A quarterly newsletter on missionary efforts from around the world.
April 2024
The Bread That Offers New Life
In rural Guatemala, the majority of households face the harsh realities of poverty and hunger. Additionally, many of these homes bear an even greater burden, sheltering vulnerable children deprived of the essential nutrients necessary for their growth.
Mothers struggle daily to make ends meet. Finding basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing is a challenge these families face daily.
To help alleviate this heavy burden, The Bethany Center was established.
Every day, amidst the clang of pans brimming with rice and the bustle of little feet lining up for food, our missionaries work tirelessly to provide nourishing meals for approximately 250 children aged between 4 and 14.
Additionally, each month we distribute 100 essential food kits to families, ensuring that they have the supplies necessary to sustain them for an entire month.
During the Easter season, we appealed to our mission partners to support our mission to end hunger in rural Guatemala. We are delighted to report that the Lord greatly provided, and we've successfully raised $2,900 for the Bethany Center. Praise God!
Through the generosity of others this Resurrection season, many little ones will end their days with full bellies, and mothers will be relieved of the crippling worry of how they will feed their children.
However, the need for relief only continues to grow. Many families still feel the harsh effects of the pandemic and are struggling to get back on their feet.
Just as Christ in the Eucharist is more than meets the eye, the food provided through the Bethany Center is much more than just a full plate. Nearly 50% of children in Guatemala experience chronic malnutrition leading to a myriad of other long-term physical consequences.
Food is the means to hope for a better, stronger future for these children. A future where they may grow up to break the chains of cyclical poverty and flourish into who God made them to be.
Haiti is currently in the global spotlight as news of the country's social, economic, and political crisis continues to make headlines. Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, the situation has only worsened. Ariel Henry recently resigned as Haiti’s Prime Minister, adding to the instability and uncertainty facing the country.
To this day, Haiti still faces numerous challenges, with armed gangs attacking police and army facilities in Port-au-Prince, breaking into prisons, and creating havoc in the capital. Consequently, many businesses, banks, schools, and shops have closed, with people unable to secure their daily needs as they fear for their safety.
Uprooted, Afraid, and Away From Home
Furthermore, this crisis is spilling over into the provinces, with gangs controlling access to Port-au-Prince, preventing individuals from selling their products. The result is a spike in living expenses and limited means, making it difficult for people to satisfy their basic necessities.
Many Haitians are selling everything they own and leaving the country to find stability. Mombin Crochu, where I serve as a parish priest and school administrator, has admitted many students from Port-au-Prince into our school due to their inability to continue their education in the capital.
We receive food for our students and the poor from our parish. Unfortunately, due to the unrest and lack of fuel, we haven't received provisions since October 2023. This food shortage has resulted in many people going hungry, with children finding it difficult to attend school.
Our formation house in Port-au-Prince, where we train young people to become Missionhurst missionaries, has also been negatively impacted. Due to the insecurity, we had to close the seminary, and our young people could no longer attend their philosophy institute. We helped them relocate with their families for safety, but we can't say when we'll open the seminary again, or when Haiti will find peace and security.
Loss of Livelihood
Gelin Bilindjy, a parishioner in Port-au-Prince, shared some of his experiences with me: “Due to the insecurity, the restaurant bar where I worked in the City Center closed down. We have no customers, and we can't go out. While some places in the city are still open for work, there's no guarantee of safety. Employees' salaries have been cut due to the low customer turnout, so many have quit their jobs."
These challenges underscore the need for concerted efforts to help Haitians survive with dignity. We believe that every individual has a right to live as God intended. We must promote a culture of love among ourselves and with those who help Haiti, for love is the only way to save the country and make it a better place where people can live with dignity.
We pray that God will associate the suffering of Haitians with that of Jesus, turning their pain into salvation for Haiti. God can save Haiti, and we can contribute to this process by spreading love in the lives of those around us.
- Fr. Alexandre Kakolo Beya, CICM
A 50-Year-Old High School Freshman Inspires a Community
In the small community of Saint Gregory the Great, Ipafu Mission, Regina Bwalya serves as an inspiration to her tight-knit community. Born into a poor family with insufficient means to provide her education, Regina's schooling ended at just 13 years old.
Faced with limited opportunities, Regina prepared to marry a soldier at the young age of 16. Her marriage bore four children, but tragically, she lost her son and one of her daughters in childhood.
Working For a Better Life
Regina persevered through intense grief and worked hard to provide for her children. However, the unexpected closure of the Mulungushi Textile factory in 2007, where she had worked for many years, left her without an income.
Due to her lack of education, illiteracy severely limited her job opportunities. Regina took on a combination of household chores and farm work to make ends meet.
Even amidst such trials, she continued to turn to God and remained active in her parish, utilizing her talent to create beautiful music for the liturgies.
Returning to the Classroom
Regina approached Fr. François Kande N’sapo, CICM, about her dream of returning to school. At the age of 50, she hoped to earn her degree and fulfill her lifelong desire of becoming a teacher.
Additionally, Regina wanted to be able to read and write so she could serve her parish and facilitate meetings in the community. Her determination and eagerness to learn inspired those around her, and with Fr. François' help, she enrolled in the 9th grade.
Regina's journey back to school has been remarkable. A 50-year-old sitting side by side with 14-year-olds in the classroom, Regina has excelled, ranking among the best in the class. Currently in the 11th grade, Regina is expected to graduate in the spring of this year.
Her story is a testament to her courage and determination, refusing to let her past define her. Regina's journey serves as an inspiration to all of us, reminding us of the immeasurable value of education and that it is never too late to pursue our dreams and reach our true potential.
Quick Updates from Our Mission Projects
Mission Spotlight: The Bethany Center
The Bethany Center in Guatemala served over 12,000 meals to hungry families last year. As we continue into 2024, we have been blessed with much support and look forward to filling even more plates by the end of this year! Thank you to all those who have generously contributed.
Prayer Request: Missionaries in Haiti
With political upheaval and increased unrest in the country, please pray for the safety of our missionaries in Haiti.
Pray for the end of modern-day slavery
The prevalence of sexual trafficking and abuse in our world today is jarring. It's estimated that 40-42 million people are enslaved in prostitution around the globe, many of these being young children. Join us in praying our Novena to St. Maria Goretti for the victims of human trafficking and for the end of this horrific crime.
During this Easter Season, I share with you the joy of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, who, besides wishing us peace as he did with his disciples, also gives us the gift of mercy.
The Easter mission consists of us sharing the joy of the Risen Lord with our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need. I rejoice for all you have done this by contributing financially to our Missionhurst outreach to feeding program in Guatemala, and children's education in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Proclaiming the Risen Lord is not limited to the proclamation of the word; but it extends to our work of charity through which we express Jesus' love for the disadvantaged and the less fortunate of the world.
I thank you for all your care, generosity, and love for our missionaries and the people they serve. I pray that the Lord continues to take care of you and your loved one.
Fr. Andre Kazadi, CICM
Novenas, Prayer Resources, and Stories from MercyWorks
Around the world, the MercyWorks community is praying and sharing stories to support our missionaries. Click below to read & pray with us 🙏🏽
