The beginning of the year at Muketuri Mission is marked by the driest month of the year, which is actually the ideal time for excavating and drilling wells in the Wuchale Woreda region of Ethiopia which has been declared a “food-insecure zone”.

For us missionaries, while being able to bring water to these communities is a source of joy and a sign of hope, for the beneficiary families, it is a drastic turning point in their lives – a stark “before” and “after”!

Alemu, an elderly man of 70 years, would stand watching us everyday that we visited his village of Lego: from the moment we marked the water source with a water diviner, to the arrival of the drilling machine, and the start of the drilling works.

I ambled over to greet him, and he said that throughout his life, he has seen people passing through, promising to bring water to his village, but they never returned. Now, it seems that this will finally be fulfilled.

When we reached the aquifer and saw the first burst of water, I looked for Alemu. He was deeply moved; he gave me a strong hug and said: “Now I can die. God allowed me to live long enough for my eyes to see water in the village. Now I know that my wife, my children, my grandchildren, and everyone in this village – who are family to me – will live a new life with clean water available. It is the start of a new stage.”

In Lego, women and children used to walk two hours to collect water from a contaminated water source or three hours for clean water.

This is just one testimony from among many of people who benefited from the water wells drilled this year. Our profound gratitude goes to all who had a hand in making this life-changing shift possible.

Blanca Beltrán, MCSPA

Muketuri Mission [Ethiopia]

On paper:

A person under the age of 18 who, due to their stage of development, needs care, protection, guidance and a safe environment in which to grow up.

And in real life?

In some parts of the world:

the one who has no name until the age of seven years;

the last one to partake of the meals;

the one who is placed to look after the animals, or younger siblings, to do the cooking …

In other parts of the world:

the untouchable, the one who can even report his or her parents to the police … the other end of the pendulum.

The dignity with which a child grows up often depends on the society and culture into which he or she is born.

Training in child protection allows us, at and in our respective missions, to transform this pendulum into a culture with concrete expressions of love, justice and respect for human dignity.

Our starting point is in deeply human, local values and practices, such as community upbringing, the sense of the extended family, or the constant skin-to-skin contact, which give African children a strength and a unique sense of belonging, to address other unconscious issues, taboos and normalized practices that, due to ignorance or tradition, can put their integrity at risk.

Training in child protection does not mean imposing external models or mistrusting families and communities, rather it means looking at them with greater awareness. It means also learning to distinguish between tradition and harm, authority and abuse, correction and violence. It means equipping ourselves with the necessary tools to prevent, detect and act when a child is not being protected as he or she should be.

At MCSPA, protecting children is a shared responsibility. Training ourselves in this area is the first step as the way we care for and educate today will build the humanity of tomorrow.

By Maria Vidal – Aragón

MCSPA Apprentice

Mizan Teferi Mission

[Ethiopia]

On 11 June, 17 scouts from St. Joseph’s Youth Group traveled from Muketuri to Addis Ababa for a day full of learning, encouragement and vision. The trip was made at the invitation of members of the Transformer Group, a team of young professionals from Addis.

Along the way, we paused for a tea and coffee break and reflected on what it means to be “salt and light” (cf. Matthew 5). We are called to bring flavour to life through hope, faith and compassion. In Addis, we visited the St. John Paul II Technical School. The main building is complete but finishing work is still ongoing. We participated in classes on solar energy, graphic design, music, cooking and languages. We also saw two beautiful halls: one medium and one large but both ideal for concerts and youth events. A chapel is also being built on the grounds.

Afterward, we were taken to the Cathedral Church for a short but meaningful tour. The cathedral is beautiful and peaceful. We then visited Adwa Bridge, with a panoramic view of Addis. Lunch followed at a Burger and Pizza House owned by one of the Transformer Group members. It was a great example of youth entrepreneurship and proof that with faith, hard work and supportive friendships, anything is possible. We wrapped up the day at a local coffee shop, where Transformer members gave us powerful encouragement so as to discover our vocation, to never give up, and to value faith-filled friendships.

