Two Assumption charities deliver love, hope to impoverished Africans #Catholic – Dennis, a 30-year-old who lives in a village of the impoverished African nation of Sierra Leone, had been suffering from excruciating leg pain for the past few years. Cellulitis, a bacterial infection, had caused a burning red sore up the entire side of his left leg. Thanks to Africa Surgery, a non-profit based at Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J., Dennis received surgery that relieved his pain. Surgeons in Sierra Leone took skin from the thigh of his right leg and grafted it to the infected left leg. Dennis has since returned to his daily activities, including work. Last month, Assumption helped ensure that two non-profit outreaches started at the parish — Africa Surgery and the Village Angels of Tanzania — continue transforming the lives of poor people in Africa. The parish held its 15th Annual Christmas Market, which raised a record $27,792 to support urgent medical care, food, and education in Sierra Leone and Tanzania. In addition, men from Assumption filled two large shipping containers late last year with items such as crutches and hand-powered mobility carts. The first container arrived in Sierra Leone on Jan. 14. Tom Johnson, founder of Africa Surgery and an Assumption parishioner, will distribute the items in Sierra Leone, where he is situated now. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. In 2007, Johnson founded African Surgery, which has helped thousands of Sierra Leonians with medical issues ranging from simple tooth extractions to complex spinal surgeries around Freetown and Makeni. For about six months a year, he lives in Sierra Leone, working with international and local medical programs and facilities that provide diagnoses and treatment on a wide range of medical issues. For the rest of the year, Johnson coordinates activities from Morristown, NJ, with help from some in-country assistants. “It’s hard for people in Sierra Leone. They are desperately poor and work but don’t have enough food,” said Johnson, a home repairs contractor. “I’m overwhelmed by the number of people in great need. We don’t have enough resources for everyone. But when we can help, it’s exhilarating,” he said. Africa Surgery also supports some students in their education and provides some locals with part-time jobs and food. “I’m grateful for Assumption’s support. Their donations mean a lot to the people of Sierra Leone,” Johnson said. Founded in 2015, the Village Angels provides urgently needed food, clothing, and basic home furnishings to residents of several small villages in northwest Tanzania. They are mainly elderly people who have little to eat and live in remote huts. The program partners with the local Franciscan Sisters of St. Bernadette to provide jobs to local youths, who visit the isolated elderly people every week. Sergio Burani and his wife, Johanna, also parishioners of Assumption, established the outreach. The Village Angels reaches people in the area, which welcomed 500,000 refugees of the Rwandan War of 1994. The U.N. built a huge tent city where some refugees stayed for 10 years, straining family dynamics, infrastructure, farmland, and other resources. The impoverished conditions forced middle-aged people to take their children and move to the cities, leaving the elderly to live alone with no pensions or family support. The youth bring them food, water, and firewood. Meanwhile, Sister Dativa Mukebita, the program’s director, and other sisters in her community provide moral support and minor medical attention. In 2017, the Village Angels dedicated a new multipurpose building in honor of the late Msgr. Martin Rauscher, Assumption’s former pastor, who supported both non-profits. The youths in the program weave baskets, sew clothing and household items, harvest honey from their bee farm, and harvest bananas from their plantation to generate local revenue for the program. The Village Angels also purchase food items, clothing, and furnishings for the elderly. “Our efforts give dignity to the young and the old. We’re saying, ‘We see you. You’re important.’ The Village Angels fills a void. The youth like visiting the elderly. The elderly like it when the youth call them ‘grandma’ or ‘grandpa.’ Everybody wins,” Johanna Burani said. “This is what the Lord wants us to do. We know these people and want to be their voice.” Like his predecessor, Msgr. Rauscher, Msgr. John Hart, Assumption’s current pastor, is supportive of Africa Surgery and the Village Angels of Tanzania. “Our generous parishioners support these two charities, founded by people we know and love. We have parishioners who work to help them in many ways. These charities are always in our prayers,” Msgr. Hart said. Information: visit Africa Surgery and the Village Angels of Tanzania. [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

Dennis, a 30-year-old who lives in a village of the impoverished African nation of Sierra Leone, had been suffering from excruciating leg pain for the past few years. Cellulitis, a bacterial infection, had caused a burning red sore up the entire side of his left leg.

