Parish Ministry Website

Description of Ministries:

Since the year 2000 Holy Rosary has sponsored 5 trips to Uganda, sending over 20 people. Holy Rosary provides short-term mission opportunities to parishioners and others to 'come and see' primarily the works of the Sisters of the Daughters of Mary.

The sisters are an indigenous religious order of Ugandan Catholic women now almost 100 years old.

They number about 700 and they teach and/or administer in more than 40 schools, administer 4 major hospitals, 9 medical clinics and run orphanages throughout Uganda. They consider themselves 'mothers' to their people and are addressed often by the people as 'mama'.

We assist them by providing funds for water projects, transportation, school fees, medical clinics, school and medical supplies, clothing etc.

Holy Rosary Grade School is involved with sending 6 teachers over the years to Uganda and raising funds for children's tuitions.

HR also has additional project in Uganda not associated w/ the sisters helping to provide funds to an orphanage in northern Uganda operated by a young Ugandan priest.

HR has also provided funds for projects and priests in Kenya

Description of fundraising efforts (if any):

The Order of the Daughters of Mary is very poor and rely on the small fees there students and people can provide but also on fundraising outside the country in Europe and the US.

HR has been particularly supportive raising over $400,000 since 2000 for the sisters and for the orphanage in Uganda, and at one time, a medical clinic in Kenya.

Fund raising efforts includes a second collection once a month at the parish, special fund raising for particular projects, and the school raises money from the students for projects and school fees. They sponsor 4 children at this time.

Also we have donors from outside the parish who hear of our work and contribute to HR mission fund unsolicited.

Collaboration with individuals or groups outside of the parish/community:

We have involved teachers and professors from Holy Name Academy and Seattle University.

They have found their own ministries as spin offs from their involvement w/ HR.

An orphanage in Kenya has attracted the commitment of a major non-profit as a result of a person who traveled w/ a HR mission and was able to secure their Involvement. A non parishioner who is a nurse practioner is leading a medical mission sponsored by HR this summer and involving out of state volunteers.

We have an association w/ Immaculate Parish In Arlington who have a mission in Bungoma, Kenya and were planning a collaborative mission this summer until the events in Kenya made their trip not safe.

Describe visits (if any) between your parish/community and your African Partners:

HR has sponsored visits in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007 and will sponsor 2 groups this summer of 2008. a total of 11 people will be involved.

How is your ministry organized and run:

We have an International Mission Board as a commission of the Parish. We have a mission statement and meet as needed. Besides our missions to Uganda we also have missions to the Philippines thru the Carmelite Sisters of Our Lady.

Describe Youth Involvement (if any):

In 2004 HR was able to involve 4 high school students to travel to Uganda and we will have one graduating 8th grader come this summer.

Describe areas of expertise that exist in your mission work:

What other information would be helpful for others or your community to know/learn from:

What would you like to see or experience at future conferences