We are very proud to have had an association with our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia since the LiveAid concert of 1985.
Supporting the apostolate of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady our parish community has continued to support their work since 1985.
Our mission project has been renamed "The Ababa Project" since our return from our June 2012 visit. Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia and its' meaning is "New Flower".
The Ababa project
Our parish patroness is St Teresa of Lisieux, known as the "little flower". The "Ababa" is the flower that links both communities and we decided to make this connection more evident in our project title. The work and the people are the same both at home and in Ethiopia; all of us working together offering all our endeavours to the Lord, like a little flower, for His glory and for the good of the poor people the Sisters care for.
To celebrate our 25 year milestone we prepared for our very first visit to Ethiopia under the banner "Project 2012" which took nine of us to visit this beautiful country and our wonderful friends.
"Project 2012"
Following an open invitation to parishioners 8 members of the parish community volunteered to travel to Ethiopia with our parish priest, Fr Jim to visit the projects we currently support as well as those we have supported in the past and perhaps to gain insight as to which we can support in the future.
The group departed on Monday 28 May and returned on Saturday 09 June 2012.
They were Rebecca, Nicole and John, Ann-Marie, Dr Kellie, Dr David, Craig, Derek and Fr Jim and they had a fantastic trip.
The Project 2012 team were supported by our parish community and friends and had a very busy time fundraising beforehand.
The fundraising was to aid the Sisters in their work, the group separately undertook to raise other funds to help with the costs of the trip.
In August 2013 Derek and Rebecca returned to Ethiopia with fellow parishioner and mission supporter, Beatrice Gardner.
They had a busy time with the Sisters and their many different projects. You can see some of their photographs in newsletter No4 and No 5.
Sponsorship is Needed urgently
TEACh means "Teaching and educating a child"
If you can offer any help to help assist the Sisters in their work please join our TEACh sponsorship programme. Sponsors are always needed.....if you can sponsor a child to attend school for a year or any other sponsorship please get in touch with team member. They will be delighted to discuss it with you and arrange your donation. It costs £240.00 a year to send a child to school. You may be able to sponsor individually or get together with 2 or 3 other people (family and/or friends) and sponsor a child together. However you manage, your support is very much needed and welcome and will make an enormous difference to the work the Sisters can do and to the lives of the children in their care.
Write to the project at the parish address or email: dumfries.stteresa@gallowdiocese.org.uk
More information can be found in the newsletters we have published-just click on the link below to read all about it.
You can also read the whole history in the Parish Library where the Parish Ethiopian Team keeps a full history folder.
This group also looks after the monthly collection the parish makes as part of our regular and on-going support. To offer assistance or simply to find out a little more please contact the team co-ordinators, Derek Cochrane or Beatrice Gardner. They will be pleased to assist you in any way possible. Write to them at the parish address or email: dumfries.stteresa@gallowdiocese.org.uk
Please help us as much as you can.
You may like to offer this prayer for our parish mission:
I said a prayer for you today
and I know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart
although he spoke no words.
I prayed that He'd be near you at the start of each day,
to grant you health and blessings
and friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small,
but it was for his loving care I prayed for most of all.
Thank you for your prayers.
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See pictures of our fundraising Race Night on the events page of this website.