Training Sisters in Jordan

In January, Our Pontifical Mission’s Amman office funded a five-day training session in accounting and business practices for women religious, most of whom supervise schools, hospitals and houses of instruction.

Approximately 30 sisters from all over Jordan participated in the session conducted by Prof. Jamil Koussa of Bethlehem University.

“This was so well-received,” wrote the Rev. William Corcoran, our director in Amman, “that we are discussing other options, specifically, for the schools – computer training (many computers sit idle) and library science classes, which will develop underutilized facilities.”

Projects Receive Funding

At the January meeting of major Catholic agencies held in the Vatican, a paper suggesting the pastoral needs of Iraq’s Catholics was presented by the Rev. William Corcoran of our Amman office.

Grant requests to rebuild churches, convents, pastoral centers and rectories – destroyed during the Gulf War – were also presented. Most received funding.

Funds were also promised for the grant proposals presented by Bishop Kidane-Mariam Teklehaimanot of the Diocese of Adigrat, in the Ethiopian province of Tigre. Projects include classrooms, chapels and small residences for the clergy.

Ecumenical Efforts in Ethiopia

Our Association recently offered Abuna Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, a modest contribution to help rebuild churches, most of which were destroyed or abandoned because of famine and war. The gift was a sign of the Association’s desire to assist this eminent community.

Since the fall of the communist regime, the Orthodox Church has struggled to rebuild its churches. Many of these shrines are being built by the people themselves, a dollar at a time.

In another development, the Sebata Orphanage, which houses 212 orphans from all over Ethiopia, has been incorporated into our Needy Child Program. The orphanage is attached to the Sebata Monastery, a convent for women founded by Emperor Haile Selassie.

Addio Paola

After more than 13 years of outstanding service, sponsorship administrator Paola Santostefano left the Association in February to become midwest coordinator for the Focolare Movement, an international lay apostolate of which she is a member.

A native of Italy, Ms. Santostefano joined our sponsorship program in December 1980 and was named administrator in 1987.

Focolare has reassigned her to Chicago where she will coordinate all events for the region. Her friendly manner and many skills will be missed.

We wish you Godspeed, Paola!

Needy Child Program in India

Our Association networks with more than 250 childcaring institutions in India, sustaining more than 20,000 children – 10,000 of whom await sponsorship.

Dr. Dorothy Baker, an expert in child care, visited Kerala late last year to study and evaluate a few of these institutions.

“…the Association’s payments to these institutions make it possible for them to survive,” she stated in her report.

“In view of this it is not possible to think of creative ways of using the Association’s funds since they are required for maintenance.”

Dr. Baker attributes this to the rising costs of food, medical care and education as well as increases in administrative expenses.

Dr. Baker challenged the Association to find new ways to support those children who are 18 and over, “so that after finishing school they may he given technical or advanced training…for jobs.

“The children remain in the institutions,” she continued, “because they have no home to go to and no job skills.”

Eastern Churches Celebrate

January was an exciting month for two Eastern Catholic communities.

In New York City, Bishop Nerses Setian, Apostolic Exarch for Armenian Catholics in North America, offered a pontifical liturgy to honor the 10th anniversary of St. Ann’s Armenian Catholic Cathedral.

At the Cathedral of the Annunciation near Boston, the Most Rev. John A. Elya, B.S.O., was installed as eparch of the Melkite-Greek Catholic Diocese of Newton.

Our director of programs, Brother David Carroll, F.S.C., represented the Association.

“These joyful events,” said Brother David, “were enhanced by the exquisite sound of the liturgical music.”