Two scouts shared what touched them most. Yonatan, the youngest, wrote, “I saw something I’ve never seen before. I’m so happy. The way you work together with joy and purpose really inspired me. Thank you so much!” Ashenafi Fikru added, “Today changed how I see things. I realized life isn’t just about fun; it’s also about effort and faith. The Technical School gave me real hope. I saw how learning a skill can change your future. I’m so grateful for what we saw.”

Truly, it was a day filled with inspiration, new ideas and a deep reminder that being salt and light is both a calling and a gift.

By Tigist Mekonnen

Junior Apprentice,

Muketuri, ETHIOPIA

On February 8th, we celebrated the drilling of a 90 meters well with the installation of a solar pump, a 10,000-liter water tank, a fountain with 8 taps, and a drinking point for animals in the village of Igukura, in Wuchale Woreda, Ethiopia.

93 families, now have enough water to meet their basic needs like health, hygiene, and nutrition.

The impact of bringing water to a community is bigger than we can imagine. A grandmother from the village told us that without enough water, they were at risk of all sorts of diseases like cholera, skin infections, stomach issues, and infections during childbirth because of poor hygiene. Now that water is closer, women and girls won’t have to walk for kilometers carrying 20 liters on their backs, facing all sorts of dangers along the way, not to mention suffering from back pain, problems during pregnancy and childbirth.

Another big plus is that they’ll now be able to grow vegetables for their families to eat and also sell, which will improve their nutrition and bring in some extra income. This will help families afford things like sending kids to school and paying for medical expenses.

A big thank you to all who made this possible and helped improve the lives of the people in Igukura.

by Blanca Beltran, MCSPA

ETHIOPIA

The inhabitants of Nyangatom region in south-west Ethiopia are agro-pastoralists. The biannual rainfall pattern in the area allows them to practice rain-fed agriculture during the two rainy seasons, ranging roughly from April to June and then from September to November. The main crops grown are sorghum, maize and beans. What is not a common agricultural practice is the cultivation of fruit trees and vegetables. Moreover, scarcity of water due to prolonged droughts pose a serious risk to subsistence farming and hence to food security.

In response to this problem of food shortage, members of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) at the Prince of Peace Catholic Mission at Nyangatom have come up with pilot farms both at Kakuta and Naturomoe schools so as to help women acquire new skills in farming.

We use the drip system of irrigation at the farms, and despite the scarcity of water in the region, we are now able to produce vegetables and fruits on the farms. The fruit from the farms is enjoyed by many in the area, especially the children at both the schools.

By Kevin Rakara
MCSPA Apprentice
Nyangatom Mission, Ethiopia

Today, March 05, we had a grand celebration at the Children’s Special Education Room at Muketuri. The 9 special-needs children, together with their parents, teachers, volunteers and missionaries, celebrated the birthday of all the children with a huge cake topped with candles, and a large typical Ethiopian bread with presents for all the children and teachers.

This “Special Room” started 12 years ago in order to overcome the tremendous challenge for persons with slower learning capacities who are stigmatised in their society. It all began when we first encountered Workine and Tigist, two children paralysed with leukodystrophy degeneration and hidden inside their homesteads, severely malnourished. It took much effort on our part to convince their parents that their children’s condition was neither a punishment nor a curse. At first, it was difficult to find a person to work with them but we eventually found Aberash, a loving mother who had gone through very much with the sickness of her own child Yohanes.

Soon, more children came and more women were accepted to work at the “Special Room”. Though they had little studies, these women learned a lot from volunteers coming from Chile and Spain: professionals, psychologists, therapists etc.

Today 9 children and 4 teachers are stationed at the Room: children with Down’s Syndrome, autism, hemiparesis … all of them receiving medical care, nutrition and therapy. Last year we built a physiotherapy room, where each child has his or her own PT material to improve his or her capacities.

Recently the parents of the children had the opportunity to meet a Spanish mother of a child with autism; the impact of sharing experiences and feelings proved very supportive and moving.

