MHR Catholic Church

Organizations

MHR AIDS in Africa Ministry

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The AIDS Orphans of Africa - a tragedy unfolding. Nowhere else in the world does HIV/AIDS spread with such force as in sub-Saharan Africa. The numbers are staggering and only too often make us forget the individual fates of those affected by the disease. One of the fastest growing populations suffering from the effects of AIDS are the children of those who have died. Their numbers are in the millions.

As more and more children bear the responsibility to generate the income for themselves and their families, fewer of them have a chance to complete their school education. The primary reason is lack of funding. At this point, it can only be guessed what the long-term effects for these children and also for their countries will be.

The Sisters of St. Therese in Tanzania have made it one of their prime obligations to help the AIDS orphans of their diocese. They do so by providing care for the sick, a primary school education for all orphans, and to provide the orphans with essential needs such as food, shelter and hospital fees.

In light of our own history and experience with HIV/AIDS in the Castro, members of Most Holy Redeemer Parish decided to join the sisters in their efforts by founding AIDS in Africa, the ministry for the AIDS orphans of Tanzania.

Mission Statement:
• Like all Christians, we members of Most Holy Redeemer parish are called to a life “worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil 1: 27). We achieve this by living our faith as a public act by the grace of Christ and the gift of his spirit received through participation in the Eucharist, prayer, and in relationship with others. We strive to respond to those who need our care, help and love - especially those who have been otherwise abandoned by their fellow human beings.
• Whole communities in Africa devastated by AIDS have been forgotten by their brothers and sisters in other lands where, thanks to modern medicine, this terrible disease is now seen as manageable. We parishioners of MHR have, since the 1980s, known the pain, suffering and death that AIDS causes. As a Catholic faith community, we realize that Christ’s light shines through the bleakest times and we hope to share that light off St. Therese of Tanzania and our sister parish, St. Teresa of San Francisco, in their AIDS orphans ministry. We hope to establish and nurture a loving, collaborative and prayerful bond with them that, consistent with the values of our parish, is as open and inclusive as the arms of our Most Holy Redeemer. The foundations of our mission are the following four pillars:
--Relationship. To participate in the lives of the orphans of St. Therese so that they may find hope in our community and we can find hope in their strength and courage. To live out the reality of the mystical body of Christ by joining others throughout our church and beyond in a spirit of inter-faith cooperation to address and alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Africa.
--Education. To educate ourselves, our fellow parishioners and the larger community about the on-going crisis of AIDS in Africa and to offer our experience with AIDS to the orphans we sponsor and to the Sisters of Saint Therese who help them.
--Prayer. To form a spiritual bond between our brothers and sisters in Africa through liturgy, prayers, and other kinds of observance to keep our African brothers and sisters present in the life of our parish.
--Material Aid. To sponsor the education and provide for the other material needs of as many young people as possible, so that with the direct assistance of the Sisters of St. Therese, they may in time become able to provide for themselves and their families.

Meetings: Every other month except during the summer.
Activities: Hosting coffee, Christmas bazaar, Contacting MHR parishioners interested in the ministry.

The AIDS in Africa Ministry was formed in 2004

Learn more about us and our mission.

Facts about AIDS in Africa.