Holy week

Seeing all the Gambian Catholics of Star of the Sea parish was such an inspiration. After the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, there was adoration in the church and different groups were assigned to each hour. I was in the very first group of Priests and religious. When the hour was up I noticed that people moved from their places to let the next group take over but they simply went to the rear and continued their adoration until the church was closed at midnight. So everyone stayed for the full four hours. Good Friday Stations of the Cross was full and the evening Eucharist was the same. The Easter Vigil was standing room only. Services began at 10:00 PM and lasted until nearly 2:00 AM. Everyone was blessed. I began to consider all the work that the missionaries have done in Gambia and seeing all these souls attending the Holy week services was proof of their success. These are really comitted and devoted Catholics who have not run from the church because of the recent scandals. They know that the Church is human but also divine. I wondered why it was that so many folks in the US have walked away from the church, using the scandals as an excuse, and yet these wonderful Gambian Christians are so steadfast.
I was so encouraged by the faith that I saw this Holy week and just wanted to share it with you.

I also wanted to BEG for your help. On Good Friday I was in the rectory having coffee with Father Peter. I was charging two cell phones in the room I was in. After a few minutes I went back to the room and went over to check on the phones and saw one was missing. I laughed thinking I had forgotten to plug the phone in but when I went over to the other phone I saw it was missing as well. I searched the room and quickly realized that the phones had been stolen. Father Peter and I ran to the front gate and only saw the footprints of the thief but the phones were gone. These two phones are especially important as it is the only way I can contact Doctors and Nurses regarding the sick who come to the hermitage. It is necessary to have a double SIM card phone as there are several cell phone companies in Gambia and it is too expensive to call from one company to the other. So I am asking for help in order to purchase another Cell phone right away. If anyone feels led by the Spirit to donate to the cell phone fund you can let me know and I will give you details how to send your donation by Western union. I hate to ask for help for this but the initial phones were donated and I do not have funds to purchase phones.
God bless you!!!!

Bro. Dismas