FOR

RNDMs, Associates, Friends and Sponsors

‘We would have no peace if some of our friends did not come to our help.”

                                                                                                                                     Euphrasie Barbier, Lyons 1871

June 2001

Natural Disasters – Earthquake in Peru; Floods in Orissa, India

Our Sisters in many parts of the world will remember June 2001 because of events whose stories will be told for generations. Two places that have been devastated by natural disasters were Peru with its 8.1 earthquake and India with the terrible floods in Orissa.

The RNDM Appeal for disaster relief funds for the places where our Sisters work in Peru has met with some generous responses. We are very grateful to the individuals and groups who are sending funds to help the poor in the Peruvian towns where our Sisters are trying to support those who have lost the little they have. Special thanks to Caritas New Zealand, which is offering disaster relief funds for Peru.

Our Sisters do not have a convent in Orissa. Although eight of the young women at Barasat come from that district there is no report of family damage there, thanks be to God. However, if people were offering money for relief in India our Sisters in Calcutta would be happy to distribute it according to the wishes of the donors.

Hogar Belen, Moquegua, Peru  

The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions were invited by the Canadian Franciscans Fathers to join them in their Custody of Peru in 1967. The mission base was in Moquegua, a green coastal valley in the midst of barren desert mountains at an altitude of 3300 feet above sea level. 80% of the people are unemployed and most live in mud or straw houses. Very soon the first Sisters started a group home for abandoned children, for abandoned and abused women with children, and for those in need. In 1999 Sister Loretta Bonokoski was honoured by the city of Moquegua for the invaluable work undertaken at Hogar Belen for more than 30 years.

Hogar Belen has attracted considerable agency, group and individual support over the years and has grown to provide food and shelter, a loving environment and spiritual and human formation for some 300 people all the year round. RNDM Solidarity contributions build a washroom for them in 2000.

Although the earthquake caused some damage to their buildings, Hogar Belen quickly became a relief centre for the local people whose homes and small livelihood had been totally destroyed in just a few minutes.
Photo: Hogar Belen children love their cow

Fundraising for our RNDM Millennium Mission Investment Fund

The fundraising campaign - to build a special investment fund that will enable our Sisters to continue their work for women well into the new millennium  - has begun.

The campaign booklet – Women Working With Women  - is now available.  [Just ask one of the Sisters.]

Donations to this Fund will work forever to generate on-going income for the general missionary purposes of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions.

RNDM Mission Projects for 2001

This year the US$37,625 requested for the 11 RNDM Mission Projects for 2001 has been fully promised by Australia, British Isles, Canada and France.  Congratulations to the Coordinators of the Solidarity Fund in each of those provinces, and to all our friends and donors who are contributing so regularly and working to raise funds to help our mission works.