MALAWI UPDATE

As Christmas approaches our latest initiative is Malawi' cards, some with a Christmas message and others left blank so they could be used for a variety of other occasions. Put them on your list for Christmas mail and birthdays.

Thank you for your support at the Christmas stall and raffle which raised just over $1,000 .The raffle had special significance in that the first prize was a beautiful but simple table cloth and place mats, embroidered by a St Kizito parishioner so that this year we shared with them in our fundraising activities.

Thanks for your support, either in donations, wonderful prizes donated or in supporting our activities in so many different ways. Many thanks to all of our committee members who worked so effectively together in making the year such a successful one.

The group this year expanded our communications network, introduced new initiatives such as the Jewellery Night and Christmas Cards whilst maintaining our traditional activities comprising of our Trivia night, Eltham Little Theatre and raffles. It all contributed very well and helped your parish enjoy a special fellowship whilst raising funds.

Below is a recent e mail from Fr Patrick

To everyone there. I want to say thank you for all your prayers and support in the past year and to wish each one of you and your families the blessings of Christmas (Emmanuel) now and through out 2006.

I had hoped to send you some photos of the food distribution which is up and running but was unwell for a while but will look into it soon, I hope. The second distribution took place today for Christmas and in the spirit of giving to those in need you are very much part of today's event and others through out the year and to come.

God Bless,

Fr. Patrick McCallionThank you and wishing you a very happy and holy Christmas

NEWS FROM SR MARY DOONAN

Dear Lindsay & Friends
Once again we start to prepare for Christmas – although hard to believe as an Irish person in the midst of such heat. Christmas is always a time of hope and also a time to reflect back on the past year and thank God for His many blessings.

I just got back from Home leave in Ireland at end of October, - already it feels like I have never been away. You are possibly hearing on the news that Malawi is one of the countries hit with food shortage yet again. The South and along the lakeshore are worst affected. Although thankfully we are not among the parts worst hit we still have many vulnerable families needing assistance with food, seed and fertilizer. We have just completed helping the women to purchase fertilizer and seed – there is a voucher system for cheaper fertilizer arranged by the Government but still the really poor cannot find adequate cash to buy the seed and fertilizer, they needed further help. The women are busy working in their gardens these days and we are all busy praying for good rains and a good harvest. We have also bought maize, beans, cooking oil and salt which we have stored at the Parish to help poor families over Christmas.

At the end of October our Women’s Groups participated in The International Women’s Fair here in Lilongwe where they did manage to sell some of their handcrafts. Whilst they were happy with what they sold and their experience of the sale they realised just how difficult it is to sell crafts. Whilst the women enjoy and are excellent at their craft work and love to learn more they also need to make some money. So now I am encouraging all my expatriate friends to buy their Christmas gifts from the women!

The various Women’s Groups again produced some beautiful warm sweaters for the orphans in the villages and Township – this seems to have become an annual event alongside distribution of blankets for the Cold Season.

We have recommenced our mosquito net scheme – we can get subsidised mosquito nets, Mk80 each, from the District Health Office- some women sell them at MK100, which is affordable and make a little profit and it means most families have nets and we see a lot less malaria. The women are very happy these days as we now commence our TB Programme with Government in the Township. This means people who are coughing no longer have to walk miles to the hospital for testing or treatment – instead samples for testing will be taken and if positive for TB medication will be provided free of charge to them in the Township. TB is rampant in the Township so we hope this programme will encourage more to come forward for testing and treatment and so cut back on the amount of TB in the community .The numbers of orphans in the community continues to increase as more parents become ill and die with AIDS. It is our hope that The TB Programme which will work hand in hand with our HIV\AIDS Programme will encourage more adults to go for HIV testing and counselling and avail of the ARV medication which is available. This should facilitate people with HIV to live longer and with a better quality of life – and what a difference that should make to their children too.

We also continue to provide a support group and basic counselling services for the women – our hope in time is that they in turn will gain enough confidence and skills to start talking with the orphans and indeed their own children re HIV\AIDS and death- but this will take time as it is counter cultural.

They are but some of the happenings in the villages and township – the daily joys and struggles the women and their families face. I hope they will give you a little picture of how you in partnership with us have helped the women and their families. Thank you again for being our partners in Christ’s healing mission here in Malawi.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and we will remember you and your intentions too. Again, we wish you a happy Christmas and peace and joy in the New Year.

