The Children
The children at St. Philip’s Mission are ever full of effervescent charm and enthusiasm. Despite the AIDS crisis around them, Sibonisleni Pius Mamba and Zodwa Makhany, Swaziland natives and members of the mission staff, describe how the children enjoy the stability of living at the hostel. They follow a schedule of homework review after school with their House Aunties and Uncles and every Saturday receive cultural education by a group of Swazi men and women who are known to be good role models. They are loved by these men and women as if they were their own. Emphasizing the need to strengthen the emotional and cultural growth of the children, Sr. Barbara Staley, MSC of St. Philip’s Mission has said, “It is important for the hostel children that they have Swazi caregivers. This provides them with a sense of stability as well as being educated in their own culture."

The evening of St. Patrick’s Day, the children put on a special presentation for Sr. Lucille Souza, MSC and Sr. Arlene Van Dusen, MSC, who were visiting
Swaziland, by sharing their stories in Siswati. Just by watching the children, one would quickly come to understand that a big part of the Swazi culture is
communicated through ritual song and dance. In one of the songs, the children sang to the Cabrini Sisters, “Thank you Cabrini for taking us out of the Bush,” signifying how very grateful they are to be on the mission. In another song, they mentioned all of the Sisters by name, again thanking them for being there. Every child, from the youngest to the eldest, was in the program and all performed their dance moves and songs flawlessly. That night, the children were given a special treat of Coca Cola, cookies and candy.

The Hostel
The second hostel building was opened in January to accommodate the boys who were initially living at another hostel outside the mission. Now they have a place of their own at St. Philip’s and are cared for by three House Aunties and Uncles. Three other Aunties care for the girls in their separate hostel. Currently, the population of the hostel has grown to 124 boys and girls aged 3-18.

During a meeting scheduled with the staff of the Hostel and Sr. Barbara Staley, MSC, each shared their areas of responsibility as well as their wishes for the mission and for the children. One would like running hot water. Another, a cover for the kitchen and a protection from the rain for the wood that is used to cook the meals. Another staff member mentioned that a small library or arts/crafts area for the children to make their goods to sell as well as an opportunity to take the children on trips would be ideal. This list addressed the basic needs of the mission, focusing on service to the children and making hostel life better for them. The staff, comprised of local Swazi people, have really begun to take ownership and responsibility for St. Philip’s and are coming to understand that they are partners in the work that is being done here. It is very clear that the Sisters there are empowering the local people to take on more responsibility for the mission.

The Irrigation Project
Musa Tadros, a local Chicago developer and special benefactor, came to know the needs of the mission through Sr. Barbara and Sr. Diane Dalle Molle, MSC. After making a special visit to Swaziland to assess the needs there, Musa was compelled to help in the much needed Irrigation Project. As a result of his visit, he has graciously donated a considerable amount of money. His contributions, along with the Raskob Foundation grant to purchase and install irrigation pipes and seeds, will help provide water from the river to the newly ploughed gardens for crop growth.

The Lowveld of Swaziland, where St. Philip’s is located, is less populated than other areas of the country and presents a typical African bush country of thorn trees and grasslands. The people there depend on rainfall to grow their food, but drought conditions continue to be unrelenting. The project will bring much needed irrigation to St. Philip’s and will help them grow food for the hostel
children and the surrounding community.

The plan is to irrigate 5-6 hectares of land and grow maize, potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, lettuce and beetroot. A portion of the harvest will be sold to subsidize the upkeep of the land and the rest will go toward helping the local community. The irrigation project will also eventually channel fresh water directly into St. Philip’s and its surrounding communities. When completed, the children have big plans to cultivate their own personal patches of land, taking the initiative in their adopted community.

Education
Sr. Lucille met with the staff from the Education Committee to discuss the criteria for scholarships available through the Solan Foundation and the necessary data that must be tracked in order to meet the guidelines. The committee decided on a process to meet individually with the students to discuss their studies once report cards are distributed. The 124 children in this program attend 18 different schools. This will be quite a task as the schools are miles apart. Sr. Lucille was impressed by the dedication shown by these individuals who want very much to see the children succeed. She left the meeting with great hope knowing that we have an active committee whose priority is focused on education of the Swazi children.

Sisters and Missioners
It is difficult to describe all that the Cabrini Six do at the mission. Sr. Diane Dalle Molle, MSC is the
Administrator. She is also involved in many of the hands-on aspects of the mission, especially Home-Based Care (HBC), which she started. This program has really flourished under her care and leadership. It is her intent to hand over the day-to-day aspect of HBC to Bobby Farris, Cabrini Mission Corps Missionary. Bobby, a nurse, will be taking on more responsibility for this program as well as continue the day-to-day responsibilities of going out to the Homesteads and working at the clinic. Sr. Diane, who is visiting us in the States for a few weeks, is beginning to seek out more funding for this program when she returns to Swaziland. Janet Faubert, Cabrini Mission Corps Missionary, also working in HBC (clinic and Homestead), organizes all the pharmaceutical medications of the program and is also tutoring the children. Mary MacKinnon, Cabrini Lay Missionary, works with the children in the Creche or pre-school every morning. In the afternoons Mary helps Aurora Sibug Realubit, another Cabrini Lay Missionary, in the finance office. Aurora manages all the finances of the compound – a daunting task at best —and keeps everyone accountable. Sr. Barbara Staley, MSC, has taken on the responsibility of evaluating and organizing the Hostel program and staff. She does a lot of the shopping for necessities of the hostel and is in the process of educating the staff to take on more responsibility for the mission. These women are “on-call” almost 24/7 and all “troubleshoot” wherever necessary. It is remarkable to see the many ways each of them respond to whatever is asked of them for the poor and most vulnerable who come to their doorsteps daily.

Useful Items
Sr. Diane would like to thank everyone for the goods they have sent to the children. There is nothing better to witness than the happiness in a child’s eye when he or she receives a gift. The children are growing so rapidly that the most necessary items needed are clothes and undergarments for girls and boys ages 3-18 and lace-up oxford shoes for the school-aged children (6-18).

Please send donated goods to:
St. Philip’s Mission
Attention: Sr. Diane Dalle Molle, MSC
P.O. Box 100
Mhlatuze, Swaziland M210
Southern Africa

Dear Friends and Supporters of St. Philip’s Mission,

Thanks to Sr. Lucille Souza, MSC and Sr. Arlene Van Dusen, MSC who visited Swaziland in March, we have these firsthand accounts and updates to share with you. For Sr. Arlene it was her first visit to this part of the world; her impressions are still being shared with our extended Cabrinian family. While Sr. Lucille has gone numerous times, each visit is unique, and as Provincial, there is always much to do. We are grateful to both of them for providing us with this report.

Sr. Diane Dalle Molle, MSC, Sibonisleni Pius Mamba and Zodwa Makhany came to the United States in April and participated in our 125th Anniversary Assembly and celebration in Pennsylvania. They also visited with us in the New York City area and shared many accounts of mission life and development.

Knowing how much you desire to hear about the child you sponsor and what is happening in general on the mission, it is with gratitude that we present this current newsletter. Much is happening, and with the blessings of our God, we look to the future in hope. May St. Frances Cabrini continue to look after all her little ones and ever surround them with love and care.

Without you this mission could not exist. Your generous support, your interest and concern, mean more than words can say.

God bless and keep you always.
With prayerful wishes,

Sr. Bernadette Anello, MSC
Cabrini Mission Foundation
President & CEO .

Please click here to learn more about Sponsoring a Child in Swaziland.

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