Introducing our "Sister Parish," Our Lady Star of the Sea in Sierra Leone, Africa

The Adoption Story...

In 1961 Sierra Leone, a British colony, became an independent nation. In 1991, after struggling to establish itself as a government, a group called the Revolutionary United Front attacked villages on the eastern Liberian border and started illegal mining for diamonds, driving the villagers out of their homes. Fierce fighting and brutal maiming of men, women and children continued until 2002,  when this civil war was declared officially over.
 
Amidst this struggle, the parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea was established in Juba, a suburb of Freetown, with our own Rosaline and Patrick Willie-Bonglo being founding members of the parish.   In 2004, being keenly aware of the extreme sufferings of the people served by this parish, through its schools, medical clinic and vocational training school, the  Willie-Bonglos asked if St John’s would sponsor the needs of this Catholic parish. With Archdiocesan approval, we were connected. This connection flourished under Fr. Ritt’s pastorship, especially through the work of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of our parish.
 
Since then, we have collected and sent financial aid, as well as material supplies to help the work of our sister parish.  In 2010, a representative of St John’s was invited and visited Our Lady Star of the Sea parish to strengthen the bond between the two parishes, and to witness the good works being done there with the aid we had sent. After that visit, pictures were shared of Our Lady Star of the Sea’s compound, showing their facilities and parishioners at all the Masses. Many of St John’s parishioners were brought into a closer bond with Our Lady, having seen the needs, as well as the joyful faith of these people. We continue our support in the unity of the One Body of Christ.

Since 2017, we, the parish family of the Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative, in the spirit of giving, offer up our Lenten sacrifices in order that our brothers & sisters of Our Lady, Star of the Sea parish family may be lifted… not only by our monetary donations, but by our gift of prayer.

In 2018, your generous Lenten almsgiving helped the parish undertake a much-needed project: to pave the Church compound. Your donations were also used to help the parish provide critical services and support to its community. In addition to its vibrant Catholic Church, the parish has a health clinic, a vocational school, and a pre-school and elementary school.
 
The school serves a large number of children. The school children, decked out in their blue cotton uniforms, often come to school hungry. They also come to school with big smiles and lots of energy. School supplies, including books, paper, and pencils, are always scant. Their teachers work diligently in small, crowded classrooms with few resources. Yet the children still thrive in their sense of belonging and in gaining skills for a better life.
 
The health clinic is where many local people turn to for the majority of their healthcare needs. The clinic serves everyone in the community—including mothers in the delivery of their babies, those dealing with infections, infants, and the elderly. They are always in need of additional supplies.
 
The vocational school is where women come to be trained in skills that they can use to support their families. These skills include dress-making, hair-dressing, jewelry-making, weaving, and many more. The school helps these women learn to appreciate their self-worth, and it empowers them to help themselves and their families. Please keep our Sister Parish in your prayers during Lent.

If you would ever like to donate to Our Lady, please make checks payable to either St. John or St. Mary, and note ‘Our Lady - Sierra Leone’ in the memo. You may also donate through online giving, available through a quick link on the homepage of our website.