Solidarity with victims of Earthquake
 The Haiti disaster has led people all over the world to give whatever they can in response to the terrible earthquake. And now people in Chile are experiencing great bereavement and loss from theirs.
In MMM we are very pleased that Sister Anna Finnegan has been able to volunteer her services in Haiti. She arrived in Port au Prince ten days ago. She is pictured here bidding farewell to our Congegational Leader, Sister Siobhan Corkery before leaving Ireland. A few days later, Sister Siobhan left on Visitation to our communities in Angola, Kenya and Malawi.
Before catching her flight to Jamaica, Anna told us how deeply moved she had been by the suffering in Haiti. She has been nursing in Dublin’s Mater Hospital in the vascular clinic and with people who had undergone plastic surgery. Her skills in wound care are up to date. As she watched the images from Haiti on TV every evening, she knew she could help.
The Mater Hospital granted her unpaid leave of absence, and the staff began collecting money and supplies. Anna’s family and friends in Northern Ireland did likewise. MMM dipped into mission funds to help Anna’s work too. Trocaire also pledged support.
We made contact with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny who have been involved in health care in Haiti since 1864 and run sixteen health facilities there. They were delighted to hear an experienced nurse could join them.
Sister Anna is no stranger to the challenges of poverty and deprivation. She worked in rural clinics in Nigeria for 25 years.
The night before she left Ireland she said:
‘What I feel is the people of Haiti have their origins in West Africa and I will feel at home among them. From my work in the Mater Hospital, too, I am familiar with working in an inter-cultural group’. You can listen to a short interview with her here.
In Haiti she was not surprised to find herself sharing a tent at night with two of the Cluny Sisters. It is not safe to sleep in the damaged convent. During the day they use the facilities of the convent for meals, prayers, etc., but do not risk of staying there at night. Since her arrival there has been one small tremor at night.
As she adjusts to the hot climate, Sister Anna is kept busy and promises to keep us updated on how it is going. She is very grateful for all the support she has received – cards, phonecalls, emails. ‘This has given me new life’ she said.
Celebrating Ten Years at Zaffé
 On March 1 our thoughts are with our Sisters in the village of Zaffé in the Republic of Benin. Ten years ago, our first all-African team of MMMs trundled out of Lagos travelling westwards along the dusty highway to the border. When they reached Cotonou they stopped for a cold drink before heading north as far as the city of Glazoué. Some miles further on they left the tarmac, driving into the scrubland. The people of Zaffé had been a long time waiting for a health service. They had been deeply involved in all the preparations that led to that day. They are pictured here marching to the blessing of the first Clinic when the pioneer Sisters arrived.
We were left in no doubt that the tenth anniversary of our arrival would not pass quietly! First, the buildings of the Health Centre would have to be completely redecorated. Meanwhile invitations went out for March 1. The Bishop of Dassa Zoume, Bishop Antoine Ganye, promised to be there at 9.30 to celebrate Mass. The King of Glazoué, His Majesty Aronloye, also accepted.
An altar had to be set up at the Clinic Reception and three large Canopies erected to shade some 500 people from the hot sun. All the villages covered in the outreach program of the Health Centre were anxious to be represented.
For the welcome address before Mass, Sister Irene Balzan prepared a short history of MMM involvement with the people of Zaffé. A Thanksgiving Procession after Holy Communion will offer the Bishop some produce from the model farm - including rabbits, pau-pau and pineapple. After Mass the Area Leader of MMM in West Africa, Sister Gladys Dimaku, will address the assembly. Then the Zaffé-Madeb children’s group will enact a presentation depicting the extended primary health care program in the villages.
A medicinal plant that is very rich in iron is popularly known as ‘hospital too far’. Each village Chief will be presented by Sister Antoinette Oghenejode with seedlings to plant in the village as a symbol of the commitment of the people to care for their health and reduce the incidence of anaemia with the support of the Health Centre. When it bears fruit, further seedlings will be taken from it for distribution to the families in each village.
While children provide song-and-dance and the Zaffé Folk Group add to the entertainment, refreshments will be served. Sister Jacinta Lumenze will make the closing address before the Bishop leads the final prayer of thanks for all that has been achieved, and a blessing on everyone for what has yet to be done.
