Mothers Day raffle

The Mother’s Day raffle drawn on Sunday 1st May was a huge success with $524 raised through the ticket sales and some very generous donations.

 

CRAZY WHIST NIGHT

Thanks to all concerned that contributed to the total amount of $357.85 being raised for this great social event.
We sold 28 tickets to card players and also had a further $77.85 contributed in very kind donations through the Jelly Bean Box from parishioners unable to attend on the night.
Last week we remitted our annual fundraising on behalf of our sister parish to continue to support Fr Taylor with the scholarship programs  and assistance to the needy in the outlying areas.

Annual Report for the Malawi Support Group

Hi Everyone,
This year we will be able to replicate last year’s fundraising results to continue the support for orphan and parishioner children administered under the outstanding leadership of Fr Taylor.
Once again the fundraising and activities for the group have been very successful, supplemented as always by some very generous donations with the mainstays represented by the annual parish collection and raffles which continue to be very well supported. Parishioners at times express their delight to me when notified as the winners, some to say this is the first time they have ever won a prize in a raffle. This year your chances of securing a winning ticket were further enhanced with the Christmas raffle offering 5 lovely prizes.    

In August I gave a talk to the school children, at the request of the school, about the Malawi Support Group and pointed out that Malawi, with a population of 16 million occupies an area less than the size of Tasmania, explaining the country has limited resources.  

One of the biggest differences I explained is how much better off we are in Australia compared to Malawians – as nearly half the people in Malawi earn only $1 a day. After talking about life in Malawi and the limited facilities in their sister parish’s catholic school, they all watched the video of the inaugural mass in the new church which we largely funded, then ended the talk with a short story I had composed.   
The children were wonderfully attentive and asked many thoughtful questions to subsequently raise a creditable donation from their own efforts by doing odd jobs over the holidays. A further amount was donated by the tuckshop. It is a reminder how many of the regular amounts raised like this have all added up to make a bid difference to the outcomes for your sister parish.

But possibly more importantly is the narrative that has emerged to unite us in a common thread of unity to embrace fellowship in fundraising activities and in co- sharing the gifts and stories to learn more about each other’s respective customs and cultures.  

But our numbers are getting thin so we welcome any new members to the group as we were saddened to lose one of our younger members this year who has left the parish. He will be sorely missed as he made a substantive contribution during his brief membership.  

Thanks to the committee and to everyone for your continued very generous support.

Talk to OLHC -Eltham

In August I gave a talk to the school children, at the request of the school about MSG and pointed out that Malawi, with a population of  16 million (Australia has about out 23 million people), occupies an area  less than the size of Tasmania. Hence the country has limited resources 

One of the biggest differences I explained is  how much better off we are in Australia compared to Malawians  – as nearly half the people in Malawi earn only $1 a day. After talking about life in Malawi and the limited facilities in their sister parishes' catholic school when then all watched the video as per below -to enjoy the  joyful celebration of the inaugural mass in the new church largely funded by the MSG. 

I also read them a story I had composed. 

The children were wonderfully attentive and asked many thoughtful questions to subsequently raise $234 from their own efforts by doing odd jobs over the holidays. A further $25 was donated by the tuckshop.   

 

Malawi Father’s Day Raffle

A great result as a total of $515 was banked including $93 in generous donations. Many thanks on behalf of the group, Fr Taylor and especially your sister parishioners.



 
 

Students we are sponsoring

Nursery school additions we help support and scholarship holders

children we support

 

 

The Mother’s Day raffle

An extremely BIG THANK YOU to all as The Mother’s Day raffle was a huge success with $700 raised through the ticket sales and some generous donations. There were four lovely prizes and the Group wishes to THANK ALL who participated for their continued support for our Sister Parish at Saint Kizito’s.

Letter from Fr Taylor

Thank you for your letter dated 30th December. Sorry for the long delay. The students have just finished second semester and fees we have paid out for the 29 students was Kwacha 852,200 at a cost of US $1893.

This funds 4 students at boarding school, undertaking pre medicine, journalism, law and carpentry. The remainder are day scholars.

The programm is running very well and the bursaries are making a real difference. It is a very worthwhile project.

We are renovating the local community day school. They have struggled to build 2 classrooms for years and have reached window level.   We will finish the roof for them !!

The parish continues to grow and with 6 out-churches keeps me busy. There is a great spirit among the Christians and lots of commitment to the faith.It is a pleasure and honour to work with them.

I will go to Ireland in July 22nd for some rest and also to help out in the local parish ! Nice to get a change of parishioners ! But my heart is still in  Malawi . 

Thanks for your wonderful support and to the Malawi Support  Group.

Best wishes   

 

MALAWI CRAZY WHIST

Thanks to all concerned for organising this highly enjoyable night that raised $295. We sold 20 tickets to card players and also received $95 in donations from parishioners unable to attend on the night.
 

