April Appeal
Whenever I go out for lunch, or go shopping in a grocery store, quite often I’ll overhear a conversation in which one person or the other is complaining about some aspect of life here in the United States. We see it on television news channels. We hear it on the radio and even read it in newspapers and magazines. Someone somewhere is writing or speaking about something wrong in the U.S. And in many ways, that’s okay. We have the freedom to air our views no matter if people agree with us or not.
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March Appeal
We all know how precious children are. Their innocence, their purity, their willingness to love -- despite being hurt by those who are supposed to love them . . . each is an example of how we as adults are called to live our lives. Even our Lord Jesus spoke of the unique place that children hold in the world.
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February Appeal
Ten months ago, Northern Mali was invaded Islamist terrorists. Since their arrival, they have imposed strict Islamic (sharia) law: tv, radio and music are all prohibited; women had to be veiled; robbers had their hand or their foot cut off; unmarried couples were stoned to death.
< The area under Islamic occupation includes the parish of Gao, which had been founded and run by the Missionaries of Africa for the past 60 years. When Gao was attacked by Islamist fighters, there were about 700 Catholics in that parish-- scattered over a huge region. In Gao itself, there were about 350 people; Timbuktu was home to 150 Catholics, Kidal 120 more.
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January Appeal
Whenever another New Year begins, a lot of people make resolutions. Some of us decide to make seemingly small changes -- such as spending more time reading and less time watching television. Others are determined to implement not-so-simple changes such as giving up smoking or losing weight. Whatever we decide to do, though, most experts agree that even the most drastic changes start with a small step..
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December Appeal
As the year winds to a close, I cannot help but think about all of the people you and I have helped during these past 12 months. Without a doubt, together we have made an incredible difference in the lives of some of Africa’s most needy men, women and children. Let me give you a glimpse of what we have accomplished with your help as partners in our mission.
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November Appeal
In the past, whenever I have written to you, I have tried to explain some of the difficulties facing the men, women, and children living in communities surrounding our missions throughout Africa. Incredible poverty grips nearly everyone and everything. Those who are desperately poor are isolated from modern conveniences such as telephones, televisions, transportation, healthcare facilities, electricity and others that so many of us take for granted.
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October Appeal
With so much of the media focusing on political candidates and other “news of the day,” critical news about the basic struggle for survival -- often gets overlooked. But unfortunately whether the media decides to report on these issues or not, the events continue to unfold -- and lives continue to be at risk.
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September Appeal
By now, there probably isn’t a person on the planet who has not heard or read something about the AIDS crisis that continues to take its toll on people in ever country around the world. Most recently, the disease seems to have left the spotlight -- except for an occasional news story...
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August Appeal
As you might imagine, the life of a missionary is an incredibly demanding one. Learning languages foreign to one’s own; adapting to completely new ways of doing even every day tasks; sometimes living in what can be described as sparse living conditions . . .
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July Appeal
50 years ago. I can remember the occasion of my ordination, my family and friends were standing around, and someone was congratulating my mother. She was a very humble, gentle woman who simply said - “There is still a very long way to go.” Oh the wisdom of mothers!
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June Appeal
Living here in the United States, it is easy to take so much for granted. The overwhelming majority of people can walk down the street without having to be too concerned about being physically harmed. We have local supermarkets where we can purchase just about any food item that we can imagine or might want. When we are thirsty, we have the convenience of turning on a kitchen faucet for a drink of clean water. Without a doubt, we have been blessed.
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May Appeal
First of all, I want to thank you for your continued kindness and generosity. There is no doubt in my mind that without your past financial support, the Missionaries of Africa would not have been able to reach out to those who are suffering throughout Africa. Your charity is what makes our work possible.
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April Appeal
I hope you will take a few minutes to read my letter. After reading it, will you let me hear back from you as soon as possible? Men, women and children are struggling to find that which is the most essential for life:clean water. They need our help!
As I write this letter to you, the people of Zambia in Southern Africa are searching for sources of clean water. Entire towns are without a supply of safe drinking water. People are becoming dehydrated -- making them weak and vulnerable to diseases which can kill them.
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March Appeal
So many times I’ve written to you telling about the needs of the poor -- the need for food
. . . for clothing and temporary shelter . . . for sources of fresh, clean water. The list of items that are needed for those who are living in such dire poverty throughout Africa goes on -- and indeed, it can be quite overwhelming. And each time I’ve written asking for your help, you have responded with incredible compassion and kindness.
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Febuary Appeal
I’ve been struck by the number of people I’ve spoken with recently who believe that the crises of disease such as AIDS, tuberculosis, polio and malaria which haave devastated Africa are over or under control. “I just don’t see anything on the news anymore,” a fellow remarked. “I figured everything is ok -- that it must be over.”
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January Appeal
While the holiday season is officially over, as I write this letter to you, I cannot help but think about one of my favorite Christmas stories that is one of my favorites not only to watch on television, but to read as well. It’s the story that English author Charles Dickens wrote more than one hundred and fifty years ago. It’s called “A Christmas Carol.”
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November Appeal
As I write this letter to you, the words of the Christmas carol, “OCome All Ye Faithful,” are scrolling through my mind. To be honest, I cannot really remember the first time I heard the hymn . . . I just know that it has been a part of Christmas for as long as I’ve been alive. I’ve heard it sung in churches, on radio and television -- I’ve even heard the melody playing in malls as shoppers have hurried from one store to the next.
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October Appeal
I received a piece of mail the other day from a travel company. The company was offering “color tours” -- chartered buses which drive through various scenic parts of the country during the autumn season . . . when the leaves of the trees have reached the peak of color. For the most part, this a very American concept. We have been blessed to live in a nation where the change of seasons creates a variety of colors. But in the rest of the world, this isn’t necessarily the case.
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If your child asks for bread--will you give them a stone?
When our Lord Jesus spoke these words, He was offering His followers a message of hope . . . telling them that God the Father will care for them as we human beings care for our own children. Now -- as I write this letter to you -- I am hoping we will care for our children as well as God intended us to. Please read on and I will try to explain.
A few days ago, I received a letter from Fr. Bill Moroney -- one of our Missionary of Africa priests now working in Nairobi, Kenya, in East Africa. . . Read More>> |
MOA helps drill water wells in Tanzania
Water can be gathered, or as some would say ‘harvested’, from below by digging or drilling boreholes to pump it up. It can also be harvested from above in those places where the groundwater would be too deep or maybe hardly existing.
Mbeya, in the East African country Tanzania is one of the many places where one often collects it from above, by harvesting the rains of the rainy seasons. Read More>>
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 In Khartoum, MOA Helps Rebuild School
"Dear Father John,
I come to you with the gratitude of the people in St. Stephen Parish for your constant support in our time of need.
In August, after the accidental death of Dr. John Garang, Vice President of the Sudan, sad incidents happened, leading to killings and destruction. Our school in Shigla was burnt ..." Read More>> |
Africa is a land of incredible beauty, natural treasure
and unparalleled discovery! Its people - of nearly 60
nations throughout the Continent - are among some of
the most diverse cultures and societies in all the world!
But in the midst of this land of rich heritage and facsinating
beauty - the lives of African people are being torn
apart by war, poverty, hunger, disease and oftentimes
despair . . .
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