Tosach Maith Leath na Hoibre! – (A Good Beginning is Half the Work!)
July 2017: The Holy Faith Sisters forwarded a substantial donation to the Kiltegan Fathers for the St Mary Magdalen School in Riwoto. This is an opportunity to thank the generous parishioners of Our Lady of Victories Parish, Ballymun who have been tireless supporters of the Riwoto mission.
This latest update was received from Fr Tim Galvin, a Kiltegan priest serving in Riwoto.
When the money came we decided to accept girls as boarders and to build a dormitory for them. Girls at home are expected to do many jobs like fetching water, firewood, looking after babies. Now that they are boarding they can concentrate more on their education. One parent, who has twin girls in the school, remarked that her two daughters are looking much better now.
There were two boys staying on our compound in a tin hut, (this has increased to five now!) and unless they could stay with us they would drop out of school. We decided to renovate the old church, putting windows in, painting, building toilets and bathrooms. This will become a boy’s dormitory in 2018. We will start making blocks for the new classrooms for year 7 and 8, which need to be built this year to be ready for 2019.
Boarding will bring more opportunities but also more difficulties, your prayers are requested especially as the boys and girls get older.
Thanks to the Holy Faith Congregation and all who support the project, you have laid a very good foundation, Tosach maith leath na hoibre! The continual support for St. Mary Magdalen School, including your prayers has helped to build a bond between, the Holy Faith Sisters, Kiltegan Fathers, Toposa people and all who support the project.
Mile Buicheas duibh go leir.
What a great outpouring of generosity from everyone especially those from OLV Parish. It certainly shows hoe concern people are for those less fortunate. here at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Los Angeles where I live in community, out three African priest are actively fundraising for the building of dormitories in the elementary schools in Kenya and Uganda in which two of them were educated by Irish priests and sisters.
How interesting that our parish, St. Mary Magdalen, carries the same name as our school in Riwoto.