Now, after all these years, the people of Muketuri know that at the St. Joseph Mother and Child Centre, there are special-needs children who at one time were kept from public view and whom no one wished to talk about. Now all the children at the nursery know and play with these children, some of whom cannot walk or talk, while some make “strange” movements, but they all laugh and play together as children do. These “special-needs children” are considered human beings like everyone else, and while their condition remains a mystery, they are accepted and their families no longer reject them.

It has been a long and difficult journey, and while it continues to be challenging still, these children have grown; some are already teenagers. Their presence forms an integral part of the Mission, making the latter a concrete sign of an option for welcoming the most vulnerable in our midst.

By Lourdes Larruy, MCSPA
Muketuri Mission, Ethiopia

MCSPA members and apprentices are thrilled to announce the blessing of a new mission of our community in Dakuna, Eparchy of Emdibir, Ethiopia (200km approximately west from Addis).

1 year ago, Bishop Musie Gebregiorgis, from Emdibir, invited two of our missionaries, Josephine Amuma and Lydiah Obok to begin a mission in this area.

The occasion was blessed with several diocesan priests, a deacon and a good representation of the religious communities of the Diocese and the local community. Also were present a sound number from the MCSPA communities from Ethiopia, Kenya, Philippines and Spain.

They travelled all the time way from their places to celebrate and accompany Josephine and Lydiah in their new mission.

The feast nicely coincided with the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. Since it is placed on a high hill, the bishop compared Dakuna mission to Mount Tabor; a place where people come to pray and to receive the love from God through his Son. Bishop Musie started the celebration by blessing the house and followed with the Eucharist which took place in the hall of the community complex.

St Scholastica, being the patron saint of the mission, blessed us with a rainy day. A portrait of the saint was also blessed by the bishop.

Josephine Amuma

MCSPA

This past week, a delegation of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia made up of the Cardinal Archbishop of Addis Ababa, H.E. Berhaneyesus Souraphiel, Msgr. Markos Gebremedhin, Bishop of Jimma-Bonga, Msgr. Seyoum Fransua Bishop of Hossana, and Msgr. Lesane-Christos Matheos, Bishop of Bahar-Dar, visited Madrid for three days.

They passed through Spain on their way back from a forum for the Bishops, which took place in in Lisbon, and the congregation Work of the Church hosted them those days while passing through Spain.

Members of the MCSPA have been able to organize several meetings in Madrid so that the Bishops could present the reality and needs of their country.

They visited Cáritas Spain, Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesidad, Cáritas Madrid, Manos Unidas, and Fondo para la Nueva Evangelización, as well as the Pontifical Mission Societies, and the Mission Delegation of Madrid. We thank them for their interest and support for the Church of Ethiopia, through their support of multiple projects, and its commitment to the future.

On Tuesday, the delegation of Bishops, MCSPA missionaries, secular members and volunteers from the MCSPA, were able to visit the Cardinal of Madrid, Don Carlos Osoro.

During the visit Jesús and Sara, volunteers from the mission of Muketurri, Ethiopia, and Mónica Falgás, secular member of the MCSPA, explained their commitment to the community and the missions of Ethiopia, as well as their commitment to the local church in Madrid through of the parish of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Pio XII, Madrid.

Don Carlos, was interested in the situation of the church and Ethiopia. Cardinal Berhaneyesus made an introduction to the situation of peace after the war in Tigray, and then each bishop explained about his diocese. The bishops explained that they are finishing a strategic plan for the next 10 years and that the main objective of this plan will be to invest heavily in education, as the main instrument of change in Ethiopian society.

That same afternoon, the bishops were able to celebrate mass in the parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Pio XII. Many people attended the mass, including the director of the pontifical mission works, Father José María Calderón, and the mission delegate of the archdiocese of Madrid. Father Calderón also invited some Orthodox Ethiopians who live in Madrid, and who gather to pray in his parish.