International Women’s Day
 For the 99th year, on Monday, March 8, the world marks a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievement of women. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, this is a national holiday. Preparations are already in place among many women’s groups for the centenary coming up in 2011.
New technologies enable women to network and campaign very effectively. Once connected, they can share their problems, opinions and stories.
However, in many places where we work, women are still struggling with marginalisation and deprivation. Our advocacy on their behalf is expressed not so much in high places, or electronically, but at the grassroots. Helping women to help themselves is the key to positive outcomes. At the most basic level, this involves raising their awareness of their own intrinsic worth, placing value on the skills and the work they bring to their society and giving the role of motherhood the deepest respect.
The women’s groups that work with Sister Brigid McDonagh in Sao Paulo, Brazil, know their worth. They sent us the above poster publicizing their event. Once again this year they have embraced the theme of the National Lenten Campaign, ‘Economy and Life’. One proposal was to make reusable shopping bags and shun the plastic version. As the day draws closer, everyone is busy with stencils and paint brushes decorating these items that are so much a part of their economy and of their lives.
'Bring your lunch’ and ‘Bring your Bible’ says the poster. Clearly, they will bring Biblical values to their analysis of the economy! They will assemble for the event one day early, on Sunday 7th, because they would not be able to get free from their work and family commitments on Monday.
Elsewhere, our work with women focuses on health initiatives and income generation. Sometimes this means getting the menfolk and local authorities on board to plan the protection of water sources. Sometimes it means developing an industry of treated mosquito nets to help prevent malaria. In other places it is as basic as organizing literacy classes. The most marginalized of all are women who have not had the opportunity to learn to read and write.
Our work in many countries involves organizing health volunteers in villages, or constructing a communal oven for bread-making, or investing in bee-hives. Whatever it is, the women among whom we work are an inspiration.
Let’s Kick out Trafficking in Persons
 Africa is proud that the 19th FIFA World Cup will be held on its soil for the first time. For every seven tourists, one job will be created in South Africa. But an international meeting of religious women held in Johannesburg last month was concerned that not everyone will enjoy the event.
Wherever major world sporting events are located, brothels tend to spring up and vulnerable women could be trafficked to meet the demand.
To address this problem, delegates came to Johannesburg from faraway places like Fortaleza in Brazil and Bangkok in Thailand. Sister Maura O’Donohue travelled from Ireland to represent Europe. She tells us that the network of Religious in Europe wants to ensure that soccer fans are not linked to the demand for commercial sex more than any other group. But fans can find themselves under pressure and their help is needed in raising awareness about trafficking in persons.
The Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women says research shows that no correlation was found between the World Cup in Germany four years ago and an increase in trafficking. But an energetic campaign against trafficking in persons had preceded that event.
To help such a campaign in South Africa, the recent meeting prepared letters to four groups – religious leaders, potential victims, unwitting agents and soccer fans.
They asked religious leaders to help raise awareness of trafficking in their diocese or religious congregation, write pastoral letters and prepare homilies for the people. They reiterated concerns expressed about trafficking in persons by Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II.
In a letter to be posted wherever potential victims may read it, they urged:
· Be careful if you receive job offers that are too good to be true.
· Stay with your group and look out for one another.
· Let your parents or someone know where and with whom you are going.
· If you find yourself in any difficulty, speak only to recognised officials.
· Do not leave your drinks or any food open and unattended.
· Memorise the toll free helpline in South Africa, 0800-555-999.
The letter to unwitting agents warned people to be careful if asked to give a lift or accommodation to a person who could have been lured and deceived into cheap labour, sexual exploitation and drug dealing - some of the many faces of trafficking in persons.
To soccer fans they wrote:
‘Be careful if you receive offers of sexual services and drugs which may be provided by victims of trafficking. The daily choices of individuals can make a real difference to any victim... Think about it! Let’s kick out trafficking in persons.’
Maybe you can help to circulate these four letters. If so, please download them here.
If you would like to support MMM with a financial contribution, click here for our Online Donation form.
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Dear Friends,