CAFOD Brentwood’s Chris Driscoll writes:
Sister Yvonne Mwalula Mwila, our partner from the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, is helping communities in Zambia to transform their lives. We are pleased to announce Sister Yvonne will be speaking in Walthamstow and other regional events in England and Wales ahead of Lent Fast Day.
Sister Yvonne says: “I am a Religious Sister in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary which I entered in 1997.
The Founder of our Congregation asked us to serve the poor of the poorest in our society. ‘To go where no one wants to go and do what nobody wants to do. Because for you dear sisters there are only two things that matter, Jesus Christ and the poor, the moment you forget this, you should cease to exist’ we do try to accomplish this calling in our Programme in Mbala.”
In the light of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, the Sacred Heart Sisters committed themselves to respond to urgent needs. It was with this situation in mind, that the Sisters established the Households In Distress (HID) Programme in 1991 which contributes to the reduction of the impact of HIV and AIDS on the infected and most affected families in communities through quality care and support and livelihoods initiatives.
The HID Programme carries out its various interventions in Mbala district through the provision of information, education and communication; home based care; livelihoods/village orphan support groups and orphans and education for vulnerable children.
Sister Yvonne is also working alongside farmers to help them grow drought-resistant crops, so they can stand up again on their own two feet. The communities she supports are gradually lifting themselves out of poverty and sending their children to school. Our neighbours are also protecting the planet by installing solar panels on their homes.
Sr Yvonne will be speaking about our work at Our Lady & St George Parish Hall in Walthamstow on Wednesday 22 February at 7.30pm. The full address is Our Lady & St George Catholic Parish, Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, E17 9HU. The talk will be preceded by an opportunity to participate in a beautiful Lampedusa Cross ‘pilgrimage’ and liturgy in the church. All are welcome. If you would like to attend Sr Yvonne’s talk, please register or contact us at [email protected] or call 01277 218730.
If you are unable to join us for her talk in Walthamstow, Sr Yvonne will be talking online
the following day. Join us online on Thursday, 23 February from 1pm to 2pm to listen to Sr Yvonne’s talk.