20th Anniversary: Wall of Memories

Wall of Memories

Please share with us your stories as either a missioner or supporter of FMS.
Fill out the boxes below and your comment will appear. Thanks for sharing and helping us create memories for our 20th Anniversary!

Name:
Comment:

5/6/2010

Doug Garofalo

This memory is from my time spent at FMS in Washington, DC as Development Director during my third year of service. I was touched by the generosity of so many of the donors that support our missioners. First, there is one donor who, on a monthly basis, sends in her $5.00 donation - I was so touched by her dedication, as this reminded me of Jesus praising the widow and her donation from her "mite". Second memory is that I am glad that I followed the tradition that Fr. Joe and Megeen, and others before and after them, of sending out handwrtten thank you notes. One of Joe's friends from a Virginia Parish sent in a very generous donation, A couple of months later, I received a thank you from her for my thank you note, along with yet another generous donation stating FMS and its missioners deserve the money! Then, at Christmas, I received yet another note from her with an extemely generous donation (actually totalling the two previous ones).. Now, I write this for two reasons. First, donate to FMS or your favorite charities today - even if it is only $5 (that covers postage or supplies!) and Second, always follow up an act of kindness bestowed upon you with a thank you smile, phone call and yes, in this "electronic" day and age, even a hand written note - you will add joy to their day!

5/6/2010

Doug Garofalo

To keep with Paul's "food" memory, I, too, have a great food story from my service in Brazil. On one of my Saturdays at "Campo Brasil", the farm community where I assisted the catechists each week. On our walk to her house after class, "Donna" Candida mentioned that we were going to do something different before lunch. Still clueless, and a little more curious when we went to another house to get knives sharpened, we proceeded back to Candida's along with the other couple. We went out to the stable area where the cows, horses, and pigs lived. Now it became clear that I was going to witness the slaughtering of one of the pigs. Having grown up in suburbia in Nothern NJ, this was quite interesting, as it was done as humanely as possible and all the parts were to be used one way or another (some to sell and share among the community). We even ate some of the cuts as part of our main meal that afternoon - talk about fresh! Only down side was that i did not have my camera - oh well - some images are best kept in one's mind, right? I admired all the family farmers I met over my two years in Brazil, in how dedicated they were to their families, their God, and their livelihood, one that most of us could not handle, even for a week!

1/15/2010

Paul O'Keeffe

I remember my first week on mission with George Corrigan in Kenya. One day we decided to visit the sister's in the kitchen of the minor seminary which we were sent to teach at. The sisters had dozens of pots simmering on the stove in preparation for the evening meal for the students. Curious as to what what was cooking, George took the lid off one of the pots and inside were what seemed to be dozens of chicken feet dancing around in the hot oil as if they were still attached to their owners!

Franciscan Mission Service
P.O. Box 29034
Washington, DC 20017-0034

T: 202-832-1762 | F: 202-832-1778

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