A Roof for Bakhita

A unique opportunity has arisen to be part of a project providing direct benefits to the poor in the African country of Sudan while at the same time actively providing a healing atmosphere between Christian and Muslim families. Sudan is the homeland of Saint Josephine Bakhita, born around 1869 then captured into slavery as a six year old child and sold to slave masters, one whom carved scars all over the precious child with knives. By the grace of God, an Italian Foreign Service worker purchased Bakhita's freedom and took her to Italy. There, Bakhita declined an opportunity to return to her Darfur homeland. Instead, she chose to give her life to Jesus by becoming a Canossian Daughter of Charity, dedicated to serving children  and the poorest of the poor until her death in 1947. After Beatification in 1996, Saint Bakhita was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000. She was declared to be the Universal Sister, a loving sister to embrace each of us in love and  charity of heart.

St. Bakhita's order, the Canossain Daughters of Charity, was founded by Saint Magdalene of Canossa beginning in 1808and continuing to this day. Beatified in 1941 and Canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 2, 1988 Saint Magdalene's mission remains constant more than two centuries later, to promote the growth of the person, especially the poorest; to educate and to assist the sick. The Canossians operate schools, health clinics and  training centers for women throughout the world, especially the the most impoverished regions. The current situation in Saint Bakhita's homeland is a prime example of the Canssian mission in actual application. Like much of Northern Sudan and the Middle East, sectarian violence and animosity between Christian and Muslim communities are regrettably commonplace. Into this cauldron comes the soothing presence of St. Bakhita's modern-day successors. However, due to the utter poverty of a nation like Sudan, these sisters are hard-pressed to keep a proper roof over their heads.

The school in Khartoum is in a state of disrepair. The Archdiocese, one the of poorest in the world in financial viability, is in no position to help. Canossian Mother Severing Motta, FdCC, draws a simple picture of Canossian presence in Sudan: "We, Canossian Sisters, came to El Obeid in the Province of Kordofan in 1996, after the visit of Pope John Paul II, who brought the relic of Saint Bakhita back to Sudan after her Beatification. Now we are five Sisters and run two parish Kindergartens, a Diocesan Primary School for displaced children, and a technical school for women's promotion."

In 1998, the Canossians accepted St. Francis School, the Diocesan Kindergarten and the primary school in Sudan's capitol of Khartoum. There are 1300 students enrolled in the St. Francis School. Anything left over from the school fees reverts to an Archdiocese struggling to provide many services to the poor, especially the flood of refuges from the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan. The Sisters' main source of income is a nominal one hundred dollars salary for each Sister. These religious sisters truly live within the embrace of their vows of poverty. Unable to rely on the Archdiocese for funding, Sisters are left to provide their own funding for the school. Prudently, Sisters decline to engage in new projects until funding is secured.

Now would be an excellent time to assist the Sisters. The St. Francis Complex is essentially falling apart from the roof downwards. "Our convent is in the school compound and half of it-kitchen, store room, dining room is in a very bad state and needs rebuilding.," reports Mother Severina. The school also needs restructuring, especially its two staff rooms in the administration block. The complex is quite old and, in spite of maintenance, is  breaking down."

The school lovingly accepts all children regardless of religious or economic means. Since the Canossians took over,  the intake of Sudanese displaced children has now reached thirty percent (30%), If fully qualified, Christian teachers are given priority, while the workers are Catholic. "As we increase the number of Christians the income decreases says," Mother Severina. because they are all displaced and cannot pay the total fees. On the  otherhand, we would like to give the chance to our children to have a good future and at the same time welcome Muslims to educate their students to a peaceful and fraternal co-living."

It thus becomes clear that the spirit of the mission forged by Saint Magdalene and nurtured by Saint Bakhita is alive and well in St. Francis School in Khartoum. We in the West have an abundance of blessings while the Canossian Sisters struggle to maintain a derelict school compound  of out sense of charity and love for children of the poor of all stripes. In a recent development, the Sisters have pledged to provide materials for another 2,000 Children of  Darfur war refugees who are recently encamped with their families in the desert on the outskirts of Khartoum. The Bakhita Project will also assist with this project as the dilapidated St. Francis School has no room to hold more students. The children in the desert who are forced into a nomadic condition though the war will at least have the gift of schooling through the generosity of you who support the Project.

Mother Severina writes, "Our help is like a drop of water in the ocean but what matters is the heart we put into it. To see a big smile on the face of little ones...It is a marvelous experience. These Sudanese children are very simple; they appreciate everything and do not demand anything . They really deserve to be helped." Mother Severina reports that at the end of July '06 despite hot conditions in the desert, she was able to deliver a lorry-load of food and supplies for 2000 kids at four makeshift tent schools set up in desert refugee camps. The Sisters thank  you the of your  spirit of generosity created.,to helped the children.

Fr. Gary Zerr and Deacon Allen Vandecoevering of St. Edward  Church,in Keizer Oregon announce " The Bakhita Project" in honor of the Sisters. Just as the child Bakhita was rescued from slavery in Sudan, we  now have the opportunity to rescue a new generation of Sudanese children from the slavery of poverty through a decent education made through love and the Daughters of Charity.

Saint Edward Church is providing the postal reception needed for the Bakhita Project. Deacon Allen has volunteered his liason services for the   Canossian Daughters of Charity in Khartoum. As such, no organizational overhead exists. Every cent received will follow directly to Mother Severina and the school rebuilding needs in Khartoum. Some money will be used to purchase food and supplies for Darfur refugees. Your generosity will dircctly translate into a bridge-building peace effort between Christian and Muslim community needs in Sudan, will further the educational needs of their children and will serve as a shining example of the love given by Saint Bakhita herself.

If you can afford to put a few dollars into an envelope , or provide your check made out to St. Edward Church/The Bakhita Project, our Canossian Sisters at St. Francis School will be most grateful. Please mail donations to:

The Bakhita Project, St. Edward Church, 5303 River Road, North Keizer, Oregon 97303

Please remember the Sisters and children in you prayers.

For more information contact Project Manager Susan Wilson at SLBakhita@aol.com

You can also find more news about the Bakhita Project under "Feature pages " http://www/sainteds.com"