News from Malawi

As advised by Sr Mary Doonan of the medical missions she informs us they still have our missions in Malawi, in Kasina and Lilongwe and both places very busy and all the times expanding. But the  poverty in Malawi is still great. She heard recently that the Kiltegan Fathers are going to open a new parish in Mzuzu Diocese and only recently they opened a new on in Nthandire, Lilongwe. Furthermore she informs us the new MMM Clinic which is in collaboration with the Parish and Government is busy and doing really well with a functioning Maternity Unit.

She lets us know that Sr. Clara Chikwana their  most senior Malawian MMM is now based in Dublin as she is on MMM Leadership Team she sees her pretty frequently. She is not long back from Malawi so Sr Mary gets a lot of updated news from her. She said that Fr. Frank Taylor was doing OK back in Malawi.

She hopes  and pray we  can celebrate a happy and joy filled Christmas and that 2024 will be filled with God’s blessings for you and our loved ones.

Sr. Mary Doonan MMM sends us her best wishes 

 

Letter from Fr Taylor now back in Malawi

Wow nice to hear from you. Am now in a rural parish with 35 churches. But I have a young energetic priest from Nigeria ordained this year. We work well together. I'm happy to be back in Malawi. Retirement doesn't suit me.!!!!!!! Will wait to hear from the Lord for further instructions!!!!!!! Thanks for all those times we worked together . Happy Christmas to all the friends of Malawi

Recent Letters from Fr Taylor

DEAR LINDSAY, THANK YOU FOR THE FUNDS RECEIVED 2, 063, OOO KWACHA .YOUR CONTINUOUS GENEROSITY HAS BEEN SO SO MUCH APPRECIATED

OVER THE YEARS AND HAS HELPED SO MANY STUDENTS TO ADVANCE IN THEIR EDUCATION AND LIVES. IT HAS BEEN A REAL BLESSING INDEED.

PLEASE THANK ALL THE MALAWI SUPPORT GROUP WHO OVER THE YEARS HAVE SUPPORTED THE CHILDREN OF MALAWI .VERY SPECIAL
NOT EVERYONE HAS COME BACK TO SAY THANKS BUT ALL HAVE BENEFITTED GREATLY

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU LINDSAY.

I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION YOU PUT INTO THE VARIOUS projects.
Hopefully I can visit you in Australia next year
BEST WISHES TO THE MALAWI SUPPORT GROUP

WITH GODS BLESSINGS 

DEAR LINDSAY, GREETINGS FROM ST KIZITO. THANKS FOR THE JUBILEE GREETINGS .WILL CELEBRATE ON THE FEAST OF ST KIZITO 6 JUNE IF WE ARE FREE OF THE VIRUS .OUR FIRST LOCKDOWN BEGINS ON THIS SATURDAY FOR THREE WEEKS  .WE ONLY HAVE AFEW CASES BUT WE WAIT AND SEE OUR FUTURE . AM DUE HOME FOR JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS ON THE 24 JUNE? WHO KNOWS???
I AM KEEPING WELL .MALAWI HAS A GOOD HARVEST THIS YEAR WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.
WE WILL HAVE NO WEEKEND MASSES BUT MORNING MASSES OF 50 OR LESS ARE OK????
HOPE YOU ARE KEEPING WELL
I KNOW THAT AUSTRALIA HAS HAD A TERRIBLE YEAR WITH FIRES AND FLOODS ….FUTURE WARNINGS

KINDEST REGARDS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS
FRANK

Meeting In March 2020 by the Malawi Support Group

General business

In relation to the letter from Fr Taylor, indicating the cessation of his mission in Malawi, which is attached to these minutes, the following was agreed:

 It was resolved the group dissolve prior to the end of the financial year, to formally communicate that closure to the parish on the date for the planned celebration of the Feast day of St Kisto to end on a high note.

·       No further fund raising be undertaken

·   A letter be sent to Fr Taylor congratulating him on his Golden Jubilee and seeking confirmation on the timing of our final contribution.

·     Following advice from Fr. Taylor a final meeting is to be held in May or June where arrangements would be confirmed to subsequently cancel the ABN, notify the Charities Commission and close the bank account in accordance with a final resolution of that special meeting, to which formal notice is hereby given. 

Members and everyone are justified in feeling delighted we are ending on a high note.  

Just as can Fr Taylor.   

