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| From left to right: Br. André Comtois, OFM, Maria Shim, secretary, Helena Kim, members of the Korean Fraternity of St-Mary-of-the-Angels. |
The
Korean Fraternity of St-Mary-of-the-Angels ( Secular Franciscan Order) hold a
bazar at the Korean Parish in Montreal at the beginning of July 2016, in order
to get some funds, for our missionary projects in Democratic Republic of Congo.
On august 1st, they brought the sum of $6,050.00 to the director of the Mission
Office, Mr. Richard Chartier, himself and Br. Andre Comtois, who accompanied
the group sincerely thanked the donators of this Fraternity for their generosity.
On the
other side, the Franciscans Friars of the Democratic Republic of Congo were
really touched by this act of solidarity and thanked in return the Korean
members for their generosity.
This
gift will be assigned directly to the Projects 19 and 20 of the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Here
is the description of projects :
Unfortunately, we did
not collect the amounts requested for projects 19 and 20. These projects were presented
to you in the issue of March 2016. Here is a brief summary of these projects.
PROJECT 19
Pursue the
construction of the St. Donatus Health Center, Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC)
Petitioners:
Brother Crispin Balolage, OFM and Brother Pierre Matabaro, OFM, Franciscan
Province of St. Benedict the Moor.
Approved by the
Provincial, Brother Alex Ilunga Mikombe, OFM and Brother Magloire Nyembo, OFM,
the person in charge of the development office of the OFM, Province of St. Benedict
the Moor.
Place:
Nyabangere, DRC.
Project
description:
It consists in
pursuing the construction of the St. Donatus Health Center. This project has
already been supported by us. (Project 7 in 2013, for a total amount of CAD
14,470.00). The purpose is to provide a better health service to abandoned and
poor people, who live afar from health centers. We support 3360 families who
subsist on agriculture and who live in 14 villages that are 55 km away from
Bukavu. The Brothers wish to improve the health and welfare of the local
people, facilitate access to health services and dispense basic care. They also
wish to take care of children suffering from malnutrition and establish a
pharmacy.
Project update:
Brother Pierre Matabaro, OFM, informed us that the Health Center is currently
being enlarged (see picture). It is the same building that was built in 2013
(Project 7) that has the shape of the Franciscan Tau Cross. Brother Pierre
emphasizes that the following step will be to put together a small pharmacy
thanks to the contributions of the benefactors of the Franciscan Missions of
Canada.
Requested
amount:
CAD 12,000.00 (for a
total amount of CAD 36,746.00. Local contribution: CAD 1,388.00; Contribution
of the Fratello Mio Onlus organization, Milan, Italy, CAD
18,733.00; Other contributions: CAD 4,625.00.)
▸Collected amount: CAD 6,000.00. This amount has been sent to the Brothers with the
purpose of starting the project. The goal to achieve for this project is: CAD
6,000.00.
PROJECT 20
Construction
of a sewing workshop for young girls, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Petitioners:
Brother Nestor Shaminga, OFM, person in charge of the development office in the
Province of Saint Mary of the Angels, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) *New Franciscan province in DRC since 2015.
Approved by Brother
Honoré Kadima, president of the development office, Province of Saint Mary of
the Angels, DRC.
Place:
Mbujimayi, Kasaï Oriental, DRC.
Project
description:
In the city of
Mbujimayi, young girls are practically abandoned because their parents cannot
afford to support them and thus, they are left to their fate. The Brothers’
objective is to give them a formation in dressmaking and supervise them, so
that they will be able to find a job and overcome poverty. The project plans
the construction of a sewing workshop that will be equipped with the necessary
material and thus, provide formation for these young girls. This formation will
be provided by graduates in that field and by the Franciscan Stigmatine
Sisters. The project will support 25 young girls between the ages of 12 and 25
years old that were not able to attend school because their families could not
afford it.
Requested
amount:
CAD 12,000.00.
▸Collected amount: CAD 6,000.00. This amount has been sent to the Brothers with the
purpose of starting the project. The goal to achieve for this project is: CAD
6,000.00.
