E M I SSA R Y

FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + ACTIVITY U PDATE + DECEMBER 2011

INAUGURAL AFRICAN MISSION TRIP: SEPTEMBER 13 - NOVEMBER 8, 2011

Kenya: September 14 - October 9
Shortly after arriving in Kenya I travelled west to Kisumu on Lake Victoria for a four day program on the life and teachings of Bl. Pope John Paul II at Our Lady of Grace School, run by the Dominicans. Students and faculty alike were inspired by the example of this modern hero. After lay missionary Maynor Ballesteros of Honduras arrived, we headed to the Somali refugee camps in Dadaab in eastern Kenya to observe the works of our friends at AVSI and encourage Catholic NGO workers. Most of the rest of the time was spent with the Missionary of Charity Fathers and Sisters ministering to their neighbors in the slums, celebrating Mass and leading Eucharistic Adoration in the prison. Our time with the MCs culminated on the last weekend with a Youth Encounter for more than 400 participants from the Mathare and Huruma slums. Dr. Will Stallings, the last member of our team, arrived in time for that final event.

South Sudan: October 10 - 27

On Monday, October 10, Maynor, Dr. Will and I took a missionary flight that dropped us right in Torit. Some members of the St. Daniel Comboni Missionary Youth met us at the airstrip. We were delighted to discover that we would be staying at Mercy House, and that afternoon had a beautiful, impromptu Holy Hour with about 20 young people. Together with the entire diocese we gave thanks for the recent return of Bishop Akio Johnson Mutek following successful medical treatment. The bishop welcomed us warmly and encouraged our efforts. During our stay we travelled to Isohe (site of an earlier Bread of Life Eucharistic Youth Retreat) to visit St.Theresa Catholic Hospital, and on two different Sundays to Lowoi (where we conducted a parish mission last year) and Katire (where I used to regularly celebrate Sunday Mass). Throughout the course of our visit we organized different activities for children, youth and adults in the Mercy House chapel in Torit Town. It was a great joy to be back and see many friends.

FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + PO BOX 1086 + SECAUCUS, NJ 07096-1086 + TEL: 718-618-4511 francsicanmissionoutreach@gmail.com + www.franciscanmissionoutreach.blogspot.com

Uganda: October 27 - November 1

Following our time in South Sudan we traveled to Emmaus Center for Catholic Discipleship and Evangelization near Kampala, where on several occasions we brought Sudanese youth to participate in programs. Isaac (far left) from Torit, recently completed a six month formation course there. I gave a series of in-depth homilies to the community, culminating on the feast of All Saints. We also met with leaders to discuss future collaboration, both in terms of sponsoring youth from South Sudan for upcoming events and our returning to help lead some proposed evangelization activities. We were able to catch up with some missionary friends in Kampala and also explore some additional future outreach possibilities in Uganda.

Ethiopia: November 1 - 8
On November 1 I continued on to Addis Ababa to visit Fr. Donald Haggerty, a New York priest newly assigned to teach moral theology to Ethiopian seminarians at the Capuchin Institute of Philosophy and Theology. It was a real blessing to stay with the faithful friars who run the institute. Fr. Don and I then travelled through Gode across the desert to Kelafo to meet Fr. Christopher Hartley and four Missionary of Charity Sisters who are making Christ and the Church present by bringing relief to the thousands of Somali refugees who have fled through horrific suffering to the primitive camp that has sprung up in Godere, within sight of Somalia. Later, back in the capital, I was able to speak with Auxiliary Bishop Matheos, Fr. Daniel of the Capuchins and the Brothers of St. John about possible evangelization activities in Ethiopia on future trips.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 18 - December 10, 2011
Mission Trip to Honduras and Guatemala

March 27 - 29, 2012

Parish Mission, St. Anne, Nyack, NY

December 17 - 22, 2011

Catholic Counselors Day of Recollection & Parish Mission, Mary Our Queen, Norcross, GA

April 15 - June 6, 2012

Mission Trip to Africa: Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia

January 12 - 19, 2012

Mission Trip to Haiti

February 25 - March 1, 2012

Parish Mission, St. Francis De Sales, Belle Harbor, NY

Our missionary efforts depend on your spiritual and financial support. Please pray for us! Tax-deductible donations to support the life, ministries and missionary outreach of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal can be made out to Franciscan Mission Outreach and sent to Franciscan Mission Outreach PO Box 1086 Secaucus, NJ 07096-1086 Thank you! You are remembered in our prayers!

March 2 - 17, 2012

Mission Trip to Honduras

March 19 - 22, 2012

Lenten Preaching, St. Faustina, Clermont, FL