Madagascar – “For Many, the Lunch offered at the School is the Only Meal of the Day”

09 June 2016

(ANS – Betafo) – In the central part of Madagascar there is Betafo, a town of 30.000 inhabitants, surrounded by hills. This is the see of a mission of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. Sr. Teresa Leonik is a Polish missionary who works in Madagascar since 1991. She is the Economer of the community of Betafo and devotes herself to meet all the financial needs of the mission.

The FMA community works relentlessly in a long series of activities: nursery school, elementary school, professional centre, oratory and two boarding houses, one for the girls of the professional centre and the other for those who attend the Salesian high school nearby. Besides, in Betafo there also is an aspirantate, i.e. a formation house for those girls who wish verify their Salesian vocation.

The work of the sisters is mainly addressed to children, poor boys and girls, and to poor families with no help. The Salesian Primary School welcomes over 700 pupils. It is the greatest school in Betafo. Those who would like to attend it are many more, but the sisters are first of all interested in welcoming poor girls with no resources, for who they try to find economic support as well as help to provide didactic material.

After the chapel, the refectory is the most important place of the house. Every day nearly 300 children and youth have their lunch there. For many of them, the lunch offered at the school is the sole meal of the day. Rice is always the main dish; and that sole meal is multiplied and, through the sisters, reaches many poor families. Each month there is a demand of more than 2.5 tons of rice.

Sr. Teresa has one reason for which to worry, or probably many reasons. But her work is founded on Divine Providence and on the goodness of people. And the fruits of this can be seen every day. 

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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