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Why
Zambia?
For the Pallottines the answer is simple: ôbecause the needs there are
so great!
One doesn't have to look very hard to see why the Pallottines came to
Zambia. This once middle-income country with a rich history in copper
mining has been sliding into poverty since the 1970's, a slide from
which it has not recovered. In 2000 the nationÆs foreign debt exceeded
six billion dollars, the annual per capita income dropped to $395, and
68% of the population now live below the poverty level. Life expectancy
at birth is only 37 years due in part to the estimated 17% of the adult
population living with HIV/AIDS. Often, those infected pass away
between the ages of 25-35, leaving behind battered families and
thousands of orphaned children.
This
is why
the
Pallottines are in Zambia. As the needs grow so does our love and
concern for the people. In 2005 our Pallottines from the Indian Nagpur
Province began their ministry at Holy Family Parish to provide pastoral
care for the local people, to assist those with HIV/AIDS, to provide
education for the many orphans in the area and to pave the way for the
future formation of native Pallottine priests and brothers in Zambia.
Currently, two Indian Pallottines serve the parish, Fathers Matthew and
Thomas.
Within the
next year, one
or two additional Pallottines will be coming to serve at the Formation
House which will open soon. The parish is located on the outskirts of
Lusaka, the capitol of Zambia and is responsible for the two mission
stations of Divine Mercy Church and St. Mary’s Church with
approximately 30,000 Catholics in the area.
 Food supplies for the orphans at our mission in
Zambia
With
so many people to serve, the needs of the parish are overwhelming. At
present, the two top priorities are providing food baskets for HIV/AIDS
families and educating the orphans. As we begin 2009, we hope to gather
enough funds to provide food basket for 100 families and to gather
enough money for 50 orphans to attend school this year and continue
their education through high school. As modest as these goals may
seems, achieving them will go far to raise the hopes and dreams of many
of the local people for a brighter and happier future. With so many
people to serve, the needs of the parish are overwhelming. At present,
the two top priorities are providing food baskets for HIV/AIDS families
and educating the orphans.
As
we begin 2009, we hope to gather enough funds to provide food basket
for 100 families and to gather enough money for 50 orphans to attend
school this year and continue their education through high school. As
modest as these goals may seems, achieving them will go far to raise
the hopes and dreams of many of the local people for a brighter and
happier future.
New property purchased for Formation House
Interestingly,
the Pallottines are trying to increase their abilities to help others
not just through donations which are always needed, but also by adding
a self supporting element to their missionary work. A building project
is currently underway that will help provide needed income to the
mission from renting houses. For the cost of $7,500 per unit the
Pallottines are building one level homes with a kitchen, bathroom,
living room and two bedrooms. Five homes are in the planning stage,
with one ready to be built with the funds provided by the Pallottines
in Milwaukee. The money received from renting these homes to more
moderate income families will generate a reliable and steady income for
the Pallottines to help the poorer people and the orphans in the area.
Looking
to the future of the Zambia mission, the Pallottines have also started
a house of formation near Lusaka to educate and train native priests
and brothers. A native clergy and brothers will help assure the
continuation of the Zambia mission and allow for its future expansion
in other areas of the country.
With
help from our Milwaukee province $80,000 has already been sent to
Fathers Matthew and Thomas so that they could go ahead with the
purchase of a 23 acre parcel of land with several usable buildings on
it. Since the cost of building new facilities is so high in Zambia due
to the price of materials and the shipping of those materials, it was
thought better to purchase existing structures and remodel them to suit
our needs. One of the buildings on the present site will have room for
several priests and brothers and four or five students. Other buildings
on the property will be remodeled and improved as funds and needs
arise. A good start to a needed project! There is much to be done right
now and that can be done in the future, but only if our Fathers and
Brothers have the needed resources to work with.
We Pallottines in Milwaukee have committed $125,000 to help in this
great work ($80,000 of which we have already sent) and we hope to
solicit an additional $125,000 from our faithful friends and
benefactors so that our mission work can
flourish in the years to come.
Please consider supporting
our Zambia mission financially. You can contact me, Fr. Leon Martin at
(414) 259-0688 ext.150 or correspond with me on line at:
leonjmartin@yahoo.com.
Let us go forward together
and help build a better future for the poor, sick, and orphaned people
of Zambia!
Peace,
May
I suggest that you watch the video at the top-right. It is
short and will give an idea of what our mission in Zambia is about.
If you wish to assist in our efforts you can also write to us
at :
or
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Zambia
Mission 