Thanks to Africa Surgery, a non-profit based at Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J., Dennis received surgery that relieved his pain. Surgeons in Sierra Leone took skin from the thigh of his right leg and grafted it to the infected left leg. Dennis has since returned to his daily activities, including work.

Last month, Assumption helped ensure that two non-profit outreaches started at the parish — Africa Surgery and the Village Angels of Tanzania — continue transforming the lives of poor people in Africa. The parish held its 15th Annual Christmas Market, which raised a record $27,792 to support urgent medical care, food, and education in Sierra Leone and Tanzania.

In addition, men from Assumption filled two large shipping containers late last year with items such as crutches and hand-powered mobility carts. The first container arrived in Sierra Leone on Jan. 14. Tom Johnson, founder of Africa Surgery and an Assumption parishioner, will distribute the items in Sierra Leone, where he is situated now.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

In 2007, Johnson founded African Surgery, which has helped thousands of Sierra Leonians with medical issues ranging from simple tooth extractions to complex spinal surgeries around Freetown and Makeni. For about six months a year, he lives in Sierra Leone, working with international and local medical programs and facilities that provide diagnoses and treatment on a wide range of medical issues. For the rest of the year, Johnson coordinates activities from Morristown, NJ, with help from some in-country assistants.

“It’s hard for people in Sierra Leone. They are desperately poor and work but don’t have enough food,” said Johnson, a home repairs contractor. “I’m overwhelmed by the number of people in great need. We don’t have enough resources for everyone. But when we can help, it’s exhilarating,” he said.

Africa Surgery also supports some students in their education and provides some locals with part-time jobs and food.

“I’m grateful for Assumption’s support. Their donations mean a lot to the people of Sierra Leone,” Johnson said.

Founded in 2015, the Village Angels provides urgently needed food, clothing, and basic home furnishings to residents of several small villages in northwest Tanzania. They are mainly elderly people who have little to eat and live in remote huts. The program partners with the local Franciscan Sisters of St. Bernadette to provide jobs to local youths, who visit the isolated elderly people every week. Sergio Burani and his wife, Johanna, also parishioners of Assumption, established the outreach.

The Village Angels reaches people in the area, which welcomed 500,000 refugees of the Rwandan War of 1994. The U.N. built a huge tent city where some refugees stayed for 10 years, straining family dynamics, infrastructure, farmland, and other resources. The impoverished conditions forced middle-aged people to take their children and move to the cities, leaving the elderly to live alone with no pensions or family support. The youth bring them food, water, and firewood. Meanwhile, Sister Dativa Mukebita, the program’s director, and other sisters in her community provide moral support and minor medical attention.

In 2017, the Village Angels dedicated a new multipurpose building in honor of the late Msgr. Martin Rauscher, Assumption’s former pastor, who supported both non-profits. The youths in the program weave baskets, sew clothing and household items, harvest honey from their bee farm, and harvest bananas from their plantation to generate local revenue for the program. The Village Angels also purchase food items, clothing, and furnishings for the elderly.

“Our efforts give dignity to the young and the old. We’re saying, ‘We see you. You’re important.’ The Village Angels fills a void. The youth like visiting the elderly. The elderly like it when the youth call them ‘grandma’ or ‘grandpa.’ Everybody wins,” Johanna Burani said. “This is what the Lord wants us to do. We know these people and want to be their voice.”

Like his predecessor, Msgr. Rauscher, Msgr. John Hart, Assumption’s current pastor, is supportive of Africa Surgery and the Village Angels of Tanzania.

“Our generous parishioners support these two charities, founded by people we know and love. We have parishioners who work to help them in many ways. These charities are always in our prayers,” Msgr. Hart said.

Information: visit Africa Surgery and the Village Angels of Tanzania.