It was agreed at the respective Masses to celebrate the feast day of St Kizito the Chairman would express our thanks to past and present members, to the parish, and to generous commitments from outside of the parish. All have contributed towards the self-sufficiency which is now in sight for our sister parish.

Note was to be made that $127,000 had been remitted during our 24 years of support to your sister parish, which played no small part in the achievement of the current milestone. Hence it will be pointed out our involvement ceases on a high note. After the Sunday Mass it was suggested a special morning tea would commemorate the occasion when a few photos could be taken.   

Letter from Fr Taylor

Dear Lindsay, 

We looked in horror as we saw the devastation that the fires in Australia caused to so many lives. There are no words to express our deepest grief on what has happened and how it seemed to be endless in it’s ferocity that gives a like hell experience. 

I know that recovery will be very slow and all the resources must go to the stricken families and communities our prayers are with you. 

I have been alone here since September as Fr Martin from Kenya had to go home for foot surgery. 

He is now back so I can begin to hang up my boots!

I have retired from all building projects and now have a group of parishioners looking after the maintenance work - a work in progress but will be operational in March and I can let go ! !

My Golden Jubilee in on Easter Sunday but I will celebrate with the feast day of St Kizito on 7June. Later I will celebrate in Ireland.

I am now moving towards retirement in Ireland in 2020-waiting for a new challenge!!

No golf for 6 months now, I seem always to be busy but will try to get out for a game this month! All change!!

The parish is good. We had to put a new wing on the Maria Mthundizi, Our Lady H of C, to accommodate the growing numbers an extra 200, and still many are outside! 

Overflowing in faith.

I can send some photos of the extensions and some other ones. We seem on the same track with Golden Jubilees and retirement tracks. 

Wishing you God’s blessing for 2020. 

Greetings to the Malawi Support Group 

Frank 

PS  Maybe 2020 will be a good time to complete the Malawi Support Group as we both move on?

Malawi Support Group 2019 Annual Report

Hi Everyone,
This year given Montmorency parishioners may not be familiar with the group I am providing some basic information inclusive of a brief history. We operate only as a very small group and would welcome any new members from Monty who might like to joins us. We hold our very brief, but friendly monthly meetings at 7.30pm, on the first Tuesdays of the month in the gathering area of OLHC. The commitment is not onerous and involves helping with raffles and a whist card night.  

The Group was first formed late in 1996 in Eltham, following circulation of a request from the Cathedral to provide support to a parish in Africa. The idea of formally providing material and spiritual support to a Sister Parish in a third world country was eagerly accepted by Our Lady’s parishioners in January 1997. We were finally linked with St Kizito’s Parish at Chigoneka, Lilongwe in May 1997. Each year we celebrate St Kizito’s Feast day (3rd June) at Our Lady’s Parish on the nearest weekend, when a collection is taken up.

Money raised in the earlier periods funded the renewal of two churches, accommodation for AIDS orphans, classroom shelters and a compound wall to keep intruders out of the grounds.

What followed were a number of projects to provide improvements and additions to the school, establishing a health clinic, the funding of a new church and nursery school plus more recently the provision of educational scholarships.

The group became a registered charity with its own ABN number and has received donations from Telstra and further generous donations from individuals outside of the group who are attracted by the fact 100% of what is donated goes directly to the most needy within your sister parish. We send funds directly to Fr Taylor’s parish account in Lilongwe via the Catholic Development Fund who in turn arrange equivalent US dollars to be transferred via the NAB.  

Fr Taylor is a veteran with over 35 years of service in Malawi, with his only support from an assistant priest. However he does get help from their local branch of St Vincent’s de Paul society at St Kizito, but apart from that there is no secretarial or parish support. The 6 parishes he supports cover more than 6,000 parishioners and for the most part they reside in either shanty towns or mud brick huts with thatched roofs. Scene below is driving through Ntandira. 

The structure of Father’s outreach to the parishes is facilitated by small community groups. Each has a head who look after the communities needs as best they can. Within each parish is either a community hut or house attached to the church, which is rented out to provide funds for the needy. Fr Taylor keeps in contact this way to provide support over and above their resources as far as he is able, in addition to liturgical commitments. Confirmations can be quite large events of 300 at one time.      

Below is a street scene taken just outside the school gates at Mt Siriza, then elders conferring with Fr Taylor and their typical accommodation. Then a picture of the women’s new prison, constructed by the inmates under Fr Taylor’s supervision from materials purchased by him. They leant new skills in bricklaying and construction and additionally established a vegetable garden. Previously the housing was deplorable. A similar exercise was undertaken for the men’s gaol.     

