Here is a sweet way to help the St. Peter Society provide for orphans and other vulnerable children and youth in Zambia. SPCS will be selling top quality See’s candies both online and at St. John the Beloved following December weekend masses. Online orders can be shipped within the contiguous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii; the deadline for online orders is 3 December.
Zambia’s first Cardinal, His Eminence Medardo Mazombwe, had a dream before his death in 2013: to build an agricultural training center where disadvantaged young people would be prepared for adulthood and learn the skills necessary for rural agricultural activities, thereby avoiding the many problems accompanying urban migration. For the past number of years the St. Peter Claver Society, with your help, has been working to make that dream come true. We are committed to helping build the Cardinal Mazombwe Life Skills and Agricultural Training Centre with two classrooms, a dormitory for boys and one for girls, and a teacher’s house, along with hiring instructors and developing hands-on training opportunities. SPCS has partnered with the Livingstone Diocese’s Development and Livelihoods Department, managed by CARITAS, which has experience in developing similar schools. With the support of a local committee in Makunka parish, construction has started on a 59-acre property donated by the parish.
Dr. Muntemba and Fr. Ngwira, pastor of Makunka Parish after returning from the bush to look over the CMTC building site.
Much of this ambitious project is being financed by funds reserved from our initial attempt to build the center in the Lusaka Diocese, but the escalating costs of construction have still left us short of the projected costs. All funds raised this year will be devoted to closing the gap.
DONATIONS MAY BE MAILED TO ST JOHN THE BELOVED CATHOLIC CHURCH,
6420 LINWAY TERRACE
McLean, VA 22101
Vincent is the eldest son born from a family of seven children (2 brothers, 4 sisters). He was raised by a single mother together with his siblings after his father passed away when he was still young. His mother earned the family’s living through small scale farming, but only grew enough for the family’s consumption which in some instances, was not sufficient to last the whole year.
Vincent completed his secondary school education in 2014 and is happy to say that with the help of ZOA-Z, he was admitted to college in 2017 to train as a Registered Mental Health Nurse at Levy Mwanawasa Medical University where he graduated with a diploma in 2020.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude for making my tertiary education possible with the financial assistance which came through at the right time when I had even lost hope.”
Vincent is currently working as a volunteer at Katondwe Mission hospital to hone his skills as he awaits to be deployed by the government. He has a bright vision for the future as he says:
“Being the firstborn from the family of 7 and the only one to complete school, I am looking forward to create opportunities for my siblings and fellow orphans even with those who have stopped school due to financial bottlenecks so that I give something back to others the same way that I have received this rare and precious support by ZOA-Z”.
Vincentwishes to thank the St. Peter Claver Society for coming through for him in his hour of need by funding his tertiary education via its sister organization ZOA-Z which is on the ground in Zambia. He truly is grateful to have his degree in nursing.
When St. Anthony Children’s Village was established in May 2003, the majority of the children were HIV infected, their mothers having died from AIDS. However, with the availability of ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) for adults and children, more mothers are able to live and care for their children. Currently, St. Anthony’s has increased the number of vulnerable children it welcomes to include those who have been abandoned by their families, or whose mothers are incapable of caring for them, and especially those with special needs. St. Anthony’s provides both physical and emotional support to these children in a loving and caring community. As needed, the kids receive physiotherapy from a qualified physiotherapist. Caregivers continue with the exercises. The St. Peter Claver Society, which has supported St. Anthony’s since 2004, raised the necessary funds to purchase the physiotherapy equipment.
Siblings, James and Chikondi, are not orphans, but their extremely poor parents locked the children in a house without food. When James and Chikondi arrived at St. Anthony Children’s Village, they were severely malnourished; Chikonddi could not walk at all, and James was unable to walk straight. With physiotherapy and proper nutrition, they can now walk and are able to go to school. Donations are especially needed to deal with the impact of the pandemic.
James
James’ sister, Chikondi
This handsome young boy was found near the Ndola Teaching Hospital where he had been abandoned by a relative, because his stepmother refused to accept him. Herbert has found a loving home at St. Anthony Children’s Village, Ndola, Zambia, which has been supported by the St. Peter Claver Society since 2004.
