SOWING THE SEEDS OF FAITH

It's hard to picture now but our "old" Stations of the Cross were square panels of tone on tone wood. We sent them over to Conrad Schmitt Studios last December to be painted and gilded (and later put in frames). Before they left our building they were photographed and canvas prints were made.  We used those photo panels on the walls of the parish center while we held Mass there during the renovation.  They were beautifully done and many of you remarked that you could hardly tell that they were reproductions. Remember this?

It was the intention to donate this group of Stations of the Cross to a church or organization that could use them.  Fr. Beda, who has come to speak at SFDS for the past few years about his missionary work in Tanzania, was contacted.  He is in the process of building a new church and catechesis center in the village of Ngujni. Named St. John the Baptist, it has recently opened but is still getting some finishing touches (see photos below).  When asked if they needed Stations of the Cross for their new church, Fr. Beda enthusiastically said "YES!".  But how to get them there??

Parishioner Amy Amann stepped up and offered to work with her company, SPX FLOW in Delavan, to pack and ship these items (as well as some holy water fonts) to Fr. Beda's new church.  They have very generously donated the shipping costs to Africa.  Their employees helped to get them boxed and ready for shipping.  Our package traveled through Germany and then Dubai, and arrived at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Tuesday, September 5! Thank you to Amy, SPX FLOW, and all who made this possible.  The church will officially open for Masses on Nov. 3 and Molly Druffner promises to send photos of the installed Stations!