A lot of young people came to mass, and there was a very missionary atmosphere. The cardinal spoke about the similarities between Ethiopia and Spain as two countries with a very ancient Christian tradition. After the mass there was a time to chat and greet everyone in the church and outside the church.

The bishops have sincerely and earnestly thanked the logistical support of the MCSPA while in Madrid since their regions are in great need of support and solidarity from the universal Church.

Fr. Angel Valdivia MCSPA

Members of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle and Mary Mother of the Church, have recently started a presence in the Eparchy of Endibir. Located 4 hours southwest of Addis Ababa, a place inhabited by people from the Gurage community, and where there is a big number of Ethiopian Catholics, who follow the Ethiopian eastern rite.

On 16th April 2023, hundreds of catholics, young and old, gathered at Holy Trinity Church, in the village of Dakuna, to celebrate Easter Sunday. During the feast, people celebrated the resurrection of the Lord as well as breaking from the 55 days fasting from animal and dairy products.

Apart from its unique mix of fascinating history, deep-rooted identity, incredible natural wonders and rare wildlife, Ethiopia is well known of maintaining the use of its own calendar which is very similar to the Julian calendar. Most of the Christians in the world celebrated Easter Sunday a week earlier, following the Gregorian calendar.  However, things were different in Ethiopia. Their Easter followed one week later.

Prior to Easter, many Christians commit themselves to extended periods of both personal and communal prayers. This is done with the sole purpose of growing closer to God and to remember Jesus’ life and death.

On Easter Vigil, all Christians of Dakuna had their candles lit to express their faith. Then drums came. And then, the joy of the Risen Lord illuminated the face of all the faithful who were gathered at Holy Trinity Church.

Following the Ethiopian tradition, most people invite their family and friends for a common meal on Easter Sunday. And of course they cannot miss the presence of traditional dishes like injera, dorowot, kitfo and kocho, which altogether give a sweet fragrance to the celebration.

By Lydiah Obok.

For Mechela Kindergarten, Under Muketuri mission in Ethiopia, 15th of January 2023 will remain a remarkable day as they inaugurated new kitchen and toilets within its fence. The whole village of Mechela, young and old, gathered at the compound of Mechela Kindergaten to celebrate the opening of its new facility. From the entrance of the kindergarten, one could clearly see the grass which was spread on the ground to mark a traditional fragrance of the celebration.

The Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) has always believed that integral education is a key to transform lives. With that intention, MCSPA has emphasized on quality education from the early stage of a child. It is equally important to note that poor health of children does not only compromise growth of the child but also result into educational setbacks and lowerperformance of the student. As a result, MCSPA rendered it an imperative to run centers which cater for the two principle needs of the students. Thus, education and nutrition. Mechela is an example of such centers which operate as an education unit and at the same time as a nutrition hub. The two-fold needs of the children are given a priority.

For some time, Mechela lacked proper facility like a kitchen and toilets to meet the required delivery of quality education to the children. This compromised the dream of MCSPA to always compliment education with pleasant nutrition and health of the student. Consequently, Josephine Amuma took an initiative to close this gap through a construction of a kitchen and toilets. Now the Kindergarten is also equipped with its own vegetable shamba (garden) and a wire fence to ensure its security.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Fr. Fernando stresses that, ¨A child’s early years are the foundation for his or her future development, providing a strong base for lifelong learning and learning abilities, including cognitive and social development. ¨ He also explained in simple terms the importance of early childhood education as an essential building block of a child’s future success.

Josephine was delighted with the collaboration of the local community. In her speech, she urged them to continue with the same spirit of commitment. She also assured them that children are the stronghold of the future, therefore worthy investing in them.

The ceremony reached its climax when the representatives of MCSPA shared a common meal with the local community of Mechela. As per tradition, the community had prepared njera, typical Ethiopian food, for lunch. During the meal, different performances were done by the children and the scouts from Muketuri. The cerebration ended with a coffee ceremony to mark its significance.

By Innocent Letasi