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Two Assumption charities deliver love, hope to impoverished Africans #Catholic –

Dennis, a 30-year-old who lives in a village of the impoverished African nation of Sierra Leone, had been suffering from excruciating leg pain for the past few years. Cellulitis, a bacterial infection, had caused a burning red sore up the entire side of his left leg.

Thanks to Africa Surgery, a non-profit based at Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J., Dennis received surgery that relieved his pain. Surgeons in Sierra Leone took skin from the thigh of his right leg and grafted it to the infected left leg. Dennis has since returned to his daily activities, including work.

Last month, Assumption helped ensure that two non-profit outreaches started at the parish — Africa Surgery and the Village Angels of Tanzania — continue transforming the lives of poor people in Africa. The parish held its 15th Annual Christmas Market, which raised a record $27,792 to support urgent medical care, food, and education in Sierra Leone and Tanzania.

In addition, men from Assumption filled two large shipping containers late last year with items such as crutches and hand-powered mobility carts. The first container arrived in Sierra Leone on Jan. 14. Tom Johnson, founder of Africa Surgery and an Assumption parishioner, will distribute the items in Sierra Leone, where he is situated now.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

In 2007, Johnson founded African Surgery, which has helped thousands of Sierra Leonians with medical issues ranging from simple tooth extractions to complex spinal surgeries around Freetown and Makeni. For about six months a year, he lives in Sierra Leone, working with international and local medical programs and facilities that provide diagnoses and treatment on a wide range of medical issues. For the rest of the year, Johnson coordinates activities from Morristown, NJ, with help from some in-country assistants.

“It’s hard for people in Sierra Leone. They are desperately poor and work but don’t have enough food,” said Johnson, a home repairs contractor. “I’m overwhelmed by the number of people in great need. We don’t have enough resources for everyone. But when we can help, it’s exhilarating,” he said.

Africa Surgery also supports some students in their education and provides some locals with part-time jobs and food.

“I’m grateful for Assumption’s support. Their donations mean a lot to the people of Sierra Leone,” Johnson said.

Founded in 2015, the Village Angels provides urgently needed food, clothing, and basic home furnishings to residents of several small villages in northwest Tanzania. They are mainly elderly people who have little to eat and live in remote huts. The program partners with the local Franciscan Sisters of St. Bernadette to provide jobs to local youths, who visit the isolated elderly people every week. Sergio Burani and his wife, Johanna, also parishioners of Assumption, established the outreach.

The Village Angels reaches people in the area, which welcomed 500,000 refugees of the Rwandan War of 1994. The U.N. built a huge tent city where some refugees stayed for 10 years, straining family dynamics, infrastructure, farmland, and other resources. The impoverished conditions forced middle-aged people to take their children and move to the cities, leaving the elderly to live alone with no pensions or family support. The youth bring them food, water, and firewood. Meanwhile, Sister Dativa Mukebita, the program’s director, and other sisters in her community provide moral support and minor medical attention.

In 2017, the Village Angels dedicated a new multipurpose building in honor of the late Msgr. Martin Rauscher, Assumption’s former pastor, who supported both non-profits. The youths in the program weave baskets, sew clothing and household items, harvest honey from their bee farm, and harvest bananas from their plantation to generate local revenue for the program. The Village Angels also purchase food items, clothing, and furnishings for the elderly.

“Our efforts give dignity to the young and the old. We’re saying, ‘We see you. You’re important.’ The Village Angels fills a void. The youth like visiting the elderly. The elderly like it when the youth call them ‘grandma’ or ‘grandpa.’ Everybody wins,” Johanna Burani said. “This is what the Lord wants us to do. We know these people and want to be their voice.”

Like his predecessor, Msgr. Rauscher, Msgr. John Hart, Assumption’s current pastor, is supportive of Africa Surgery and the Village Angels of Tanzania.

“Our generous parishioners support these two charities, founded by people we know and love. We have parishioners who work to help them in many ways. These charities are always in our prayers,” Msgr. Hart said.

Information: visit Africa Surgery and the Village Angels of Tanzania.

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]