 

Our fundraising has reduced over the past few years and this year we will struggle to send a corresponding amount to last year ($4,000) dependent upon the results of the Christmas raffle. At a pinch we might be able to do so as the last raffle result for Father’s day was most encouraging.

Given the size of the group it was decided our future fund raising will comprise principally from raffles and the Whist night which continues to be a very successful social event.      

Thanks again for all you’re wonderful support which means your sister parish’s needy students and orphans can continue with their education.  

This year was also a difficult year for Fr Taylor but he now has an Indian priest helping him and continues to enjoy good health. In his last correspondence Fr. Taylor informed us Malawi continues to struggle with poor leadership and escalating prices, especially for students. Moral leadership has mostly failed and yet the people go on smiling – the warm heart of Africa. I expect that position hasn’t changed much this year. But I will shortly be writing to Fr Taylor for an update which I will share with you when it comes to hand.

Hi Everyone,

This year will be the first year where our fundraising will fall well short of the previous years. 

Raffles have continued to contribute significantly to our fund raising despite smaller attendances at Masses, but in the future we may need to curtail the raffle to just one prize. As was recorded in the Minutes, longstanding members, who have been extremely generous in arranging raffles and in support generally, have resigned from the Group. They will be missed and we thank them for their generosity.   

We did not undertake the Woolworths Barbecue as the supermarket has withdrawn support on the basis of health and safety issues owing to burns suffered.

Next year we will consider what additional fund raising could be undertaken such as the re-introduction of a theatre night. The group would welcome any new members since we have lost 3 members this year. We were very pleased to welcome Neal Walker at our last meeting.     

Your sister parish continues to flourish notwithstanding hardships. Thanks again for all you’re wonderful support which means your sister parish’s needy students and orphans can continue with their education.  

This year our support covered school fees for 9 Boarding School students, 8 Day School, 4 University and 16 Primary Scholl Orphans. We also purchased 3 computers.

Fr. Taylor informed us Malawi continues to struggle with poor leadership and escalating prices, especially for students. Moral leadership has mostly failed and yet the people go on smiling – the warm heart of Africa.

 

Letter from Fr.Taylor

Dear Lindsay, 

It was a very happy surprise to receive your letter and your welcome news. In October I had to return to Ireland as my niece Nuula was dying- I went for 3 weeks, even though the Doctors gave her only 2 days. But she defied the Doctors -I had to return to Malawi, she died a week later, R.I.P. She was 54. I was glad to spend time with her, but I could not return for the funeral. 

 

Fr. Martin from Kenya, who is with me, lost his father, is away until February. 

So, many things are happening at once, including my 75th birthday. When will I retire? when they get tired of me ! 

You are wonderful to keep up the contact to help the needy students. I collected 4 computers and 30 phones while at home, so I was very popular when I came back. 

 

I am rather slow on reporting our successful stories, so I must get 2 of them to write their stories and send them on. 

Malawians are not good at coming back to give thanks but let me try!

In the New Year I will send you the list of those we are supporting and some stories. 

 

Thanks again to your wonderful support and greetings to Neil, Michael, Linda, JS, Barbra & Bernie - golf remains a mystery!

Happy New Year. 

Fr. Frank. 

 

April 2018 letter from Fr Taylor

Dear Lindsay and MSG members,

Thanks again for the wonderful support you offer our needy students and orphans. 

From this we have been able to cover school fees and orphan support.

Support for school fess involved 9 Boarding school students, 8 Day School, 4 University and 16 primary Orphans. We also purchased 3 computers.

I am sending some photos of students and orphans. Hope they help.

Malawi continued to struggle with poor leadership and escalating prices, especially for students. Moral leadership has mostly failed and yet the people go on smiling – the warm heart of Africa.

Have not engaged with Sunny Money Malawi, as I have been helping to rebuild the girl’s secondary school.  We begin painting tomorrow. Also I have been asked to renovate a complex for priests and for respite. Hopefully we will finish by the end of May. I will in Ireland for 6 weeks from the 10^th July – nice thought.

Kindest Regards

Frank Taylor

Letter from Fr Taytor

Lindsay,

Thank you for your Christmas letter and New Year greetings. It was also

very special to have greetings from Malawi Support Group including Bernie &; Barb – my golf is hit and miss!

