In October 2007, a priest from Africa came to the Newman Center to speak on behalf of the
Camallian Missionary Priests. He himself is a diocesan priest and was here to help them gather
support for their missionary work.
On Monday morning, he said Mass for us and after Mass I was able to talk to him for an hour or so.
The same thing on Tuesday, Wednesday and on Thursday the day he left for Lemoore. I learned a lot about
his village and the people he serves.
- There are 1100 people in his village Njoro
(pronounced en joro rhymes with torro).
- He lives with his family, the Church can not
provide him with food or lodging.
- He walks 8 miles from his house to the Church every day. From there
he goes to wherever he is needed. Think about it, it's like walking from the Newman Center to the
Tower District every morning and then back again at night.
- The nearest city is fifteen miles from the village. Another long walk.
- There is only one well in the village. Everybody has to carry water in buckets on their heads
or shoulders.
- Electricity was brought into their village a year ago, but only a few of the villagers can
afford to have it installed in their houses. Hence, no refrigerators.
- When the gifts are brought to the altar, the offerings usually include eggs or even a live chicken.
They just don't have money, so they give what they can.
- Even though the villagers are made up of different religions, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, etc.
they get along with one another. They watch out for one another and when someone has something they
share it with their neighbors.
- The children are given a basic education, but most families can't afford to send them for a
secondary or high school education. Father Peter is the only one in his village that has gone
to a university level.
- The villagers walk in their bare feet. Father Peter started wearing shoes when he went into
the seminary.
- The kids will take a cloth and roll it into a ball and tie it so they can play soccer.
It didn't take too long for me to realize that I have so much and they have so little. I spend a
lot of money on frivolous things. On that Monday in October after talking with him, I committed
myself to send money to help him
and his family and village.
He told me that he was able to send his brother to a trade school to
learn carpentry. His brother has a hammer and a saw and can make furniture and build a house. He
would like to get some power tools and set up a workshop for his brother, so that he can teach the
other kids how to build furniture and houses. He would also like to get some sewing machines and
have someone teach a couple of the girls how to sew so that they can teach other girls.
However, he uses the money I send him is up to him. I know that he will receive 100% of the money
because I am sending it directly to him. I have been sending him a check, but it takes several months
for it to clear. Because his bank is not in his village and he has to walk to the city to make a
deposit, he has given me his account number and asked that I wire the money directly to his bank.
If you believe that you would like to donate also, please send a check made out
to Knights of Columbus #9445, C/O St Paul Newman Center, 1572 E. Barstow Ave, Fresno, CA 93710.
Please remember to indicate that it is for Father Peter. I will include your money and when I email him
I will tell him it includes your donation.
Al Mollo, PGK
