Hi Everyone,
This year due to
continuing excellent results inclusive of one very sizable donations we may be able
to again remit a creditable amount to Fr Taylor, but that is dependent upon the results of the
Christmas raffle. Raffles have
continued to contribute significantly to our fund raising despite smaller
attendances at Masses.
We did not
undertake the Woolworths Barbecue but I think it will be a good idea to aim at
mustering sufficient support early on to make this a reality for next year.
Your sister parish
continues to flourish notwithstanding continuing hardships and this year the Archbishop celebrated St. Kizito Day and Pentecost, with Confirmations
for about180 young people and adults. It is a sobering statistic that, according to the World Bank in 2016 the gross
national income per capita was only US$320 for Malawi and their currency
continues to depreciate. However in the communities we support great progress
continues and the very exciting news for this year was a Health
Clinic is now operational alongside the church we helped fund at Ntandire.
Although Ntandire is regarded as a shantytown is has shown a remarkable resilience.
Since establishing their own church from
2009, a rental property to generate funds for the needy, a nursery school,
vegetable gardens and more recently additions to the primary school have been
completed.
The clinic is managed by the MEDICAL MISSIONARIES OF MARY (MMM) and
according to Fr Taylor it is running very well and the people are overjoyed
with the services. A small fee is charged to help pay the salaries and provide
the drugs but Fr Taylor informs us he expects the Government will soon provide
the salaries. Alongside the Church is the school and 3 classrooms were added
this year to ensure it is a fully-fledged primary school to year 8. Fr Taylor also
tells us your funding for the scholarships makes a huge impact and frees him from
the worry of having to turn students away from getting a good education.
The students we support come from many different schools; 10 orphans
from each of our 2 schools St. Bakhita and St. Michaels, one from the Catholic University, one from St
Paul’s Minor Seminary, three from Mua school of the deaf, two from Lilongwe
technical college, one from medical school, three from Njewa secondary school,
three from Mkwichi secondary school and various other assistances.
We had suggested this year to Fr Taylor we would be interested in
supporting a Solar Lamps Project and he has indicated he thinks the project is
viable but will require further preparation before he can launch it. We can
follow up on this possibility next year.
This year he also undertook a major building project in order to secure
the future financial stability of the parish. He completed 2 small apartments
for rent at St Kizito as well as renovating the parish house where he resides.
Thanks once again to everyone for
your kind support which enables the great work of Fr Taylor to continue as you
can readily ascertain.
We were pleased to welcome a new
member into the group in November.
Currently the Australian
Dollar converts at the rate of 1 Australian dollar to 556 Malawian Kwacha so
our contribution continues to go a long way.