The Archbishop has asked me to help in building a modern secondary

School for girls (boarding) – a task beyond me but I at least built a wall around the compound of 115 panels of 4 meters each panel. The Archbishop is looking for funds in Europe. I will assist with an initial boarding facility for 50 girls. Please this is not a request.

The main project of school fees for secondary and tertiary students is a

Wonderful effort to assist the very needy students who come to us for help.

We open second term on 8^th January and will send you photos and details

(Even of the school wall).

The clinic is running well and I was able to bring a microscope from Ireland

For the laboratory which is very essential.

The solar lamp project for students is a great idea.
We often go 24 hours now without electricity, so to provide each student with a solar lamp which also has a charger for phones – where they can make a little pocket money.
An initial supply of 40 or 50 lamps would be a real blessing. A solar lamp with a charger built in is about $7.00 but may supply it cheaper when it is for the poor students. I Have one for testing at the moment.

I am planning to get solar panels for the house / church as every day we have

power outages.

Thanks again to everyone in the Malawi Support Group for their

Commitment. The remittance can be sent anytime in January.

Kindest Regards

Frank Taylor

Malawi Support Group 2017 Annual Report

Hi Everyone,

This year due to continuing excellent results inclusive of one very sizable donations we may be able to again remit a creditable amount to Fr Taylor, but that is dependent upon the results of the Christmas raffle. Raffles have continued to contribute significantly to our fund raising despite smaller attendances at Masses.  

 

We did not undertake the Woolworths Barbecue but I think it will be a good idea to aim at mustering sufficient support early on to make this a reality for next year.

 

Your sister parish continues to flourish notwithstanding continuing hardships and this year the Archbishop celebrated St. Kizito Day and Pentecost, with Confirmations for about180 young people and adults. It is a sobering statistic that, according to the World Bank in 2016 the gross national income per capita was only US$320 for Malawi and their currency continues to depreciate. However in the communities we support great progress continues and the very exciting news for this year was a Health Clinic is now operational alongside the church we helped fund at Ntandire. Although Ntandire is regarded as a shantytown is has shown a remarkable resilience.  Since establishing their own church from 2009, a rental property to generate funds for the needy, a nursery school, vegetable gardens and more recently additions to the primary school have been completed.   

   

The clinic is managed by the MEDICAL MISSIONARIES OF MARY (MMM) and according to Fr Taylor it is running very well and the people are overjoyed with the services. A small fee is charged to help pay the salaries and provide the drugs but Fr Taylor informs us he expects the Government will soon provide the salaries. Alongside the Church is the school and 3 classrooms were added this year to ensure it is a fully-fledged primary school to year 8. Fr Taylor also tells us your funding for the scholarships makes a huge impact and frees him from the worry of having to turn students away from getting a good education.

 

The students we support come from many different schools; 10 orphans from each of our 2 schools St. Bakhita and St. Michaels,  one from the Catholic University, one from St Paul’s Minor Seminary, three from Mua school of the deaf, two from Lilongwe technical college, one from medical school, three from Njewa secondary school, three from Mkwichi secondary school and various other assistances.

 

We had suggested this year to Fr Taylor we would be interested in supporting a Solar Lamps Project and he has indicated he thinks the project is viable but will require further preparation before he can launch it. We can follow up on this possibility next year.

 

This year he also undertook a major building project in order to secure the future financial stability of the parish. He completed 2 small apartments for rent at St Kizito as well as renovating the parish house where he resides.

 

Thanks once again to everyone for your kind support which enables the great work of Fr Taylor to continue as you can readily ascertain.  

We were pleased to welcome a new member into the group in November.   

 

Currently the Australian Dollar converts at the rate of 1 Australian dollar to 556 Malawian Kwacha so our contribution continues to go a long way.  

Update from Fr Taylor

Update From Fr Taylor

Health Clinic

The clinic is being run by the MEDICAL MISSIONARIES OF MARY (MMM) and it is located beside our church at Mtsiliza. The clinic is running very well. A small fee is charged to help pay the salaries and provide the drugs. We hope by July that the Government will provide the salaries. The people are very happy with the service.

 

Students we support

The students we support come from many different schools. 10 orphans from each of our 2 schools St. Bakhita and St. Michaels. One  from Catholic University, one from St Paul’s Minor Seminary, three from Mua school of the deaf, two from Lilongwe technical college, one from medical school, three from Njewa secondary school, three from Mkwichi secondary school and various other assistances to different  students.

Breakfast for Primary school students

We no longer assist with breakfast as the logistics were too difficult i.e. providing firewood for people to cook, sugar and maize meal etc.