Sr. Mary

From our MMM Women’s Group’s and Sister Mary Doonan MMM

NEWS FROM FR PATRICK IN MALAWI

Just a quick e-mail to say you were very much in our prayers today as we started out distribution of Maize seed and fertilizer. I took a few photos to finish off a roll and should have them developed tomorrow or the next day and will see if anything to scan. 100 families received 50kg fertilizer and 5kg maize seed today. On Wed 150 families will receive Maize, ground nuts and beans all full of protein to help during this time. The maize is very scarce but I have my contacts from 2002 period and are will to sell me maize, however the price is double the normal price. We hope to continue with these 150 families until end of March. Each month they will receive the distribution to help them to harvest time. I am sure at some stage I will be asking you to send more funds, but for the moment with your donation and other funds available to me we can manage for this distribution and the next which will be before Christmas, then I will let you know.

Confirmations went off well at Mtsiriza on Saturday. It was the first time they had confirmation at their center and so were very happy. Normally it is combined with the confirmations here at the parish center. On Sunday we will have the confirmations here at St. Kizito. I hope also to have some photos to send you of both once I get them off the ones taking photos.

I really have to congratulate you on the beautiful cards you created and are sending. Really they are perfect and I would have loved a few myself to send, maybe next time.

Well this was to be a quick note, believe me I am exhausted these days. I should say also that rains did arrive last week and it has helped cool the air down a bit. Please keep us in your prayers that we get good rains this year. It is very late and again anxious times since it is a week already since the heavy rain. This time is always an anxious time for everyone.

God bless and continue you good works,

Sincerely,
Fr. Patrick

HUNGER SPREADS TO LILONGE

The position in Malawi is becoming desperate in many parts of the country and we recently sent funds for immediate food relief.

Father Patrick at the time of writing is buying in maize and beans in preparation of food distribution. He advised us that in Lilongwe itself as well as in the central region and northern regions effects of hunger are beginning to be felt from the shortage of maize. The southern part of Malawi has been affected for some time. Any of the funds we send go into a fund for people in need and he has advised that he will do his best to reach those most in need.

Since returning from Ireland he has been helping a local sister with funds to feed children in the under 5 clinic she is running in the southern region.

He conveys his thanks to the people of Our Lady Help of Christians and mentions that "Without your support and assistance, people like myself could not do what we do, so credit to you all and may you experience the blessing of the Lord as your reward."

We have sent our Christmas cards to Fr Patrick with our messages of goodwill to provide encouragement and support for the challenges ahead.

OLHC -SCHOOL RAISES $800 FOR MALAWI

Malawi Members Natalie Duncan and Emma Tulloch made a comprehensive joint presentation to Our Lady Help of Christians School about our sister parish St Kizito. Emma would like to facilitate a dialogue between the respective schools to establish pen pals. Teachers at OLHC are keen to establish a link with Teachers at St Kizito, beginning with one class.

The support group was thrilled to learn that $800 had been donated by the school children and parents. The picture shows Natalie and Emma receiving the cheque on behalf of the Malawi Support Group.

JEWELLERY PRESENATION NIGHT RAISES FUNDS FOR MALAWI

Hosts from left Mike and Wendy Wilson at the Jewellery presentation night at their gallery in Eltham.

JEWELLERY PRESENTATION EVENING

Malawi member Michael Slade with his wife Debra and daughter Melissa at the Jewellery presentation evening.

WOVEN TABLE CLOTH FROM MALAWI

Members of the Malawi Support Group were delighted to receive a beautifully woven table cloth, place mats and rosary beads recently via Fr Patrick from Malawi. The cloth was made by the womens group at Mtsiriza and we will be raffling it later in the year. All of the members were excited to receive the cloth as you can see from all of the smiling faces. The rosary beads made by the Aids Support group are lovely and will be purchased by our parishioners.  

ST KIZITO CHORISTERS

  

KNITWEAR FOR SALE

Una Cardwell at the St Kizito Feast day with knitwear for sale .
 

THE MALAWI DISPLAY BOARD

St Kizito Feast Day  Display Board prepared by Una Cardwell including the story of 'Rainbow Worm.'
 

DRAWINGS BY OLHC SCHOOLCHILDREN OF "RAINBOW WORM"

Drawings by the Junior School of the Story of 'Rainbow Worm' displayed at OLHC.    
 

ST KiZITO FEAST DAY

Support Members Barbara & Bernie Murray St Kizito Feast day 4th June 2005(hosted a cup of tea for the parishioners) shown with Ray Azzopardi  

SALES AT THE FEAST DAY

Una Cardwell, who organised the stall and display at the St Kizito Feast Day.  

SR MARY MAKING A RECORDING WITH ORPHANS

Sr.Mary making a recording with orphans in Chilotha Village which is part of the parish of St Kizito  

ON AIR

Radio Alinafe interview - for the catholic radio station. Attendees of the Mt Siriza cooperation workshop were interviewed.  

