Dear Friend of Liberia Mission,
We wish you a Happy Spring! As this change of season brings new growth and energy to our environment, it is also bringing transition to our Mission. It is with a grateful heart and hopeful spirit that I share this update with you.
Greg & Kristen Caudle Return to America in June
Greg has been the Director of Liberia Mission since October 2016. Kristen has been an anchor and the Mission’s Finance Manager. What an amazing gift they and their four children have been to the Mission! Their leadership has been rock solid and their hearts a glimpse of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. God sent them to us in a time when we needed their gifts. We are very, very grateful. Greg will begin his new job in July as the principal of a Catholic school in Colorado. Getting back to the States in June will allow them to get their children ready for school in September. Thank you Greg, Kristen and family. We wish you the very best!
John Alpha (Alpha) Has Been Promoted to Director of Liberia Mission
Alpha began his career at the Mission five years ago as Houseparent. Over his tenure with the Mission, he has served as Lead-Houseparent, Dean, and has been Assistant Director since September 2015. Alpha is a graduate of St. Augustine Catholic boarding high school in Ghana and the University of Liberia where he received his degree in biology. Congratulations Alpha!
Welcoming Our New Lay Missioners
Grace Miller, Franciscan Lay-Missioner, will be heading to Liberia in May as our new Financial Manager. Most recently Grace has been the business assistant and marketing manager for a dental clinic in St. Augustine, FL, her hometown. Grace was a member of the Cenacolo Community for four years serving as a Catholic Missionary in Florida, Italy and Liberia. In Liberia, Grace managed the Cenacolo Community's finances and supervised and counseled twenty-five women, ages 18–35, dealing with substance abuse addiction.
John Young, Franciscan Lay-Missioner, will be on his way to Liberia in May as well. He will coordinate Child Protection, Communication and Operations. John was a Catholic Missionary at the Cenacolo Community for eight years, serving in Italy, Liberia and Florida. In Liberia, John was the supervisor (housefather) of the boys at St. Bakhita Mission. He used his videography and communication skills to tell the story of the Cenacolo Community's work among the orphaned and abandoned children of Liberia. Welcome John!
University Graduate: We are pleased to share the awesome news that our student Josephine is graduating from Cuttington University. Josephine attended St. Anthony’s and received a scholarship from the Mission to St. Christopher’s Catholic High School in Kakata. Upon graduating from St. Christopher’s, Josephine enrolled in Cuttington University where she will graduate this summer. Congratulations Josephine!
BWI Graduates: With their internships completed and national exam taken, our second group of Booker Washington Institute students are ready for their cap and gowns. Please join us in congratulating the following students:
- Rosiel (Domestic Science Focus)
- Papaye (Machinery Focus)
- Judy (Domestic Science Focus)
- Jacob (Drafting Focus)
- Inca (Electricity Focus)
- Darius (Accounting Focus)
St. Anthony Graduates: Our school has 39 students in the 9th graduating class. Please join us in congratulating the following students:
- Our Community Scholarship Student Graduates: Emmanuel & Francis
- Our Residential Student Graduates: Charles, Genevia, Olena, Precious, & Roberta
With your help, these students will all be entering BWI in September. Congratulations!
On November 3, 2018, we will mark our 15th anniversary in Liberia. We are planning a wonderful day of celebration including Thanksgiving Mass, a pig roast, a cultural dance, kick ball & football games, tours of the campus, and a singing competition.
Are you interested in joining us? So far, we have six people planning to travel to Liberia Mission for the celebration. We have room for more guests, and would love to have you join us! If you are interested, please send me an email: joesehnert@gmail.com.
Rest In Peace
A dear friend of the Mission, Mulbah Daryan, recently passed. Once a month, Mulbah would come to the mission and give the students haircuts. Rest in peace, friend.
A what? A mendicant! A mendicant is a beggar! Yes, our beloved Saint Francis lived on what others gave him. We follow in his footsteps with tin cup in hand to beg for the poorest of the poor in Liberia. We were so fortunate to have very good Mission Appeals last year — that money carried us first quarter, but it will not keep us going in 2nd quarter. We need help. Expenses in April are running more than income. Can you help?
Quinn Eide joins FW Board Member
Please join us in welcoming Quinn Eide as our newest board member. His desire is to bring greater awareness and financial support for the children of Liberia Mission. Prior to his involvement with Franciscan Works, Quinn held an active role with COAP (Christian Outreach for Appalachian People) and helped in the development of several Corporate Partnerships with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. He works as Director of Development for Wyndham Hotel Group within the Midwest and lives with his wife Lauren in Chicago, IL.
Foundation Grant Areas of Focus
Here are the grant projects we are focusing on to improve the Mission. We are seeking foundations that provide could provide for these project. If you know an organization that may help us in any of these areas, please let us know and we will contact them (joesehnert@gmail.com or 636-628-7270).
55 New Computers
- Total Cost: $6,050
- Who Will Benefit: Students, Teacher and Mission personnel
- What: Replace computers
- Where: Computer Lab
- Why: We have 15 working computers with average class sizes of 40.
- How much: $110 per computer = $85 per computer+$25 for offline Education Content pack which includes: Linux Xubuntu OS (no viruses!), Libre/Office Suite, Edubuntu & WCE Content Pack WCE Pack includes: Khan Academy, Wikipedia, education, agriculture, health, technology, recycling,
- How: Friends, Donors, Grants
We will purchase the computers through “World Computer Exchange”. This organization is a global education nonprofit connecting youth in developing countries to the skills, opportunities, & understanding of the internet.
Paint School
- Total Cost: $4,700
- Who Will Benefit: Students + high school summer workers
- What: Paint St. Anthony school inside and out
- When: Summer 2018 (Includes summer work program for students)
- Why: After the school year 450 kids leave our buildings dirty and Liberia’s very high humidity takes a toll on painted surfaces.
- How: Friends, Donors, Family
School Healthcare
- Total Cost: $26,585
- Who Will Benefit: Community Students
- What: Open our clinic to the 450 school students providing vitamin supplements, malaria and typhoid treatment, flu, cold and allergy treatment, deworming, cuts, bruises, sprains and sutures.
- When: September 2018
- Where: At our St. Clare Clinic
- Why: Health is the foundation for our students' well-being and there are no other health facility options in our area.
- How: Friends, Donors, Grant
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