Solar Lamps Project

The project is viable but will require further preparation before I can launch it.

Rental Accommodation,

I undertook this project in order to secure the future financial stability of the parish. I am completing this month two small apartments for rent as well as renovating the main house. It is in medium density area called area 15.

This week we have started building 3 classrooms at OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS at Ntandire to bring the school up to standard 8. The parents are very anxious to have a full primary school.

On the 4^th of June the Arch Bishop is coming to celebrate with us St. Kizito Day and Pentecost. We will have Confirmations for about 180 young people and adults.

Am keeping well continuing to enjoy the work here. I will be in Ireland from the 15^th of August to the end of September. Looking forward to the break.

Please convey my thanks to the support group for their wonderful work in supporting our developments.

Kindest Regards,

Fr. Francis Taylor

 

Students we support

 

Greetings from Malawi. I am sending you some photos of the clinic and the school blocks, and also some of the children who are receiving school fees from your kind donations. 

Please thank the support group for the wonderful work they are doing to help the poor students in Malawi.We hear on the news about the fires in Australia. I hope they get some relief soon, we are praying for you.

 Kindest regards and much thanks again.

Fr Francis Taylor.

 

NEW YEARS LETTER FROM FR TAYLOR

HAPPY NEW YEAR.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FUNDS FOR SCHOOL FEES.  HAVE JUST STARTED TO MEET THE STUDENTS AND WILL BE ABLE TO SEND YOU SOME PHOTOS MID MONTH AND ALSO OF THE SCHOOL BLOCK AND CLINIC.
YES I WILL GIVE YOU SOME FEEDBACK ON THE RUNNING OF THE CLINIC LATER IN THE MONTH,

LIFE WAS A BIT HECTIC AS I WAS THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE CLINIC TO KEEP COSTS TO A MINIMUM ALSO SAME FOR THE SCHOOL BLOCK AND TOILETS. HA
NOW WE HAVE A HOUSE FOR RENT WHICH HAS TO BE RENOVETED AND TO BUILD 2 APTS ALSO FOR RENTING PURPOSES .I MUST BE THE GAFFER HA .NEVER A DULL MOMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS LETTER JUST ARRIVED. NICE PHOTOS OF YOU AND THE GANG!!!!!!
MY NEW YEAR PROMISE IS TO PLAY SOME GOLF HA.
KEEP WELL,
REGARDS AND LOVE TO YOU ALL
FR FRANK

 

LETTER FROM FR TAYLOR IN MALAWI.

DEAR LINDSAY

GREETINGS FROM MALAWI, SORRY FOR THE LONG DELAY IN RESPONDING .THE POWER SHO0RTAGES ARE VERY WEARING!!!!!! BUT WE MANAGE. I WAS INVOLVED IN 4 PROJECTS IN THE PARISH AND ESPECIALLY BUILDING A CLINIC AND TRYING TO GET GOV. APPROVAL. WE OPENED LAST WEEK. GREAT PROGRESS AND WILL SERVE NTHANDIRE, 0NLY 1 MILE AWAY. ALSO WE HAVE GOV APPROVAL FOR THE SCHOOL AT OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS UP TO STD 4 AND HAVE COMPLETED A CLASSROOM BLOCK AND NEW TOILETS .WE WILL PROCEED TO STD 8. I STILL HAVE TO FINISH 2 PROJECTS BUT BY JANUARY THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE –HA! SOLAR IS A GREAT IDEA AND IS MOVING FORWARD IN MALAWI. WORTHWHILE TO THINK ABOUT FOR 2017 /2018
YES IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO GET THE SCHOOL FEES FOR BEGINNING IN EARLY JANUARY. WE HAVE 25 STUDENTS ON OUR BOOKS.
NEED SOME PHOTOS OF THE CLINIC SCHOOL BLOCK OR THE STUDENTS?
THESE ARE VERY HARD TIMES IN MALAWI .THE POVERTY IS EVEN WORSE AND OUR ARCHBISHOP WISHES TO BULD A NEW CATHEDRAL   NESESSARY YES BUT TO HOLD 5000 HA  TO COST 2 TO 3 MILLION DOLLARS .
WE WISH HIM SUCCESS
I AM KEEPING WELL.
HOPE THE BACK IS BEHAVING
GREETINGS TO THE MALAWI GROUP.IT IS WONDERFUL THAT YOU CONTINUE YOUR GREAT WORK WITH SMALLER NUMBERS
KINDEST REGARDS
FRANK

