|
 In
1992 peace came at last to Eastern Uganda and SPICMA turned its attention
to assisting projects which helped people to get back on their feet.
Fishing people were helped to buy nets, and farmers, whose cattle had been
stolen on a massive scale during the insurgency, were given funds to buy
oxen and ploughs. At this time too SPICMA began to branch out to other
parts of the world, always working through the local Churches and trying
to assist the people who were in danger of falling through the cracks.
Help was given to parishes in the Diocese of Kroonstad in South Africa, to
people in Eastern Europe, and to projects in Tanzania and Kenya. SPICMA
has never been adverse to contributing to the building of Churches,
realising that the local Christian community needs to be helped to build
up its capacity. It would be useful here explain that unlike in the UK,
the church buildings in Uganda have a far wider usage than for just
liturgy.
The
Tzunami disaster saw SPICMA raising funds to help victims in the Indian
sub-continent rebuild their lives. Recently Sindh Province in Pakistan
had torrential rains after years of drought, and again funds were
channelled through the local Church to help people get on their feet
again. As I write people in parts of Soroti Catholic Diocese in Eastern
Uganda have lost their homes and crops, due again to massive flooding.
SPICMA has raised funds for the worst affected people who paradoxically
are the people SPICMA first started supporting forty years ago.
Now
that I am working in the northern Karamoja Region of Uganda, SPICMA has
found a new area of interest. We often see women and children here
collecting water from dirty ponds,
where people bathe and cattle drink. A number of wells have already been
drilled by SPICMA and a bigger project is in the offing, so that people
can get clean water and prevent water borne diseases. Educating children
has been shown to be a sure way to bring development to an area. SPICMA
is recruiting sponsors for some children both here and in Eastern Uganda,
who are either orphans or from very poor families.
It is
amazing how a small group of people have played such a great part in the
mission of the Church. I personally am eternally grateful for the support
I have received for the people I minister to, from SPICMA and its many
donors who have contributed so generously over the years. My missionary
ministry would have been very different without it. I pray daily for all
of you.
Fr
Bernard C. Phelan mhm |
