by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
Outpatient Clinical Service
EDARP (Eastern Deanery) plans to open an inexpensive Outpatient Clinical Service. One of their core targeted patient groups is their own patients taking anti-retroviral drugs (ARV). Long-term taking of ARV’s cause side effects. At present, the Deanery has 28,537 patients receiving ARV. Out of this number 4,139, or 14.5%, have developed other illnesses because of the toxicity of the ARV. The primary illnesses are diabetes and hypertension. The number of people with these illnesses continues to increase. The clinic will also expand the HIV Positive women screening for cervical cancer. Besides caring for their own HIV patients, this clinic will offer these services to the broader community which are poor or very low income. By providing quality and affordable outpatient services, the clinic reflects the Eastern Deanery’s commitment to providing holistic and accessible healthcare solutions, by extending their reach, and continually evolving to meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve.
“And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
– Matthew 25:40
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
Swahili Literature, Theological and Secular
Although number of Swahili speakers varies widely (between 60 million and 150 million), its importance as the national language of Tanzania, and one of the two official languages of Kenya, would be difficult to overestimate. Nevertheless, the present state of Swahili literature is stagnant, if not in actual decline. The majority of theological works are translations from English, despite the efforts of rather well known writers such as Fr. Titus Amigu. Fr. John Waldrep wants to assist writers in Tanzania who want to publish in Swahili. With your gift, there will be a wider selection of books available to the Swahili-speaking reading community on theological and spiritual subjects.
“He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read”
– Luke 4:16
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
Fr John’s well project is for the drilling and equipping of a well at St. Michael Musingini Outstation, St. John the Baptist Parish, Diocese of Wote. The area is semi-arid savannah. Most of the population are small farmers. Access to clean water is a constant problem. People rely on the small streams, ponds, and shallow wells for water. In addition, for the last decade the government of Kenya has carried out Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations in the area to protect and rebuild livelihood in this arid and semi-arid area. As part of these projects, the government has constructed water pans for human and livestock consumption. The local need for water far surpasses the government’s efforts. In Kenya, the Musingini outstation area has over 1,000 households with family size averaging at six members. About 40% of the population is age 18 and under. The well will be built on outstation land, which is owned by the local parish. The outstation area has one primary school and one dispensary. The project will supply clean water to the local population, including the school and dispensary.
“For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
– Revelation 7:17
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
Construction of Boys’ Dormitory for St. Joseph Secondary School, Gidel, Nuba Mountains
Gidel, Nuba Mountains, Africa
Fr. Dinh wants to provide a decent and safe accommodation for boys. Having a good dormitory will enhance their learning as they will be able to sleep well as security and space will be improved. In addition, teachers will be able to ensure class absences are minimized leading to a higher quality of education. For young people to take seriously their studies, the supervision of either parents of teachers is essential. Therefore, since their parents are far away, the construction of a school dormitory will enable teachers to follow them more closely. For young people to take seriously their studies, the supervision of either parents of teachers is essential. Therefore, since their parents are far away, the construction of a school dormitory will ensure children attend classes.
“Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.”
– 1 Timothy 4:12
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
Building of a Formation House
Along with his mission work with the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, Brother Loren Beaudry is now raising funds to assist the Miringa Brothers to build a formation house in Mwanza Archdiocese. The House of Formation gives seminarians a place to live and become acquainted with the four pillars of priestly formation — human, spiritual, pastoral and intellectual — as they seek the will of God for their lives.
“Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others,”
– Colossians 3:23
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
Construction of Nursery and Primary School in Ikinu Village
Aside from it being unsafe to walk alone, the public school is not within walking distance for the children so the Sisters began the school with the plan to respond to the need of the poor and working class people that can’t afford to send their children to private school. The group of Collegine Sisters of the Holy Family in Ikinu, Kiambu, Nairobi – Kenya, are building a Nursery and Primary School in a poor village north of Nairobi. The original school was built in 2019 with the nursery and primary school. There are three classrooms that were built with timber and no longer large enough for about a hundred children. During the meals, they sit outside under trees, with no tables or chairs. During the rainy season, these children must gather inside the church building during the lunch time. The Sisters are requesting funding for construction of the six classrooms, two offices, two dining rooms, one kitchen, 250 tables and 500 chairs. Aside from it being unsafe to walk alone, the public school is not within walking distance for the children so the Sisters began the school with the plan to respond to the need of the poor and working class people that can’t afford to send their children to private school.
“but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
– Matthew 19:14
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
Fr. Ed Schoellmann plans to complete the construction of five outstations in Bukundi parish in Tanzania. Fr. John Eybel began the renovation of six (6) buildings at the Makoko Language School compound. These buildings, constructed by Maryknollers beginning in 1968, had been underused or idle for a number of years and nearly complete in the renovation of a pastoral formation center there. The asbestos roof and the small rooms of the main building, and the deterioration of three residences and two large store and office facilities required work in order to make them useful. Your gift will help complete the transformation of a 50 year old Maryknoll building into a pastoral formation center.
“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,* and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”
– Matthew 16:18
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
Ministry to the Elderly, the Infirm and Faith Formation
Fr. John’s project is two-fold. Ministry to the elderly and infirm by participation in outreach at Bugando Hospital or other Hospitals in Mwanza. He plans to provide pastoral accompaniment, as well as develop a pastoral outreach to individuals with special needs in the parish. And, most importantly, by giving regular and individualized attention to the elderly and infirm of the parish.
The second part of this project is mission formation. Fr. John will conduct intra-parish, inter-parish, and intra-diocese mission immersion exchanges/trips that attend to human and ecological concerns in Mabatini and in the vicinity of the parish, mission immersion exercises with parish youth and/or school-going youths and baptized adults in the parish, and finally, thematic retreats for specific parish groupings, for example, the youth, members of the Sacred Heart, men, women, and the charismatic group.
You gift will help to strengthen a sense of responsibility in responding to our baptismal call to serve God through service to neighbor.
“Even to your old age I am he, even when your hair is gray I will carry you; I have done this, and I will lift you up, I will carry you to safety.”
– Isaiah 46:4
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
There is increased need of involvement of the lay people in evangelization. Catechists have proved to be very useful and able to evangelize. However, there is need for them to acquire formal training on how to catechize effectively through formal training. With your support, Fr. Hung Dinh’s project will be a success after the catechists complete their training, and begin to teach and serve the people of God.
“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.”
– Proverbs 22:6
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 14, 2024
Training of Catechists in Bukundi, Tanzania
There is increased need of involvement of the lay people in evangelization. Catechists have proved to be very useful and able to evangelize. However, there is need for them to acquire formal training on how to catechize effectively. Fr. Ed Schoellmann plans to provide the training necessary to provide a solid foundation of knowledge of the faith they teach. Your gift will enable the growth and response of the Catechist himself by the spirituality exhibited by the community he serves.
“One who is being instructed in the word should share all good things with his instructor.”
– Galatians 6:6
