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Monday, October 16, is World Food Day. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations notes that, "An estimated 854 million people around the world remain undernourished. Only investment in agriculture - together with support for education and health - will turn this situation around." The theme for 2006 is, "Investing in agriculture for food security." A number of Medical Mission Sisters are actively involved in food security activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . During the summer, "The Smile Train" program began at Kurji Holy Family Hospital in Patna, India. This program provides free surgeries for impoverished people with cleft lips and cleft palates. "The Smile Train," based in New York, covered the cost of the surgeries, while the hospital provided the infrastructure and other supports needed. Patients ranged in age from 3 months to 40 years. The mother of one of the young patients said gratefully, "I consider this help as a great miracle - God has heard our prayer. I had no other way to treat my child." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . United Nations Day is Tuesday, October 24. Medical Mission Sisters have consultative status with the UN through ECOSOC, the Economic and Social Council. This council coordinates the UN's work in economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related fields. Two of our Sisters, along with 1500 representatives of other non-government organizations (NGOs), recently attended the UN's annual Department of Public Information NGO Conference. The theme was, "Unfinished Business - Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Our Sisters in leadership are now meeting in Steyl, the Netherlands, in a General Assembly. We ask your prayers for the success of their gathering, which will focus on our priorities in mission over the next few years. The meeting concludes on October 29.
October 15,
2006
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