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Medical Mission Sisters from Africa, Asia, East Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America have assembled together for the final event of our 12th General Chapter in Nairobi, Kenya. This month-long gathering, held every six years, will review and affirm directional statements for our global mission of healing through 2010. Chapter delegates will also discern and elect international leadership to accompany our 650 members in mission over the next years. We ask for your prayers for the success of this important meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The opening day of Chapter, September 30, coincided with the 78th anniversary of our founding. Our "Founding Four" members were from three nations. Today our 650 members come from a total of 23 nations. We are pleased to be welcoming new members around the world. North America recently celebrated the entrance to Candidacy of Katherine Baltazar and Jean Kirk. They have begun a phase of religious formation formerly known as Novitiate in Philadelphia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Several Medical Mission Sisters will be joining the Border Pilgrimage, a journey of hope and life along the US/Mexico border -- from San Diego/Tijuana to El Paso/Juarez -- from Sunday, October 26, through Sunday, November 2. The pilgrimage is to raise awareness of the many deaths that occur along the border, both those of migrants trying to cross under dangerous conditions and of many young women killed in Ciudad Juarez in recent years. In addition there will be opportunities to learn about the economic policies that contribute to these deaths. For more information, please visit the Religious Task Force on Central America and Mexico website at www.rtfcam.org/border/pilgrimage.htm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . We recently received a letter from Jesuit Father Robert Athickal, who attended an Orientation Program at the United Nations. Our Sister Philo Morris addressed the group on the theme of "Economic Development," an important topic since the UN funds this endeavor. "Philo knew the topic so well, and she had the audience spell-bound with her statistics and depth of information," Father Robert wrote. "She narrated to us how the NGOs (non-governmental organizations) across the world are intervening in the decision-making process at the UN... she was the only one from the Third World who addressed the group. I felt so proud of her and the Medical Mission tradition. Definitely she was where the decisions are being made on the health and welfare of billions of people." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Philo Morris and Sister Janet Gottschalk, along with several thousand other participants, attended the 56th Annual Conference sponsored by the UN for accredited and invited NGO representatives. The title of the conference was "Human Security and Dignity: Fulfilling the Promise of the United Nations." The speakers repeatedly emphasized how important the presence of both government and civil society is to the building of a more peaceful world. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In Korogocho, Kenya, where our Sister Gill Horsfield is in mission, the people are experiencing a great deal of tension, fear and insecurity. There are 1,040 persons with AIDS being cared for by the health team. The hospice is in continuous use and one of its rooms has been turned into an IV Rehydration Unit. The Children’s Center continues to care for children until permanent homes can be found for them. The services of the Handicapped Children’s Program also are being fully utilized. More pastoral workers now are being trained to help meet the many needs.
October,
2003
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