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Lesotho’s
Ambassador to Ireland , Her
Excellency, Mannele Ramaili, visited the Oblates’ provincial house in Inchicore
in Dublin
recently, to thank the Congregation for its long-term and ongoing commitment to
development in her country.
The Oblates have worked there since 1862 and played a major role
in establishing the National University of Lesotho over a 60 year period.
Welcoming the Ambassador to Inchicore, the Provincial, Fr William Fitzpatrick
said that the Congregation was anxious to continue and expand its work in Lesotho
in future.
“We very much appreciate the ambassador’s interest in and appreciation of the
contribution made by Oblate missionaries in her country in the past, and the
work they are doing today. The Irish Oblates who have been part of this story
represent an aspect of Irish history and heritage of which we should all be
proud -- one that is still waiting to be fully told,” he said.
The Oblate Anglo-Irish Province
has formally announced a contribution of one million US dollars to fund housing
for disadvantaged students at the National University of Lesotho.
The university was originally founded by the Oblates in 1945 as the first Black
university in Southern Africa. It has
developed to become a major education establishment for the entire region.
Oblates from the Anglo-Irish Province have had an association with southern Africa
and Lesotho
in particular since the late 19th century. The Congregation first began its
work in Lesotho
through the missionary efforts of French Oblate, Blessed Joseph Gerard.
Oblate missionaries originally from the Anglo-Irish
Province, but assigned to Africa at
ordination or later, continue to work across South Africa. In conjunction with
these missionaries and local Oblates, the Anglo-Irish Province has recently
been promoting projects in South Africa, most of which are funded by the Irish
Missionary Resource Service (IMRS).
Volunteers from Oblate Youth Service
(OYS) are currently working in ‘Little Eden’, a home for 290 physically and
mentally disabled children. This project, which is located on the outskirts of Johannesburg, is run on
two sites, one of which is a farm where the more able-bodied children reside.
“Our priority will always be to assist disadvantaged and marginalized people in
the countries where we are based. This work consistently involves working on
the edges of society with the poor. In this, we are inspired by our founder, St
Eugene de Mazenod, who, as a young priest, worked with the destitute and
prisoners condemned to death, in his native Provence,” Fr Fitzpatrick said.
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