Dear Parishioners,
   Recently, I went back to Edmonds for a farewell dinner for Fr. Dominic, a priest from Malawi who served with me in Edmonds for three years. He is finishing a five-year term serving in the Archdiocese of Seattle and is now returning to his home country of Malawi. It was through Fr. Dominic that the Edmonds parish developed a relationship with his diocese and the girl’s school in Malawi. It was also with him that the parish organized two mission trips to Malawi while I was priest there.
   The Mission trips were amazing trips and I would say life changing for those who participated, especially for the young people. We hear about the conditions in parts of Africa, but it is different to witness these conditions first hand. It was also very inspiring to see the great Catholic faith that the people have in Malawi. The churches there are overflowing with families and young people. The liturgies are at least over two hours long and filled with joy, singing and dancing.
   Hannah Graves, who worked at my former parish, helped coordinate the parish’s Mission trips. These trips ultimately inspired her to go to Malawi and teach at the girl’s school. And, for the last two years, Hannah has been the local Malawi contact for our South Stevens County parishes as we helped support the school and community in many ways. We raised an impressive $40,000 during Lent just in the last two years to help students pay for tuition, finish building a new school administrative building, and supply needed food to the community. Hannah is now returning home to the states and has offered to come to Chewelah sometime to give a presentation on her experiences in Malawi. I think we will try to plan for this in the fall.
   With Hannah coming back to the states, I needed to establish another contact in Malawi to keep us connected to the local needs and ensure our help is received. So while I was at Fr. Dominic’s farewell dinner, I asked if he would be our contact and he agreed.
   Also, as we were developing our Parish Pastoral Plan this year, an idea has come forward to make a Mission trip to Malawi from our own parish. This would be an ambitious plan for a parish of our size, but something that would be very fruitful and beneficial for all. It would take a substantial amount of planning, participation and financial commitment. Hannah and some folks from Edmonds would help us plan if it is something we decide to pursue.
    Please take a look at the pictures that Hannah has sent to us from the girl’s school we have been supporting. There are letters from some of the girls we have helped with scholarships and a picture of the corn that was purchased with the funds we sent for hunger relief in the local village. The sisters there will be distributing the food (corn) to the local village throughout the year.
    I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has helped us these past two years in our support for the girl’s school and hunger relief in Malawi. It is a very worthwhile and needed project and we were able to provide substantial impact to the school and community. I hope and pray that this relationship that we have built with this community in Malawi may culminate someday in a Mission trip from our parish.