressed in cultural attire, the couple was blessed by elders in a ceremony that merged Italian roots with Kenyan heritage. For many in Kasiela, it was a moment of pride that “their priest” chose to stay and build a home among them.

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Locals describe Ferretto as more than a clergyman. Over 12 years he worked on community projects, education initiatives, and pastoral care in some of Baringo’s most remote areas. That history is why many residents received the news with understanding rather than shock.

Sharon Jepng’ok, from Baringo South, is widely known in the community. Friends say the couple’s relationship grew from shared work in church and community programs. Their marriage now symbolizes a bridge between two cultures — Italy and the Tugen nation.

The Catholic Church has seen similar cases globally where missionary priests who spend decades in Africa choose to remain after leaving ministry. Canon law allows for laicization, though priests cannot return to sacramental duties after marriage.

For Ferretto, the journey comes full circle. From saying Mass in Seretion to dancing at his own traditional wedding in the same village, he has chosen a new calling: husband. “After 12 years of service, he decided to stay,” one elder said. “Now he serves his family, and we welcome him still as one of us.”

NOP NIGERIA