Treat yourself to the yummiest candy on earth, AND at the same time help to change the life of an African child for the better! The St. Peter Claver Society (SPCS) was formed in 2004 in response to the AIDS crisis in Africa, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of parents of young children. Over the past 16 years the SPCS has made it possible for many of these orphans to receive antiretroviral treatment and attend preschool and secondary school, with some going on to college or learning technical skills. A committee of dedicated parishioners from St. John the Beloved Catholic Church in McLean, Virginia, has worked to carryout its mission to assist orphans of AIDS, mainly in Zambia. The proceeds from our fundraisers go to providing shelter, nutrition, health care and education to children and youths with special needs at projects managed by Catholic institutions. About 20% of Zambian children under 17 years old are orphans and many others live in abject poverty. (For further information, go to www.saintpeterclaversociety.org or to St. Peter Claver Society@spcsstjohnthebeloved on Facebook.) Every December, the SPCS has raised money by selling See’s candies after weekend masses at St. John’s; however, given the current COVID-19 restrictions, this year the we will be selling See’s candies online. To help break the cycle of poverty, please shop for your Christmas gifts online by CLICKING HERE Orders will be shipped after 16 November and can be made up until 4 December. Get free shipping within the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) on orders over $65.00. Over the past 16 years, we have seen many destitute young people’s lives changed for the better and with your support the St. Peter Claver Society will continue to advance its mission of improving the lives of African orphans. We hope we can count on your support. Here’s to acheiving sweet success! 
For several years the St. Peter Claver Society (SPCS) has had the mission of fulfilling the late Cardinal Medardro Joseph Mazombwe’s vision of a rural center that would train young Zambians in agricultural skills, so that they could support themselves and their families and avoid migrating to urban areas. As is the case in so many developing countries, migration in Zambia from rural areas to the cities has led to joblessness, violence, drugs, and other social problems. Cardinal Mazombwe dreamed of stemming the tide by providing young people in those rural areas the skills they would need to make their lives there successful.
Initially, the SPCS hoped to build an agricultural training center on property within the Diocese of Lusaka. Problems developed at that location, however, with the existing wells and the alkaline content of the water. Moreover, the resident farm coordinator passed away unexpectedly and, under new Diocesan leadership, priorities changed. Fortunately, Bishop Valentine Kalumba of the Livingstone Diocese informed SPCS founder Shimwaayi Muntemba of his interest in having the center located there. Bishop Kalumba shared our plans and related information with the Diocesan Development and Livelihood Department which is managed by CARITAS, the international coordinator of Catholic relief and social service organizations. The CARITAS director, Father Klemens, was put in charge of the project and he, together with a Diocesan committee, identified a suitable location in the Makunka parish based on the type of soil and vegetation and the welcoming attitudes of the local communities. In addition, Dr. Muntemba lives several months a year in Livingstone and will be able to consult personally with Fr. Klemens and the Diocesan committee.
Much preparatory work has been done since them. A local committee of priests, parishioners, and community leaders has been formed to guide development of the project. A water expert has been engaged to assess the possibility of repairing a collapsed well or sinking a new one to assure a dependable source of water. Detailed plans had already been prepared for building two classrooms, two dormitories and a teacher’s house. A contractor has now been engaged to advise on the budget and the most cost-effective approach to construction.
After many unanticipated, but understandable, delays we are encouraged by the progress and optimistic that construction of the Cardinal Mazombwe Agricultural and Life Skills Training Center (CMTC) will begin in the not-too-distant future. Many generous donors to the St. Peter Claver Society have contributed to help with the fulfillment of Cardinal Mazombwe’s dream. We have reserved the donations received for this purpose until we are confident of the local support and planning and that the project will be a success.
Cardinal Mazombwe’s dream became the dream of the St. Peter Claver Society and its faithful, generous donors. We believe the Cardinal is smiling in heaven as the plans for “his” project take concrete shape, and he will ask the Lord’s blessing on making the CMTC a reality. May it be for the greater glory of God!
Who was Cardinal Mazombwe? He was Zambia’s first Cardinal who had a lifelong devotion to promoting education. In fact, during his 53 years as a priest, he established many universities, nursing schools, hospitals and education centers.
Responding to the COVID-19 Impact on Zambian OrphansIn late May, 2020, Sister Lucia, St. Anthony Children’s Village Administrator, reached out to the SPCS with an urgent request for $3000 to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak in Zambia. To expedite the aid, SPCS has sent the $3000 from funds on hand to cover the rising costs of diapers, detergent, face masks, sanitizers, cleaning materials and food stuffs.
Please help us replenish those much-needed funds. In addition, SPCS is committed to sending St. Anthony’s $10,000 by the end of July, our annual stipend.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Tax deductible donations can be made through Faith Direct, online at saintpeterclaversociety.org or by mailing checks payable to St. John’s with SPCS on the memo line to:
St. John the Beloved Catholic Church
6420 Linway Terrace, McLean, VA 22102
The St. Peter Claver Society is sponsored by
St. John’s and donations are deductible toextent allowed by law.
