This Lent, Another Opportunity to Help People of Zambia

For several years, missionary priests from the Society of African Missions have assisted the parishes of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative during the summer, allowing their resident priests some time off. Father Don Phiri, a priest from Zambia, spent August of 2016 living in Lynnfield, celebrating Mass, joining in church events, and sharing stories of his homeland.

As a result of this friendship, the congregants of St. Maria Goretti and Our Lady of the Assumption chose to make their 2017 Lenten almsgiving focused on raising funds for the various needs of the Zambian community in which Father Don Phiri serves. In total, parishes were able to raise $5,700 during last year’s Lent.

Father Don recently sent the Collaborative a report of all the wonderful things his community was able to do with the funds donated. Included among the many blessings were the school fees and school uniforms for several children; bicycles for the seminarians who travel to distant parishes; t-shirts for the children of Bwacha Parish; soccer uniforms and sneakers for the seminarians; sinks for lavatory facilities; the repair of a water heater; soccer balls, volleyballs, and basketballs for school children, and books for a children's Bible class.

This Lent, parishioners and community members have another opportunity to assist the people of Zambia by donating towards water wells that will provide 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.

Photos attached courtesy of Father Don Phiri: The seminarians got new soccer uniforms and sneakers. The signs they are holding say it all; Parishioner donations made possible the purchase of Bible story books for a children's Bible class; Joseph and Jonathan: Donations paid for Joseph and Jonathan's school fees and uniforms; Esther will be able to continue her education because her school fees were paid by Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative parishioners.