For the last several years, the children and youth in our Faith Formation programs have undertaken an Assumptionist project to support through their Lenten almsgiving.  They were asked to set aside some allowance or money they might use for a movie, snacks, new game, new clothes, etc. to help with the Beni School Project in the Congo. It was an opportunity for children to reach out to children.

A poster displaying some pictures sent to us by Fr. John Franck, A.A. was hung in each classroom. This gave us the opportunity to talk to students about the civil war waging in the Congo with villagers being forced to flee and take refuge in Beni. They were saddened to learn that many of the refugees were children who were orphans of war. They also could see progress being made on a new school for 240 children. Each week they remembered them in prayer.

On Palm Sunday, children returned their Lenten canisters, having raised $656 for the Beni School Project. We continue to pray for the children affected by war and will follow the progress of the new school which will bring a renewed sense of hope to children and hopefully peace to a region that has suffered beyond anything we can imagine.

Terry Johnson,
Coordinator of Religious Education