Brother Brian Johnson at Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda, which houses thousands of refugees from South Sudan.

Letters of thanks to Nenagh World Aid Society

 

 

 

The following are excerpts from some of the letters of thanks to Nenagh World Aid Society and people of the Nenagh area from recipient charities overseas in 2018. A total of 23 projects have benefited across the world this year.


Nenagh World Aid Society will hold its annual street collection in Nenagh this Saturday and Sunday, June 23rd and 24th.

SOUTH SUDAN
Greetings and good wishes to you and all who are involved in Nenagh World Aid Society. My prayer is that you will be blessed with peace and health of body. Sincere thanks for remembering me once again for your kind donation of €400, which I passed to Fr John Skinnader, who works at the very difficult mission we have in South Sudan. So please keep them in your prayers and thoughts.

Fr Paddy Donovan, CSSP

UGANDA
You are very kind to help us with our work with some of the most forgotten and deprived people on Earth. I have enclosed photos of people that we were able to help. I took some photos when I was in Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda, which houses thousands of refugees from South Sudan. The women in the photos do not have the use of their lower legs, nor can they use crutches. They used to crawl, but now they have the freedom of travel without restriction. As one woman said: “Give thanks to the people of your tribe that gave me legs”. You are remembered in the daily prayers of the Brothers.

Brother Brian Johnson, OSF

BOSNIA
At St Luke's Home Care in Medjugorje, we carried out the annual task of delivering wood to the very poor to provide cooking and heating for their stoves, many of which we have bought. We are so grateful for the generous pilgrims who come every year, some for a month to deliver and stack the firewood we need. We are blessed to be caring for the dying in their own homes and we provide ongoing support for the bereaved. We meet many who are traumatised because of war and ethnic cleansing. You are prayed for in every home we visit.

Kevin Whitehead and Jane Dowd

SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
As I write this letter, I think of the many people who have been forced to flee the violence in Marani city and are now refugees. Over 3,000 people have taken refuge in the parish of Barra on the outskirts Cagayan de Ora city. Columban Fr Enrique Escobar tries to minister to their needs both materially and spiritually. On a daily basis, he tries to dispel the darkness of hopelessness and despair. Closer to home we have the scandal of homelessness and the tragedy of young people dying on our streets. With your support and partnership, together we can bring the light of Christ into the world.

Fr Pat Raleigh (Regional Director, Columban Missionaries)

KENYA
Once again, I am gifted by Nenagh World Aid Society for the Kenyan poor and needy. Indeed, they have had a particularly tough year with political turmoil and unpredictable drought, followed by torrential rain. They are caught by severe climate change, unpredictable crop failure and, above all, political failures. So, your gift of €400 will find many calls to respond to, especially if education of youth is to continue. Please pass on the gratitude of the youth of Mukuru to your members.

Sr Angela Hartigan

KENYA
Thank you for your help from Nenagh World Aid Society towards my trip to Kenya as a volunteer with the Ray of Sunshne Foundation. The following is from a letter to me from Selina in Kenya: “You are the age of my grandfather, yet you work hard under the hot sun of Mombasa. I am grateful that because of your love, I have a bright future. God bless the work of your hands. Say hello to your family and remember to come back.”

Michael McGeeney

ZIMBABWE
Thank you for your generous response to my recent letter. Your continued support for our ministries in Zimbabwe and Ireland is much appreciated. You are remembered at the Eucharist and the prayer of the church by all our communities in Zimbabwe and Ireland.

Richard Byrne, O Carm Prior Provincial

BRAZIL
Together with a few local people, we divide out what is given so that most of the more needy families can get something. Each food basket, worth about €25, would keep a poor family of four to five people going with basic foodstuffs for 15 to 20 days. At the moment we are building a two-room house for Erisvania. Her house was so badly hit by the rains that we had to take it down. She has a daughter, Geicy, of about 10 to 12 years old, and a baby called Alice, a few months old. Local people help with materials also but it's great to have the Templederry walks and Borrisoleigh tractor run money behind me to be able to buy cement or iron for a door or window when the need arises.

Fr Matt Ryan

BRAZIL
I wish to acknowledge with thanks the €400 payable to Sr Gabrielle Kiernan. The cheque has been lodged to her Brazilian Mission account. Please convey thanks to Nenagh World Aid Society.

Sr Mary Monica Smalle, Sisters of Mercy SCP

TANZANIA
I received a cheque for €400 from Fr George Renehan for our work. As you can guess, the children with disabilities pay no school fees or residential fees, so we are dependent on people like you. Thank you most sincerely and may God bless you.

Tommy Ryan, SAC