We are a global family of faith - we are all called to relationship with GOD and one another! Our St. Cloud Diocese and the Mission Office believe strongly in our Baptismal call to global solidarity and mission! With the help of Catholic Relief Services, we have joined in a mutual partnership of faith with the Diocese of Homa Bay, Kenya to strive towards living out this call. What is our Global Solidarity Partnership with Homa Bay, Kenya all about?
Background on the Partnership: Our St. Cloud Mission Office in association with Catholic Relief Services is taking a new proactive role towards "mission." The Diocese of St. Cloud has partnered with the Diocese of Homa Bay, Kenya in efforts to create not only a partnership but also a family in Christ. Global Solidarity Partnerships is a response taken by Catholic Relief Services concerning the U.S. Bishops, Called to Global Solidarity (1997), "We are members of a universal Church that transcends national boundaries and calls us to live in solidarity and justice with peoples of the world." Delegations visiting from St. Cloud to Homa Bay and from Homa Bay to Saint Cloud, as well as long term missioners present in our diocese, have allowed us to form personal relationships, which are the true foundations of the partnership and of mission! All have worshipped God together, seen God in each other, and remain committed to share gifts with each other to build up the Reign of God on earth. The Leadership Teams in both dioceses make decisions guided by their experiences and interactions from their time abroad. Sustainable, community based projects are ways in which we raise awareness and share our resources. Our first project was the metal silo project, whose goal was to increase food availability though reduction of storage losses in Homa Bay. The two dioceses also worked on a Communications Project briefly, but it was then determined that the best way to match our gifts and needs together was through the “Child Survival Project.” This current mutually-determined project that our two dioceses are walking together in, strives to assist children in Homa Bay who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS, and to provide a long-term livelihood for them through education and vocational training, as well as advocates for them in the community. Working together on projects such as these allows both partners to both share our unique gifts and help to meet each other's unique needs. Not only do we concentrate on social development projects, but also on our faith as Christians. As a universal Church our faith-expressions are as diverse as our varying cultures. Our partnership has allowed us to learn from each other and grow together spiritually. Parishioners from both Homa Bay and St. Cloud have stood together to share their stories and their faith. Shared prayer intentions, and shared missioners both long and short-term, help us to see ourselves more fully as brothers and sisters constructing God's Kingdom together.
What is the Partnership's Mission Statement? "The partnership of the Catholic Dioceses of Homa Bay, Kenya and Saint Cloud, Minnesota is an effort by people of faith of different continents and hemispheres to concretely live out our membership in our global church and our one human family. Gospel values and Catholic social teaching on the dignity and equality of each person are the foundation of the relationship. We hope to learn from each other, as well as to teach each other. We intend to share our material and spiritual resources. We believe in the power of mutual communication and action to promote our faith and our Church and to transform our world to be more just and loving, more closely following our Lord, Jesus Christ, as we go together to God."
How many people have traveled between our two dioceses, and when? About 96 delegates from St. Cloud have spent a two week period in Homa Bay, experiencing parish life and learning about life in Kenya. About 41 Kenyans have spent a two week period in St. Cloud, experiencing parish life and learning about life in Minnesota. In addition, six long-term missioners from Homa Bay have lived and served in our diocese over the years of our partnership. Our Partnership travel was recently re-structured, and is now set-up on a 3-year cycle: we travel there one year, they travel here the next, and we postpone travel the following for a year of implementation to work on mutually-defined goals and projects; and then we begin the cycle again. Here is a bit of history on the partnership's travels:
Be sure to click on the links for each of the delegation dates listed above to see highlights in pictures and/or writing!
How can we pray for our brothers and sisters in Homa Bay? Kenya, and the people of Homa Bay, have suffered a great time of turmoil and violence following their country's December 2007 elections. Many families have lost loved ones and/or homes. Despite the governmental power-sharing agreement and restoration of peace, there continues to be harsh realities that make life difficult for our brothers and sisters in Homa Bay. We have promised our partners in the Diocese of Homa Bay that we will continue to hold them in prayer. Please join us in praying the following prayer in solidarity with Homa Bay:
Download the prayer service for peace in Kenya Or view our prayer for an end to HIV/AIDS
Are there any projects we can be a part of or ways we can support Homa Bay? The Leadership Teams of Homa Bay and St. Cloud have defined a joint partnership project. For the next five years our diocese will be raising support for a *Child Survival Project* that will help children affected by the HIV/AIDS virus in the Homa Bay diocese. Please consider sharing your gifts to effect positive change in this area of global need. There are multiple other ways in which you can be involved and support this special partnership - included, but not limited to:
If you wish to donate financially, please make checks payable to the "St. Cloud Mission Office " and write "Homa Bay" on the memo line, along with any special designations within the Homa Bay partnership (such as Child Survival Project). Then mail your donation to: St. Cloud Mission Office A receipt for your tax-deductible gift will be mailed to you. Be sure to attend our annual Diocesan Harvest for Hope celebration to see and hear about the wonderful ways your gift is benefiting the partnership! How can I get involved in delegations? Delegations travel to Homa Bay every-third year. If you are interested in being a part of one of these trips, contact Rosanne or Kateri at the Mission Office to put your name on a list of those interested. Information will be sent out to you about 9 months prior to the travel dates, and you will be asked to fill out a simple "application" before delegation selections occur. All delegates are required to attend 4 orientation sessions and 2 follow-up sessions in addition to the travel dates. We also have delegations visiting us in the St. Cloud Diocese every-third year (on oposite years as we travel to them). These groups are always in need of helpful energetic people from our Diocese to host delegates, to help with transportation and event facilitation and to interact with them during their time here. If any of this is of interest to you, please contact us at the mission office. There are also a variety of other delegation options available to you if you're looking to travel. Contact us if you are interested in interacting with future delegations or traveling on delegations to Kenya.
How can I get involved in Mission Education? Mission Education is a great way to get your schools, parishes and families involved in our Diocesan partnership and mission in general! To invite a missioner or other speaker, to hear more about mission-curriculum or resources (books, magazines, videos, people, etc.) or to learn more about what Mission is and why we Catholics beleive everyone is called to do mission in some way, contact Kateri Mancini at the Mission Office or view our Mission Education page. Our partnership would not be possible without the support and involvement of the people of our Diocese. We thank you for your continued investment in our global faith!
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