I have once again been dealing with Internet problems – meaning that Internet is out and, according to the phone company, it is a neighborhood issue and they are working on it. I’ve written and recorded the news segment for my weekend radio program, “Vatican Insider” but cannot at the moment get that to my colleagues in Alabama as they are the ones who put the whole show together. I did transmit the interview with Fr. Apparcel yesterday so they have that.
I have already posted to Facebook (facebook.com/joan.lewis.10420) the very important Vatican radio and TV interview with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin after his four-day visit to Russia. I was able to do that via my cell phone, but posting this column via my phone is not possible.
It is 5:40 pm here. Unless things clear up in the next 90 minutes, my only possibility is to go to La Vittoria restaurant with my computer and hope their Internet is working so that I can post this column and send the news audio segment to EWTN. If time allows I will add some photos and post the link to Vatican Radio’s interview with Cardinal Parolin.
If you are reading these lines, you’ll know my Internet returned OR I am having dinner and working at La Vittoria!
In case I cannot post photos, here’s a link to St. Patrick’s! https://stpatricksamericanrome.org/
Here’s the link to Cardinal Parolin’s intervew after his four-day Russia trip! Fascinating information! http://www.news.va/en/news/exclusive-pope-francis-pleased-with-card-parolins
VATICAN INSIDER: ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH IN ROME, HOME FOR CATHOLIC AMERICANS
My guest in the intervew segment this week is Paulist Fr. Greg Apparcel, rector of St. Patrick’s Church in Rome, the new home iu the Eternal City for Catholic Americans and English-speaking Catholics after 95 years at the historic church of Santa Susanna. That move is a long story but there is now light at the end of the tunnel. Father Greg tells the story very well – who we are as a faith commmunity, our programs and outreach and where the church actually is. If you have plans to come to Rome, St. Patrick’s and your fellow American Catholics should be on your itinerary.
I have some great photo os Fr. Greg that he sent 2 days ago in an email and for reasons beyond my ken, I cannot find them – so check the St. Patrick’s link until I do find them (am transmitting this column from La Vittoria): https://stpatricksamericanrome.org/
In the United States, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (there is a list of U.S. stations at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio. Outside the U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” Vatican Insider airs Saturday mornings at 9:00am (ET). On the SKY satellite feed to the UK and parts of Europe, VI airs on audio channel 0147 at 11:30 am CET on Saturdays, and 5:30am and 10pm CET on Sundays. It’s also available on demand on the EWTN app and on the website. CHECK YOUR TIME ZONE. Here’s a link to download VI to your iTunes library: http://www.ewtn.com/se/pg/DatService.svc/feed/~LE.xml For VI archives: http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/file_index.asp?SeriesId=7096&pgnu=
COMING TO THE RESCUE IN SIERRA LEONE
I believe I have mentioned in the past that I am on the Board of HIRF, the Healey International Relief Foundation, an organization dedicated solely, as its website says, to improving the quality of life of vulnerable individuals and families in Sierra Leone who have long ben affected by civil way and adverse socioeconomic conditions. The Healey motto is “Turning Scars into Stars.”
We have all been following events since the terrible mudslide that killed an estimated 400 people and I wanted you to know how people have been helping. Injust got this letter from HIRF:
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU
Thank you to all those who continue to support Sierra Leone and the victims of the massive mudslide and flooding in Freetown. Thus far, your donations have provided healthcare services and food to those in need. Without your help, immediate aid relief would not have been possible. We have detailed our efforts below and continue on with determination during the weeks to come. Again, a very heartfelt thank you. Tenki, Tenki!
To view pictures of our work on the ground click here for mobile devices and click here for laptops or computers.
MEALS TO SURVIVORS
Great loss and suffering brings countless worry. With so many troubles to be concerned with, where one is going to get their next meal, or how one will feed their family should NOT be one of them. nding provided through our appeal is going directly to supply meals. With our partners Caritas-Freetown and the Tzu Chi Foundation we are providing lunch daily to survivors of the flooding in the Culvert area of Freetown. The team has also provided dinners to those taking up temporary residence at the Mudslide Shelter Site in Regent.
MOBILE CLINIC SERVICES HELPING WOMEN & CHILDREN
After the massive flooding and mudslide in Freetown, it was critical to go into the affected communities and provide healthcare services. Not only for individual health but also to protect against the outbreak of any communicable diseases. The fear of disease is high, especially cholera.
Our mobile health clinic was onsite immediately following the mudslide in the Regent area and has been deployed in other critical areas every day since. To date, over 850 patients have been treated and clinic visits are ongoing throughout the Freetown area. Funding provided though our appeal was used to purchase the needed medicines and supplies to treat the patients, many of whom are women and children.
Joan's Rome 