Fr. Patrick Santianez, s.x
July 3, 2015, was a memorable day for the people of Majabama community because at long last they have a Community water well. Which means they don’t need to walk 2 miles to go to the swamp to fetch water. The name itself of the village points to the basic need of the place. The word “Majabama”, in Loko language, means “place of scarcity of water”. To have a water well is truly a gift for the community; a blessing that they deserved to have.
Pope Francis in his recent encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ shows he knows very well the reality of Africa. He writes: “Water scarcity affects Africa in a special way; there large sectors of the population have no access to safe, drinking water or experience droughts which impede agricultural production (28).” The opinion leader of the town shared the people’s longing to have water close to their houses. He thanked the Catholic Mission and the benefactors for providing a water well for all. He stated: “Every time the Catholic Mission does something for us, we, Muslims, benefit as well. The Catholic Mission indeed does not exclude anybody.”
Fr. Jerome Pistoni, the Parish Priest of St. Conforti Parish, mentioned to the villagers the work of the missionaries from 1950 until today in the Diocese of Makeni, especially in the area of social development. The Catholic Mission is on the fore-front in addressing the needs of the people. Since there was a dire need of water in Majabama, the Catholic mission responded according to what Pope Francis wrote in the encyclical: “Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity. This debt can be paid partly by an increase in funding to provide clean water and sanitary services among the poor.” This statement re-echoes the declaration by the United Nations in 2010 that links the right to water with the right to life and well being.
The people of Majabama have the right to safe, sufficient and easily reachable water. Many thanks to the Catholic Mission and to the benefactors Luca and Elena who made a dream come true. With abundant water now available to the community, is this still a “Majabama” place?
July 3, 2015, was a memorable day for the people of Majabama community because at long last they have a Community water well. Which means they don’t need to walk 2 miles to go to the swamp to fetch water. The name itself of the village points to the basic need of the place. The word “Majabama”, in Loko language, means “place of scarcity of water”. To have a water well is truly a gift for the community; a blessing that they deserved to have.
Pope Francis in his recent encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ shows he knows very well the reality of Africa. He writes: “Water scarcity affects Africa in a special way; there large sectors of the population have no access to safe, drinking water or experience droughts which impede agricultural production (28).” The opinion leader of the town shared the people’s longing to have water close to their houses. He thanked the Catholic Mission and the benefactors for providing a water well for all. He stated: “Every time the Catholic Mission does something for us, we, Muslims, benefit as well. The Catholic Mission indeed does not exclude anybody.”
Fr. Jerome Pistoni, the Parish Priest of St. Conforti Parish, mentioned to the villagers the work of the missionaries from 1950 until today in the Diocese of Makeni, especially in the area of social development. The Catholic Mission is on the fore-front in addressing the needs of the people. Since there was a dire need of water in Majabama, the Catholic mission responded according to what Pope Francis wrote in the encyclical: “Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity. This debt can be paid partly by an increase in funding to provide clean water and sanitary services among the poor.” This statement re-echoes the declaration by the United Nations in 2010 that links the right to water with the right to life and well being.
The people of Majabama have the right to safe, sufficient and easily reachable water. Many thanks to the Catholic Mission and to the benefactors Luca and Elena who made a dream come true. With abundant water now available to the community, is this still a “Majabama” place?