Annual Report

Hi Everyone,

This year to encapsulate the respective activities and correspondence between the respective communities here and in Malawi a blog archive book has been produced and is available for perusal in the parish library. We also have a number of post cards still available on the gathering area table.
Once again the fundraising and activities for the group have been very successful, supplemented by some very generous donations. 
Consequently, we sent across to your sister parish $7,000 to continue the support for orphan and parishioner children administered under the outstanding leadership of Fr Taylor. This ensures vital support for sustenance and the payment of school fees for those unable to afford them and to fund scholarships for secondary school as well as equipment can continue.
The reply from Fr. Taylor was as follows:
DEAR LINDSAY, THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK ON THE MALAWI SUPPORT GROUP.I ONLY JUST RECEIVED IT LAST WEEK. AM JUST BACK FROM GIVING AN 8 DAY RETREAT TO 23 NUNS .EXAUSTING HA .DELIGHTED TO GET NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE DOLLARS .IT IS A GREAT TIME TO SEND IT .OUR KWACHA WAS IN FREEFALL FOR A WHILE SO THE BEST RATE IS AT THIS TIME. FEES WLL BE IN DEMAND IN EARLY JANUARY. ALL IS WELL. TOO MUCH WORK HA BUT NOT COMPLAINING.
WILL SEND A REPORT END OF JANUARY.HOPE ALL IS WELL
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO ALL AT OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS.
THANKS AGAIN FOR THE WONDERFUL BOOK AND THE VERY GENEROUS DONATION. JAN FEB AND MARCH ARE KNOWN AS THE HUNGRY MONTHS WHEN EVERYTHNG IS VERY TIGHT. SO NOT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SCHOOL FEES IS A REAL BLESSING. WITH GODS BLESSINGS FRANK TAYLOR.
We welcome any new members to the group. Thanks to the committee and to everyone for your continued generous support.

Lindsay Byrnes-
Chairman December 2014

Malawi Support Group Book

 
 
 
This is the cover for the new Book.
 




 

FATHER'S DAY RAFFLE

The Father's Day raffle was a huge success with $658.90 being raised through the ticket sales and some very generous donations. The three lovely prizes were again put together by Group member Una Cardwell and we thank her for their wonderful presentation.

The Group trusts these winners or respective fathers will enjoy their special day on Sunday and wishes to sincerely THANK ALL who participated for their continued support for our Sister Parish.

ST KIZITO CELEBRATION AT OLHC AT ELTHAM

This year $1,821 was raised which ensures vital support can be continued for your sister parish.
A beautiful post card was provided by way of thanks for continuing support and the reverse side is shown below :

 

THE SCHOOL CHILDREN WE SUPPORT

 

 

MOTHERS DAY RAFFLE

This years winners were again delighted and an excellent total of $552 was banked. Our raffles for Mothers and Fathers days, as well as for other special occasions has continued since inception to be  organised and sourced by Una Cardwell. In a similar vein Bernie Murray has always provided the signage.   

AN UPDATE WITH NEWS FROM MALAWI

Thanks to everyone who continue to support our sister parish and I am pleased to report the recent Crazy Whist night continued the tradition of being a great social event, and also raised $357. 

We all enjoyed a supper break during which Fr Franks email was read out, indicating the enormous benefits to the local community made possible by virtue of your generous support. His advice is provided below.

 

We also received some very welcome news from Dyson Ntapara, a St Kizito parishioner who has been a regular correspondent over the years, which I can share with you here. I met Dyson and his wife and Alick when I was in Malawi.

Dear Lindsay,

I hope you are fine and the family is fine too.

I want to give you some good news from our family, our first born son Alick who is in seminary school, his ordination is on the 5th July 2004.

We are busy working out preparations for the big day and his first mass at our home village and his mass at St Kizito.
With prayers we are hopeful he will make it to this day he will be a shepherd in the vineyard. We are fine and St Kizito is doing fine too with Father Taylor busy always developing the parish and looking after the needy.

I hope to hear from you. My greeting to you and your family and the whole congregation.

From Fr Taylor

Dear Lindsay and Malawi Support Group.It is a joy to write to you in this blessed time of lent remembering you all for your great generosity for the poor in Malawi.

Sorry for the delay in writing as it has been a struggle for me with the home tragedy and Fr paddy being unable to return as his eyesight is such that he cannot read now ; macular degeneration in the eye. Glad to report the $A6, 000 generated KW 2,119,482, to provide funds for the following:

·    Assist 32 day pupils at secondary level over 2 terms at a cost of KW   252,000.

·   Third level students with grants of KW455,400

·    Fund 8 student orphans where they learn for fees and the feeding program at a cost KW350,000.

·    Build a wall around our new Nursery School where we have 130 children under 6 years of age at cost of KW450,000.

The total Expenditure amounts to KW1,507,400 to leave a balance of KW612,082 which will be used to pay fees and support the orphans programme up until end of the school year in July. It is difficult to explain the difference all this has made for every student, family and community, it really does change lives. Often I get the thanks but it is you who are the good Samaritans.
Thanks you for all your support.

With GODS blessings to you all.

Kindest Regards Fr Frank


  

2013 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE PARISH

It is great news to report to you once again the fundraising and activities for the group have been very successful. Thank you for your generous support by either buying raffle tickets, helping out on the Bunnings barbecue, attending functions or in making donations. Your generosity continues to make a substantial difference to the respective communities in your sister parish, under the outstanding leadership of Fr. Taylor, particularly given the countries massive recent currency devaluation.

You may recall last year that violence had erupted in the country following the sudden death of the President from a heart attack and that a new woman President, Joyce Hilda Banda was installed. She is Malawi’s first female President and began well, but Banda has been let down badly by her  colleagues prompting her to sack her entire cabinet so all ministers could be investigated. This all makes our efforts to help even more essential in building up a community that in the future, through improved Catholic education, will ensure those elected will better serve their respective communities.

This year’s fund raising followed a familiar path that has been established over the years to maximize results given our relatively meagre resources.  I am pleased to report we continue to expand support funding for breakfast for the school children, the nursery school established alongside OLHC church at Ntandire, school fees for those unable to afford them including a number of orphans and in the provision of scholarships to students to attend secondary and higher studies.

Without your help this vital support for those in need would not be possible, from which will emerge future leaders.
Our activities again proved popular with a crazy whist night early earlier in the year followed by the overwhelming success of the Bunnings barbecue and a scaled down theatre night. Thanks again to Fr. Kevin for his support in incorporating the St Kizito celebration into our masses, to Angela for preparation of the CD and to the members who all gave excellent presentations. Our raffles also continue to be very well supported.
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.

PHOTOS FROM MALAWI