By Marie O’Halloran
AIDS is sweeping mercilessly across Africa leaving only orphans and old people in its wake. A missionary priest, Fr. Owen Lambert, who has been living in Ethiopia for many years now, does his bit to stem the tide. Read on.
By Dr. Chris Giannou
It’s hard to believe, but women and children are still being torn apart everyday by those evil weapons called landmines. Protest from ordinary human beings like you and me have shamed most governments into signing the agreement against landmines. However some have not signed yet and Dr. Chris Giannou shares with us here a little bit of his worldwide experience in treating the shattered bodies of mine victims.
After 17 years as war surgeon, I know that war wounds are particularly ugly. But there is something specifically horrific and barbaric about mine injuries, so that even after everything I have seen I am still appalled by them. I don’t think anybody can be hardened enough not to be affected when they see what mines do to a human being.
By: Ma. Brenda Villarin, DC
In those days I was at the peak of my practice as a member of the Cardio-vascular team at home in the Philippines. I truly loved my work. To be away even just for half a day was too much. The Sisters and my Superior teased me saying “We can hardly remember what you look like. We hardly see you.” Then a letter came from Paris informing me of the decision of the General Council to send me to Ethiopia (1976). I could not believe my eyes. I know I did offer some years back (perhaps 1967 or ‘68) but “not now Lord. I’m far too happy to let go of my community, my work and friends and to be far away from home.” It was a difficult decision to make but I made it and left for Ethiopia.
By: Sr. Brenda Villarin, D. C.
Missionary in Ethiopia
Throughout the 14 years of my missionary work in Ethiopia our Lord has filled me with “good things.” What good things? The opportunity to minister to His needy people in the re-settlement village, people relocated by the government from the famine stricken area to more verdant farm lands
Memories of Ethiopia
By: Fr. Edgardo Espiritu, SDB
Ethiopia has just emerged from a turbulent period in it’s history. Fr. Espiritu lived there during those 15 traumatic years. He shares with us some of his experiences.
The panoramic view I daily enjoy from my room, perched high on the tower of the Don Bosco Retreat House in Mambucal, reminds me daily of a far away country, Ethiopia, where I spent almost fifteen years as a missionary. Of course, Mambucal except for the letter Mhas nothing to compare with Makale. Where I now see verdant forest, Makale can only boast of brownish desert sands. But then Makale was 9,000feet above see level, where as now I am only at a barely 1,000 feet. Each has a beauty all its own, as well as memories that are dear to me. One such memorable event would be my first meeting with the young who on May 3, 1992 will be ordained the FIRST ETHIOPIAN PRIEST.
I meet Fessehatson, in a very strange way.
