2012 REPORT TO THE PARISH

MALAWI SUPPORT GROUP-

November 2012

Hi Everyone,

 

Thank you for your generous support again this year by either buying raffle tickets, attending functions or in making donations. Your generosity makes it possible to continue to support a number of initiatives for your sister parish such as continuing to fund breakfast for the school children and school fees for those who cannot afford them including a number of orphans and in providing scholarships to secondary and higher studies.  Without our help this vital support for those in need would not be possible.   

Our activities again proved popular with a crazy whist night early earlier in followed by the St Kizito celebration, Safeway barbecue and the theatre night. Our raffles continue to be well supported and provide excellent prizes.   

 

Political unrest and violence erupted earlier on in Malawi and not long afterwards following the sudden death of the President from a heart attack a new woman President, Joyce Hilda Banda was installed on 7th April 2012. Banda holds a degree in Education from Columbus University and a diploma in management. She has an outstanding record as a grassroots women's' rights activist. She was previously Foreign Affairs Minister and Vice President from 2009 to April 2012.
She is Malawi’s first female president and by all accounts is now leading the country peacefully in the right direction.

 

This year as a measure to say thank you we printed a number of postcards which were left on the table in the gathering areas. On the front was a picture of the OLHC church at Ntandire and on the back Sr Mary Doonan’s prayer which she composed for the Malawi Support Group which we recite at the end of each meeting. The card was designed to use as a post card but the idea is more by way of sharing in Sir Mary’s prayer by way of thanks to donors. Mary composed the prayer for us whilst serving as a medical missionary in Malawi. There is a stock of cards available for anyone who was away at the time.       

Once again for the celebration of St kizto we ran a CD with accompanying music after delivering a short talk. This was also repeated in more detail for the schoolchildren preparing for communion.

 

This year the Eltham Little Theatre production of “Moonlight & Magnolias” turned out to be one of their best productions and it was a most enjoyable night. The key to getting more people along seems to be to advertise for longer periods in the Bulletin since we experienced a welcome last minute surge.  

Finally I would like to thank the Committee for their hard work during this year and look forward to your continuing support. We welcome any new members to join our small friendly group.   

THE SAFEWAY BARBECUE

The members wish to sincerely thank all the Parishioners who assisted the Group with the “Safeway Sausage Sizzle” last Saturday.  It was a really social event for those who came along and helped out for the 2 hour blocks on the stall.

While the turnover was not as big as the previous events held at Bunnings, it exceeded expectations with a profit of $580.60 made to add to the Group’s funds.

It is hoped we might be able to get a day at Bunnings again next year that would give something in the order of double the profit on a good day. Thank you all again for the continued support.

ST KIZITO FEAST DAY AND COLLECTION

Each year in June we remember Saint Kizito who was one of the Martrys of Uganda.  He was the youngest martyr slain by King Mwanga of Buganda in 1886.   He was beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and  canonised  in 1964 by Pope Paul 6th. His feast day is June 3.

Fr Taylor continues to be very grateful and encouraged by our generous donations which allows him to further the Lord’s work in Malawi. The last time he wrote to us around Easter he spoke about the ‘turmoil’ in Malawi with endless queues for fuel and rising  food prices which was causing unrest and  anger to be directed at the Government. This anger boiled over into uprisings on the streets and following a heavy handed crackdown some demonstrators were killed.

Not long afterwards following the sudden death of the President from a heart attack a new woman President, Joyce Hilda Banda was installed on 7 April 2012 and to date early signs are very good!! Her roots are as an educator as she holds both a degree in Education from Columbus University and a diploma in management. She has an outstanding record as a grassroots women's' rights activist. She was previously Foreign Affairs Minister and Vice President from 2009 to April 2012.
She is Malawi’s first female president.

Prior to politics Banda was founder of the Joyce Banda Foundation, The National Association of Business Women, Young Women Leaders Network and the Hunger Project. She was listed in Forbes Magazine 2011 as the third most powerful woman in Africa. Her smoother than expected transition of power is a relief for both Malawians and neighbouring countries.
Our projects are going very well. We pay school fees for 35 students at secondary level and fund breakfast for 280 school - children. We also fund food and fees for orphans. There is a great deal of malnutrition among the children in the village and reluctance to go to school because they are hungry and with your support, we can provide supplementary food for them. Fr Taylor tells us they are so happy to be going to school. Some do very well, others poorly but all are grateful to have time at school. As a measure to thank our parishioners we have printed a number of postcards which are on the table in the gathering areas. On the front is a picture of the OLHC church at Ntandire and on the back Sr Mary Doonan's prayer which she composed for the Malawi Support Group and we recite at the end of each meeting. The card could possibly be used as a post card but the idea is more a way of sharing in Sr Mary’s prayer by way of thanks to donors. Mary composed the prayer for us whilst serving as a medical missionary in Malawi. Below is a picture of myself giving this talk at Mass on the Sunday.  


Afterwards  we ran  a CD with the latest pictures  from Malawi.We were very pleased with the generous donations from parishioners. 

CHILDREN WE SUPPORT

Our contributions are helping  provide breakfast for the children in 6 Nursery schools catering for over 300 children. We are also supporting education needs for 30 young people going to secondary schools and two for higher studies. Pictures below are of the children and of the celebratory mass for St  Kizito's anniversary which occurs on the 3rd June each
year,