Catholic Collaborative Raising Funds For African Water Wells

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls on Feb. 14 this year. On this day that is traditionally dedicated to love, the parishes of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative – St. Maria Goretti and Our Lady of the Assumption – will kick off a Lenten almsgiving effort that truly reflects love for your fellow human. They will be raising funds to provide water wells for rural communities in Zambia.

For several years, missionary priests from Society of African Missions have assisted their parishes during the summer, allowing their resident priests some time off. Two years ago, Father Don Phiri, a priest from Zambia, spent the summer months living in Lynnfield, celebrating Mass, joining in church events, and sharing stories of his homeland.

Father Don relayed the story of a 6-year-old boy from his former parish who went to draw water from an open well, but slipped on the mud, fell in, and drowned. Worldwide, one out of every five deaths of children under the age of five is due to a water-related illness. In Africa, the job of collecting water from distant sources is primarily the burden of women and children, which means easier access would give children the opportunity to go to school and women the opportunity to earn incomes and grow food.

Aside from the general need for accessible sources for clean water in Zambia, there is currently an immediate need due to a devastating outbreak of cholera in the region. Since October 2017, 3,600 people have gotten sick and 78 people have died from this bacterial disease that is caused by contaminated water. Schools and markets have been closed. Church services have been suspended.

Throughout Lent, parishioners and community members have an opportunity to show their love for the people of Zambia by donating towards water wells that will provide this desperately needed clean water.

Donations may be made payable to either St. Maria Goretti or Our Lady of the Assumption, and sent to their business office at 17 Grove Street, Lynnfield, MA 01940. Please make a note on the memo line that this is for “Water Wells”.

This initiative is sponsored by the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative’s Justice for Jesus social justice group. For more information, please contact Linda Beaver at linda.beaver21@gmail.com.

Photo of women in Fr. Don Phiri's community in Zambia retrieving water.