It's Time To Order Your Palm for Palm Sunday! SHOP NOW
Serving the Faithful Since 1960
Catholic Supply of St. Louis, Inc. is happy to offer fair trade products from Kenya. By purchasing these items, you support a cooperative that works to maximize income for its members and eradicate poverty in their communities. Your purchase provides artisans a fair wage and life-changing community programs.
Surrounding the city of Kisii in western Kenya are vast deposits of soapstone. The art of carving soapstone began there in the late 20th century and is commonly passed down from parent to child. Local artisans mine from several quarries known today for both the quality of the stone and the skill of its 150 carvers—despite a lack of sophisticated drilling or hauling equipment, electrical saws, lathes, grinders, or sanders. Everything is done by hand, with intricate details achieved from hand-drawn designs, chisels, small picks, and wood tools.