Merry Christmas!

It has been forever since I have posted any updates.

I was moved to post this update after seeing a very moving picture on the Facebook page of Sean Kenney, a man who recently returned to the US after volunteering in Dodoma for two years.

This photograph captures for me so much. First, notice the school bus -- the gift of so many friends of Saint Peter Claver High School. The bus is being used for its intended purpose -- to transport our students for their weekly community service.

And notice the groups of our students in their uniforms working with younger students. This is the program that Sean spearheaded along with the Ivrea sisters -- to get our students into the local village to provide weekly tutoring for the children there. The learning conditions are abominable, and it is my hope that we can manage to accept two students from the village on an annual basis in the coming years.

Third, notice how dry the place is. In good years Dodoma is semi-arid -- the good years don't follow one another as often as they used to.

Fourth, notice the unfinished structure in the distance -- Tanzanians don't live beyond their means; they build as they have the money.

Finally, this is all happening at the local church. Our students are formed to be men and women for and with others in light of Chapter 25 of Matthew's Gospel (vv 31-46).

If you haven't made all your charitable donations for this year, please consider helping us out at St. Peter Claver High School. In addition to assistance with school fees for students, there are a number of other projects that would certainly benefit from your generosity.

Donations can be made online. Click on "international missions" and then write SPCHS in the comment section.

And thanks to all those who have so kindly contributed this year. We'll soon have a bakery up and running, providing healthier food for our students but also generating an income for the school by having a retail arm.

God bless you in 2013!

PS: I myself will be moving on to John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, where I'll be teaching in the Department of Education and serving the Jesuit community as the superior.