Babelfish
Translation
‘
Whatever one may say, these legitimate means of raising funds are always a help
September
2003
RNDM Mission Solidarity News is published four times
each year – March, June, September and December.
RNDM Mission Solidarity is the RNDM office that
promotes mission solidarity in communications and in funding
For the missionary works of the 900 Sisters of Our
Lady of the Missions in 20 countries world wide.
ALL are invited to contribute to our RNDM mission
solidarity funds.
France Vietnam Association
In 1999 a pilot group
of about fifteen volunteers gathered in Toulon to start a voluntary association to
fundraise for the works of our Sisters in Vietnam. They were motivated by their desire to
help impoverished children, and the expectation was that each volunteer would use his/her
own competencies to raise funds. The group has grown to include some 100 volunteers and has won the support of a variety of benefactors,
including the General Council of Var (the region of Toulon). As a result of their many
activities since that time, some €60,300 has been gathered and sent on to support
some 11 projects from Bac Ninh just north of Hanoi, to Can Tho well south of Ho Chi Minh
city, in the Mekong Delta. Their projects have included 7 pre-schools, 7 primary
classrooms, a dispensary, furniture, school materials and library books and hostel
furnishing for 2 places and building a compound wall for the Dalat property.
Currently they are negotiating with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help fund the new school to be built in Dalat. [RNDM Solidarity contributed some early money to help with the planning of this school.]
Photos from Vietnam
Above: Visiting the poor in the Montagnard
villages
Sister M André visits the nursery school in Thi Nghe
Report from Papua-New Guinea <by Sister Rose Mary Harbinson>
RNDMs at work in PNG
These days we have just three RNDMs working in Papua-New Guinea – living far apart from one another. Carmel Looby RNDM (formerly of the British Isles, celebrating her Golden Jubilee of religious profession this year) is serving as Principal of the Tari Diocesan High School; she joined the mission in 2001. Rose Mary Harbinson RNDM (also from the British Isles) has served in this mission for some time and since retraining in 2002 is lecturing in parish pastoral ministry in the Catholic Theological Institute of Bomana in Port Moresby.
Sister Marie Lawlor (also originally from the British Isles) celebrated her
Golden Jubilee of religious profession in 2001 and has served in the mission for more than
33 years. She is presently living at Kagua and working amongst the people of the Southern
Highlands Diocese. For most of that time, at the request of the Bishops, one of her tasks
has been to accompany some members of a Franciscan Congregation for indigneous women
founded by Bishop Firmin Schmit, ofm Cap. Marie’s main work is parish ministry in
Kagua, from which mission station the Capuchin founders have now withdrawn.
Photo: Sister Marie with a
mentally sick woman who comes daily for food (kaukau) and water. Donations to the Sisters help to keep her clothed.
She is giving a lovely smile for the camera because she has just received her new
Christmas gift - a laplap, jumper, towel and soap.
Left: A
street scene in Kagua.
Above Right: Kim, Rose Mary, Carmel and Marie all together during the
visitation.
This year the Sisters received a visit from Sister Kim Phung Pham, member of the Congregational Leadership Team. This was a time of new experiences for Kim, and of support and encouragement for these remote missionaries.
Footnote: Mission support comes from unexpected places and in a variety of ways. Some young gentlemen from Verona (Italy) came to see missionary life in the raw in PNG. One persuaded his parents to donate the soccer kit for the boys in Kagua primary. Many thanks Franca and Celestino Cerato.
Mission Support
Photo : Frederico, Elia Sisters Mary PVM, Jean OP and Rose Mary RNDM (in front)
Elia’s parents donated the soccer kit for the boys at Kagua Primary School.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Donations for RNDM mission works can be handed to any Sister of Our Lady of the Missions.
For further information
contact : 
COORDINATOR RNDM MISSION SOLIDARITY
Sister Mary Rose Holderness,
Suore di Nostra delle Missioni
Casa Generalizia
Via di Bravette, 628
00164 ROMA
Italy
Email : fundraiser@rndmgen.org