News Reel
Parishioners from Communion of Saints, Our Lady of Peace send life support to parish in Tanzania
Nancy Erikson, Editor
Cleveland
For Mary Golrick the idea of not being able to get an ambulance to take a loved
one to the hospital in an emergency or not to be able to transport the body of
someone she loves who is deceased so that person can have a dignified burial
is something she hopes no one ever has to face.
So Golrick, along with her fellow parishioners at Communion of Saints Parish,
Cleveland Heights and members of Our Lady of Peace Parish, Cleveland, was more
than willing to help raise money for an ambulance to serve the people of St.
Anthony of Padua Parish and dispensary located in the village of Mbahe on the
slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The parish is part of the Catholic Diocese
of Moshi.
The connection between the parishes began with Father Deogratias Ruwaainenyi,
or Father Deo as he is affectionately called, who lived and served at Our Lady
of Peace Parish during his last year of seminary. Father Deo then served at
Communion of Saints Parish before serving in his current assignment as parochial
vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wickliffe.
Father Deo had returned home to Mbahe with Father Gary Chmura, pastor of Our
Lady of Peace Parish, to attend to the death of his mother, Therese Malyawere.
Upon arriving at the village, they realized the people had no ambulance with
which to transport people in medical emergencies to the nearest clinic about
45 minutes away. People also had no way of transporting their deceased except
by hiring expensive transport services which many could not afford.
So the idea was born to see if the money could be raised here, in the Cleveland
Diocese, for the people to have an ambulance.
The cause caught on quickly with parishioners at Communion of Saints and Our
Lady of Peace.
"I think the cause is such as compelling one," Golrick said. "To have a simple
solution to alleviate such great suffering. It will make a difference in the
life and death and in human suffering. I think this had broad based appeal to
all people of faith."
Father Chmura explained that when he traveled to Africa, he learned much about
the diversity of the people and the communities there--particularly Father Deo's
home village.
"The people are as Catholic as Catholic can be," he said noting that he watched
the schoolchildren walking miles to get to catechism classes at their parish.
"Here, we have every convenience available to us. We don't always appreciate
that."
COURTESY FATHER DEOGRATIAS RUWAAINENYIA doctor helps a young villager during a medical emergency using the ambulance donated by two parishes in the Cleveland Diocese.
He was thrilled to see the response of the people of both parishes which raised
about $50,000 for the ambulance that was blessed and dedicated at St. Anthony
of Padua Parish this past autumn.
Father Chmura said he was impressed by the efforts of Our Lady of Peace and
Communion of Saints which included children selling candy, people donating
and holding bake sales and other fund raising events.
"It was a great project that brought people together," he said.
As for Father
Deo, he said he is touched by what he calls "the goodness of the people here"
to care so much about the parish and people in his home village. He shared
a letter of thanks from St. Anthony of Padua pastor, Father Exuper Kwilike
Lyimo who expressed gratitude for the ambulance which he said "brings us into
a new age in which our sick people can have a proper and comfortable means
of transport.
"Our joy is beyond telling," Father Lyimo continued. "On our part, we promise
prayers for your parishes and for each one of you, that God may bestow special
blessings on you."
Father Deo said bringing faithful from the Diocese of Cleveland and the Diocese
of Moshi together is the greatest part of the gift.
"When you talk of the universality of the Church, that's when it becomes clear,"
Father Ruwaainenyi said. "To see the generosity of people to other people,
to see the goodness of the people here shows how strong their faith is."