Human Promotion
“You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable spirit is in all.” (Wisdom 11:26)

Ethiopia, the cradle of humanity, and 13 months of sunshine! Ethiopia, named “Land of the Burnt Faces” by the Greeks. After five months here, I realize I’m in a place unlike any other. This is a land that escaped European colonialism and here at the mission, I live that reality daily. For example, the country follows the Julian calendar, which has 13 months in a year, and presently the year is 1997!Four Cabrini Sisters live at the mission, providing human promotion, education and health care. “Human promotion” means giving life a chance to develop, especially for children and women. Since children are the last in the family to eat and get only what is left, the mission has set up a daily Feeding Center for them. The Center also fosters the development and dignity of girls ages 4 to 18. The girls, otherwise considered second-class offspring, are here called “Franceschine” in honor of Mother Cabrini.

Janet Faubert and two Ethiopian women, interested in religious life, return from a prayer service in the bush. Sometimes, Janet reports, more than 100 local children come along on these visits.

St. Mary’s Hospital, with 55 beds, serves 600,000 with medical, surgical, gynecological and pediatric care, and outpatient laboratory, radiology and pharmacy services. Obstetric care is most critical due to the cultural custom of female genital mutilation. Pediatrics almost always has several young children with extensive burns from open cooking fires used in their huts.Inspired by the life and work of the Sisters, a good number of young Ethiopian women have become interested in becoming Cabrini Sisters. They have been prepared as teachers, human promotion assistants and nurses, and continue to seek the Cabrinian ideal of religious life. A novitiate being built in Dubbo is scheduled to open in 2005. It is a great hope of the mission to have native Ethiopian MSC’s. Coming to Ethiopia, to Dubbo, to this mission, has touched the very core of my being human yet attempting to live in the Spirit. The indelible sight of such dire human needs revealed in the lives of these Ethiopian people will forever mark each day of my life. With sincere gratitude and deep respect, I thank Sr. John, Sr. Regina, Sr. Francisca and Sr. Terezinha for allowing me to share their spiritual, communal and apostolic life.

“You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life.” (Wisdom 11:26)