ORPHANS WITH NEW SWEATERS

Orphans with new sweaters knitted by a woman's group Mt Siriza, with wool donated from St Kizito Christians.  

LEARNING NEW SKILLS

Young Girls learning to knit  

WOMEN VENDORS

  

LEARNING NEW SKILLS

TRAINING ORPHANS

The handover of craft materials at Mt Siriza. Diocesan Home based care donated several sewing machines and materials for tin smith and carpentary to help with training orphans.  

STEPPING STONES

St Kizito Parish Priest Fr Patrick McCallion. During the Stepping Stones workshop (family life & HIV/AIDS awareness & prevention)  

FARMING

Farming Efforts. May Ponsiyani and Sr Mary in Mt Siriza with maize for the sick and poor. Each family that got free maize seed and fertilizer donated a bag of maise at harvest time.  

ENGLISH LEARNING CLASS

 

RAINBOW WORM- A children's story by Lindsay Byrnes

I am indebted to Trish Taylor, from the Malawi Support Group, whose editing helped to make it a suitable story for the schoolchildren of Eltham.

Rainbow Worm was once deep in the earth; a special Worm, longing for freedom, different to all of the other worms digging in the soil. Rainbow Worm was storing up great energy and courage to emerge from his darkness, into the light outside. When he emerged, the sun was bright, and burned colours into his delicate skin, but he was strong and courageous and endured his discomfort for it was not to last for long. Soon came the soothing rain. It increased his strength; giving forth such great energy it caused an almighty wind to sweep Rainbow Worm up into the sky.
We recognise this today as the rainbow!.

Rainbow Worm wanted to help. He viewed the Earth from his wondrous sky place and saw a very poor but hardworking community in the African country of Malawi. He decided that this is where he could help. He realised it was one of the poorest countries on the planet, but he also saw that the people had generous and warm hearts. This is why Malawi is known as the “Warm Heart of Africa”. "How can I help?” thought Rainbow Worm.
From his wondrous place in the sky he noticed a group of school children in Eltham on the vast continent of Australia. He decided to take them on a journey to Malawi. All he needed to do was to tap on the classroom window and they found themselves crossing the wide oceans from Australia to Africa on the back of Rainbow Worm.

On landing they spotted a group of people cooking up a great feast. They learned that it was a feast where all are welcomed; a feast to remember and celebrate the lives of St Kizito, a thirteen-year-old- boy, and his friends, who died because they dared to believe in the Christian God. They were welcomed into the celebration. There in the midst of the people was an old woman, her face wrinkled, but compassionate, her body bent, her character straight and true, her person small but mighty in spirit. She stood surrounded in a golden aura.

"I am your dear "Sister of Compassion ". I have been here for 25 years now so it is my home. I came here to work with these people, especially those who are suffering so much with the AIDS virus. Before I came I worked in the capital city, Lilongwe, in the hospitals as a medical missionary. But I was asked to come here to help for the suffering is great. Many things need to be done. We need help for special classes to teach families to be healthy and to improve their diets. We need help to develop language skills and to encourage sporting activities. I am trying to organise concerts around the world to raise money to help these people." Rainbow Worm and the children listened to their dear Sister of Compassion.

It was time to leave. Sadly there was no time to stay and enjoy the feast. “Never mind," said Rainbow Worm, “We have much to keep in our minds and hearts, much to pray about". It was late so their thoughts returned to home where morning was breaking. They told the amazing story to their parents. Many people in Eltham came to hear about the story. Some formed a group that came to be called the "Malawi Support Group." This group worked hard to raise funds for Malawi and the good people of Our Lady Help of Christians in Eltham continue to do this to this very day. An act of love for the people of Malawi from the people of Eltham on that great Australian continent.

MOTHER AND CHILD

Mother and Child 

PEDALLING FOR MALAWI by Trish Taylor

It was my first year of retirement and I was looking for a challenge. When a friend suggested the Great Victoria Bike Ride I immediately dismissed it. However the idea played on my mind and before long I was committed. The thought of using it to raise money for our Malawi parish was, in all honesty, an after thought. I put out a feeler via the internet, emailing friends and family, explaining our connection with Malawi and suggesting that anything from one cent a kilometre, [keeping in mind the ride was almost 600 k] would be gratefully accepted. The response was wonderful and before long I had $1020.00 of sponsorship. Until now it had not occurred to me to do my own fund- raising but we are all part of our sister parish, St Kizito’s, and therefore I guess any one of us can come up with an idea to help. It made the entire experience so worthwhile and I am delighted to have achieved both the ride and the funds.


Above image: Trish Taylor refreshing and re-energising on watermelon