Woolworths BBQ

The BBQ was a great success with over $800 banked which included $181 in public donations above the $2.50 per sausage cost. Many people from the general public were genuinely interested in the group- especially when we informed them 100% of their donation ends up directly in assistance to Malawians.
Woolworths went out of their way to be very accommodative and kept the sausages and bread in storage to be taken just as we needed it. At the end of the day they credited us with the unused portion which avoided us incurring any wastage. Woolworths staff at all times were extremely helpful, very friendly and an absolute pleasure in their communications. Nothing was a problem to them including setting up and closing down. The young people involved at the store could not have been more helpful and bent over backwards for us and it was a pleasure to receive such a high quality service.   

Letter from Fr Taylor

27^th May 2016

Dear Lindsay,
Have only got your letter yesterday.
I have been heavily involved in three Projects in the Parish. Building two classrooms for the Government run secondary school beside ‘Maria Mthandizi’ where many of our students live. There are 100 in a class so we decided to rescue them by building a class block and hope to finish another one. Also we are building a clinic in the compound to assist medical care. Finally we are completing two classrooms and an office to bring the school at Holy Family to standard 8.

Our future plan is to bring the school at Maria Mtandizi to standard 8 from standard 4.

Our student bursary is going on well:

             Supporting 5 girls at the catholic boarding school            K355,000.00

                        Handicapped boy at a boarding school                               K60,000.00

                        Technical school  scholarships                                           K40,000.00

                        Agricultural college                                                            K65,000.00

                        University                                                                           K150,000.00

                        Technical school                                                                 K55,000.00

                        Minor seminary                                                                  K125,000.00

                        Carpentry school                                                                K35,000.00

                        8 students at day secondary school                                    K64,000.00

                        MUST University                                                               K200,000.00

                        DMI University                                                                  K150,000.00

We will continue with paying some of the fees for next term others are only 2 semesters per year.

I hope the Photos will help, of the secondary school, the primary school, the clinic and some of our students.

Thanks to you all for your kind support.

Fr F Taylor.        

Mothers Day raffle

The Mother’s Day raffle drawn on Sunday 1st May was a huge success with $524 raised through the ticket sales and some very generous donations.

 

CRAZY WHIST NIGHT

Thanks to all concerned that contributed to the total amount of $357.85 being raised for this great social event.
We sold 28 tickets to card players and also had a further $77.85 contributed in very kind donations through the Jelly Bean Box from parishioners unable to attend on the night.
Last week we remitted our annual fundraising on behalf of our sister parish to continue to support Fr Taylor with the scholarship programs  and assistance to the needy in the outlying areas.

Annual Report for the Malawi Support Group

Hi Everyone,
This year we will be able to replicate last year’s fundraising results to continue the support for orphan and parishioner children administered under the outstanding leadership of Fr Taylor.
Once again the fundraising and activities for the group have been very successful, supplemented as always by some very generous donations with the mainstays represented by the annual parish collection and raffles which continue to be very well supported. Parishioners at times express their delight to me when notified as the winners, some to say this is the first time they have ever won a prize in a raffle. This year your chances of securing a winning ticket were further enhanced with the Christmas raffle offering 5 lovely prizes.    

In August I gave a talk to the school children, at the request of the school, about the Malawi Support Group and pointed out that Malawi, with a population of 16 million occupies an area less than the size of Tasmania, explaining the country has limited resources.  

One of the biggest differences I explained is how much better off we are in Australia compared to Malawians – as nearly half the people in Malawi earn only $1 a day. After talking about life in Malawi and the limited facilities in their sister parish’s catholic school, they all watched the video of the inaugural mass in the new church which we largely funded, then ended the talk with a short story I had composed.   
The children were wonderfully attentive and asked many thoughtful questions to subsequently raise a creditable donation from their own efforts by doing odd jobs over the holidays. A further amount was donated by the tuckshop. It is a reminder how many of the regular amounts raised like this have all added up to make a bid difference to the outcomes for your sister parish.

But possibly more importantly is the narrative that has emerged to unite us in a common thread of unity to embrace fellowship in fundraising activities and in co- sharing the gifts and stories to learn more about each other’s respective customs and cultures.  

But our numbers are getting thin so we welcome any new members to the group as we were saddened to lose one of our younger members this year who has left the parish. He will be sorely missed as he made a substantive contribution during his brief membership.  

Thanks to the committee and to everyone for your continued very generous support.