Dear Friends,
 
Dembe was born in a settlement camp 23 years ago. She is not technically a “refugee,” as she did not flee a country of origin to escape conflict or religious persecution like many of the 26.4 million refugees living in settlement camps throughout the world today. Rather, she is “stateless,” born to refugee parents and moving frequently from camp to camp in search of a better future.
 
Fr. Festo Adrabo, C.S.Sp., a pastoral education supervisor, had Dembe in mind when he initiated a series of training sessions earlier this year. The objective was to teach community leaders basic counseling skills so they can assist in the psychological, psycho-social, and pastoral care of the 471,000 refugees spread among three Ugandan settlement camps.
 
Thanks to Fr. Festo’s project, Dembe has received life-changing counseling, or as she puts it, “someone to talk to, someone to offer advice and to give me hope for a better future.”
 
Fr. Festo’s project became a reality through a grant from the Spiritan Office for Mission Advancement (SOMA), which is funded through donations from friends like you; people who care about others and seek the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
 
As for Dembe, whose name means “peace” in her native language, we are hopeful that she and hundreds of thousands of others like her in Ugandan camps, will find peace in their lives.
 
As this Christmas season of peace approaches, will you remember Dembe in your prayers, and consider making a donation to the Spiritans or leaving a legacy gift, so that we can continue making critical, innovative programs like this a reality and deliver care to those who need it most?
 
Thank you for your generous support.
 
Wishing you and your family a most blessed Christmas,

Fr. Michael Grey, C.S.Sp.
Development Officer, Spiritan Office for Mission Advancement