5 minute read
Walk and Work’ – by Fr. Fons Eppink
The meal they receive at school consists of a mixture of maize and beans, and for many of them this is the only meal they have during the day. The food programme is an essential part of school life; by turning up for school, each child is fed and educated. During the first 1 st and 3 rd terms, when it is harvest time, the families that have a good harvest contribute maize and beans to the school and this is sufficient to provide the meal. It is in the second term when maize and beans are very scarce that we rely on the funds that are generously sent to us from Ireland.”
‘A success story indeed’
Advertisement
Sister Lily, of our congregation ‘The Franciscan Missionaries of St. Joseph’, looks after the funds and arranges the purchase of bags of maize and beans, at a cost of around 2000 Euros a year. She also pays the lady who cooks the food. With the number of pupils increasing from 300 fifteen years ago to 940 at present, the cost of providing the food has greatly increased. Over the years, a substantial amount of money came from fund raising activities at Dripsey National School, County Cork. While the amount being raised now is less than previously, Dripsey School still contributes some money. Much of the money for the food programme now comes from donations received by the Mill Hill Missionaries and donations from the family and friends of Fr. Jim O’Connell. St. Lily fmsj with Penina who cooks the lunch
Sister Lily fmsj (on the right) at the school
A Mill Hill priest who visited Ebukuya School said “The food programme is a success story indeed! On my visit, I encountered a high energy level and renewed vigour among pupils and staff. Indeed a significant conversion and transformation from the early days. All of this is evident in new and renovated classrooms and much improved performance in examinations. The food programme is a central part of school life. It is not surprising that the School is attracting more and more pupils; this accounts for the huge increase in the numbers in the school and in the food programme. The funds for the food programme are being used to great effect. I found my visit to the school most encouraging.” 18 Autumn 2020 When I visited the School in November 2019, it was holiday time, but there was a teacher on duty and he confirmed what the School Principal and the Mill Hill priest had said earlier. He told me “The food programme is great as most of the families are very poor and have little food at home. The performance of the children in the school has improved. This means the school is performing well in the state exams and is now one of the leading primary schools in the Province.”
Maize and beans for lunch
During my visit, I also met the cook, Penina, who is a widow with 6 children. The money she gets for cooking the food is helping her to look after her children. Her eldest girl has just finished primary school and done well, but Penina is worried about how she will pay the secondary school fees. I promised to help find money to pay the fees. I am convinced that the food programme is ‘a success story indeed’ – as mentioned above.
Mill Hill Mission News in Brief
Mill Hill priest, Fr. Stan Bondoko, mhm, with two Religous Sisters in DR Congo
Mill Hill Mission to the Maasai people, Ngong Diocese, Kenya
Taking off after Mass at St. Jude’s, Douala In recent years, the Mill Hill Missionaries have been exploring possibilities to expand our current mission areas. Here are some of the new initiatives in Africa.
In Uganda, we have taken on a mission in Busaana parish in the diocese of Lugazi. This new parish was previously part of a vast parish in the central region of Uganda. The new mission covers an extensive isolated area with 17 mission stations in an area of great need. The parish was opened in May 2019, and two of our young missionaries, Fr. Fred Yangnyi and Fr. Kevin Barasa, have taken up their appointments there.
In Kenya, we have made a return to Ngong diocese and have taken on a new mission that is being split off from Lemek parish. The Maasai people live in that area and the parish that we have been assigned borders on the Maasai Mara Game Park. The appearance of wandering elephants is a common occurrence! Two young members, Fr. David Masiga and Fr. William Epiti, have been appointed there.
In Cameroon, we have taken on a new mission in the Archdiocese of Douala. The mission, named St. Jude, is located on the outskirts of Douala city. Two of our young members, Fr. Innocent Akum and Fr. Placide Botondobi, have been appointed to the parish and began ministry in the Archdiocese in July 2018.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we recently moved into the Archdiocese of Kinshasa. Two of our members, Fr. Otto Bambokela and Fr. Marius Tapang, are already working in a parish on the periphery of Kinshasa. We also anticipate the possibility of one day reopening the society’s formation program in the Congo, this time in Kinshasa.
The task now is to consolidate and deepen the ministry in these new areas. Thanks to all of you for your ongoing prayers and support which has made it possible for the Mill Hill Missionaries to undertake these and other new evangelising initiatives.
Mission Today and Tomorrow - Together
“In line with the charism of our Founder, Cardinal Vaughan, the Mill Hill Missionaries go where the need is greatest, to those abandoned or forgotten, in areas where few others would dare to live. By listening to what the Spirit says to us today, and by our openness to the questions and concerns of our fellow men and women, we will be able to discover the wellsprings of renewed strength, make courageous decisions and explore creative expressions of the mission that we have received.
My visits to our Mill Hill Missionaries in Africa and Asia clearly show that we are doing this as we continue to undertake ‘new beginnings’ in many places. I pray that we will all continue to renew our missionary commitment to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all peoples.” (Fr. Michael Corcoran, Mill Hill General Superior)
