Hightstown parish continues tradition of supporting African children
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Jennifer Mauro | Associate Editor
Three children, three very different dreams. One hopes to be a teacher; another, a doctor. And for a young girl who lives with the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Africa after losing her parents, perhaps one day, she’ll find herself under the same roof as her extended family.
Such were the stories in the eyes of the children whose photographs adorned 160 paper hearts available Valentine’s Day weekend in St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown, as part of Project Love for Africa. In its fourth year, the project encourages parishioners to take home a heart and pray for the child whose photograph is attached to the simple red construction paper.
“We ask that you remember their lives aren’t easy, but as you pray for them, they pray for you,” Sister Rosanne Rustemeyer, director of development for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, told parishioners Feb. 12 during the 4 p.m. Mass.
Sister Rosanne, a familiar face to the parish from her visits over the years, returned to again bring to the forefront the plight of children from Nyanza Province, southeastern Kenya, where the School Sisters of Notre Dame run a school and home for children with HIV and AIDs and those orphaned by the disease. In addition to the awareness campaign and prayer hearts, the second collection from all the weekend Masses benefitted the sisters’ mission in Kenya.
“What we notice is when young people find a stable home, they are capable of doing very well in school,” Sister Rosanne said, informing the parishioners of what life looks like for the children.
Sometimes, she explained, children orphaned by AIDS or those with the disease live with extended family. But when that’s not possible, they can end up in the sisters’ care.
Expressing gratitude to the parish’s generosity over the years, Sister Rosanne explained that many of the funds from last year’s collection went to medicines and especially foods, since Africa experienced a rain shortage.
Judy Camisa, a member of the parish’s social justice committee who also coordinates Project Love for Africa, said the sisters have been visiting the parish for more than seven years to raise awareness for their many ministries in Africa.
“I think the parishioners look forward to hearing from the sisters every year and seeing the progress,” Camisa said. Of the Children Outreach mission specifically, she said, “So many people look forward to praying for these kids.”
Sister Rosanne, who is celebrating her 50th jubilee in religious life this year, 18 of which were spent in African countries such as Sierra Leone, said that though she has seen the treatment and awareness of HIV and AIDS improve, there is still much to be done.
“In many ways, life is better in Africa; people are making better choices for themselves. But there is still war and disease.
“As the world got to know more about HIV and AIDS, life got better for them. But it’s still happening, and it’s still happening in this country, too, though we may not hear so much about it anymore,” she said. “But I’m very hopeful, even in the struggle.”
Camisa, too, is not only hopeful for the parish’s continued outreach to the sisters’ work, but thankful for Father Patrick J. McDonnell, pastor, and his constant support of the social justice committee’s partnership with the 77 sisters who work in outreach programs in Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Kenya.
The monies raised from Sister Rosanne’s recent visit will benefit the Notre Dame Children Outreach in Kenya, located in the Diocese of Homa Bay. In addition to the school and orphanage, the sisters have their own gardens and composts, and educate the children and local communities in agriculture.
“I think we get complacent in our lives,” Camisa said. “The sisters show us there are those out there with a tough life … and they make you appreciate what we do have.”
As Camisa and Sister Rosanne greeted church-goers after Mass next to a table in the gathering space covered with information on the sisters’ missions and the children’s photos, parishioner Roseann Neilsen picked up a paper heart.
“I’ll be praying for them to find a good path in life,” she said.
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By Jennifer Mauro | Associate Editor
Three children, three very different dreams. One hopes to be a teacher; another, a doctor. And for a young girl who lives with the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Africa after losing her parents, perhaps one day, she’ll find herself under the same roof as her extended family.
Such were the stories in the eyes of the children whose photographs adorned 160 paper hearts available Valentine’s Day weekend in St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown, as part of Project Love for Africa. In its fourth year, the project encourages parishioners to take home a heart and pray for the child whose photograph is attached to the simple red construction paper.
“We ask that you remember their lives aren’t easy, but as you pray for them, they pray for you,” Sister Rosanne Rustemeyer, director of development for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, told parishioners Feb. 12 during the 4 p.m. Mass.
Sister Rosanne, a familiar face to the parish from her visits over the years, returned to again bring to the forefront the plight of children from Nyanza Province, southeastern Kenya, where the School Sisters of Notre Dame run a school and home for children with HIV and AIDs and those orphaned by the disease. In addition to the awareness campaign and prayer hearts, the second collection from all the weekend Masses benefitted the sisters’ mission in Kenya.
“What we notice is when young people find a stable home, they are capable of doing very well in school,” Sister Rosanne said, informing the parishioners of what life looks like for the children.
Sometimes, she explained, children orphaned by AIDS or those with the disease live with extended family. But when that’s not possible, they can end up in the sisters’ care.
Expressing gratitude to the parish’s generosity over the years, Sister Rosanne explained that many of the funds from last year’s collection went to medicines and especially foods, since Africa experienced a rain shortage.
Judy Camisa, a member of the parish’s social justice committee who also coordinates Project Love for Africa, said the sisters have been visiting the parish for more than seven years to raise awareness for their many ministries in Africa.
“I think the parishioners look forward to hearing from the sisters every year and seeing the progress,” Camisa said. Of the Children Outreach mission specifically, she said, “So many people look forward to praying for these kids.”
Sister Rosanne, who is celebrating her 50th jubilee in religious life this year, 18 of which were spent in African countries such as Sierra Leone, said that though she has seen the treatment and awareness of HIV and AIDS improve, there is still much to be done.
“In many ways, life is better in Africa; people are making better choices for themselves. But there is still war and disease.
“As the world got to know more about HIV and AIDS, life got better for them. But it’s still happening, and it’s still happening in this country, too, though we may not hear so much about it anymore,” she said. “But I’m very hopeful, even in the struggle.”
Camisa, too, is not only hopeful for the parish’s continued outreach to the sisters’ work, but thankful for Father Patrick J. McDonnell, pastor, and his constant support of the social justice committee’s partnership with the 77 sisters who work in outreach programs in Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Kenya.
The monies raised from Sister Rosanne’s recent visit will benefit the Notre Dame Children Outreach in Kenya, located in the Diocese of Homa Bay. In addition to the school and orphanage, the sisters have their own gardens and composts, and educate the children and local communities in agriculture.
“I think we get complacent in our lives,” Camisa said. “The sisters show us there are those out there with a tough life … and they make you appreciate what we do have.”
As Camisa and Sister Rosanne greeted church-goers after Mass next to a table in the gathering space covered with information on the sisters’ missions and the children’s photos, parishioner Roseann Neilsen picked up a paper heart.
“I’ll be praying for them to find a good path in life,” she said.
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