In September Tim was asked to give a presentation for an all night vigil program which is held once a year for choirs in the area of the St. Francis Care Center. The Sunday before the event, all of those at Mass at the Care Center were also invited to attend.
The vigil was scheduled to start at 7 P.M. on Saturday, October 9, 2010, so Tim and I arrived at the hall about half an hour early. There were six people practicing singing in this hall that can hold over 400 people. Without any amplification they sounded like a full choir of beautiful voices in four part harmony. It was amazing.
Gradually more choir members came and the sound grew. Eventually there were at least two adult choirs and a youth choir. The only instruments for accompaniment were bongo drums of various sizes and a soft organ. All of the singing was in Zulu.
The Mass started about 8 P.M. and of course the music was great. After Mass there was a break during which there was the first rain storm in many months. After the break there was an inspirational talk by Sister Connie. More singing followed this and then Tim gave his Bible Study presentation. Tim and I left then during the break that followed. On the program for the remainder of the night was the Rosary, 3 hours of Spiritual Revival/Faith Sharing (probably all in Zulu), and from 4 A.M. to 10 A.M. praying was scheduled.
The Sunday Mass was celebrated at 10 A.M. with all the choirs in attendance. There has always been great music at the Sunday Masses since we have been in South Africa. But this Sunday's music with all the choirs from the Vigil was incredibly beautiful.
During the normal Sunday Mass every week there are three groups that lead the singing. One is a group of singers and drummers and an organist from Malawi. Another group also sings in an African language. The third group sings in English. There are 17 times that there is song during the Mass, and the groups take turns preparing and singing for these hymns by a pre-planned schedule. Most of the congregation joins in with voice, clapping, and body swaying. I have been asked to chose, post, and begin the English songs on October 31 since the usual leader of English songs will be out of town.
The Our Father that is sometimes sung is set to the tune of Kum-Ba-Ya. This may be a common adaptation known to many of you. But I will include it in case it may be useful to some.
OUR FATHER (KUM-BA-YA)
Father God in Heaven, Lord most high,
Hear your children's prayer, Lord most high
Hallowed be Thy name, Lord most high,
O Lord, hear our prayer
May your Kingdom come, here on earth,
May your will be done, here on earth,
As it is in heaven so on earth,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
Give us daily bread, day by day,
And forgive our sins, day by day,
As we too forgive, day by day,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
Lead us in your way, make us strong,
When temptations comes, make us strong,
Save us from all sin, keep us strong,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
PAUSE:
All things come from you, all are yours,
Kingdom, Glory, Power, all are yours,
Take our live and gifts, all are yours,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
______________________________________
Tim and I wish you well. We encourage you to respond to our blog.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN FMS MISSIONER AT ST. FRANCIS CARE CENTRE
First, a bit of physical background. Our workplaces consist of two five-acre walled and gated compounds in what was until recently, a rural area.
The first compound contains:
1) St. Francis Guest House, the original old farmhouse, where long-term volunteers and other guests live.
2) House of Mercy, an inpatient treatment center for drug & alcohol addiction.
3) Outpatient clinic and two satellites (where Cecilia works).
4) a sheep pasture for twenty or so sheep that we keep.
5) a large recreational field for soccer, volleyball, etc.
6) a house for some staff people.
The second compound houses the following:
1) St. Francis Care Centre (the hospice where Tim works) which consists of two wings with a roofed patio between them; maximum capacity = about 50 patients.
2) Rainbow Cottage for children with HIV/AIDS (about half), or orphaned by AIDS; maximum bed capacity = about 25.
3) about thirty other buildings (administration, chapel, chaplain’s office, laundry, morgue, large community room (@ 350-400 capacity), nursery school, training room, handyman’s office and shop, etc.
4) three playgrounds, open grassy areas, many flower beds, three fruit and vegetable gardens, and a large pasture for 3 donkeys, many rabbits, and many geese.
Second, a bit of background about the patients. Technically, we are a hospice offering palliative care for patients who are terminally ill. In reality, we do much more. We serve about 300 to 500 patients per year, giving them full medical, physical, emotional, and spiritual care until they leave, either through death (166 last year), becoming healthy and strong enough to live out a relatively normal life (106 last year), or because they either develop conditions which we don’t have the capability to treat, or they decide to leave for personal reasons (35 last year). All of our patients have HIV/AIDS, and most of them have other diseases or infirmities. The majority have TB, and most who die here do so because of TB or related disease. Our youngest patient was 14, and the oldest was 84.
A (more or less) TYPICAL DAY IN MY DAY
7:00 a.m. Arise from our suite in the guest house, eat, say morning prayer, and walk the quarter mile to the hospice -- a nice walk with sheep on both sides, palm and fir and deciduous trees, many flowers, and nice grassy areas.
8:00 a.m. Say “good morning” to each patient individually, and to each staff member, and help collect breakfast trays from bedridden patients and return them to the kitchen. Read night shift’s “patient’s report” and/or make rounds with doctor and nurse.
Pass meds, treat sores, change bandages. Help patients to move outside: help them dress, change “nappies,” lift from bed to wheelchairs, “drive” wheelchairs to outside place of patient’s choice,
9:00 a.m. Tea time. Prepare and serve tea and sandwiches (egg, tuna, peanut butter, jelly), and partake thereof myself.
9:30 a.m. Make beds, give massages, cut nails, and (some days) prepare for mass and help move patients and children from rainbow cottage to chapel.
10:00 a.m. Mass (some days) or personal time with patients (individually or in small informal groups): talking, praying, playing games, doing crafts, etc.
11:30 a.m. Lunchtime. Serve patients, clean up, and eat lunch myself.
1:00 p.m. Personal time with patients: visit, sit with dying, walk with some.
2:30 p.m. Begin to move some patients inside and into beds.
3:00 p.m. Tea time. Help prepare and serve tea and snacks (cheese crackers, bread and jelly, cookies, biscuits, candy -- whatever is available).
3:45 p.m. Say individual “good-bye” to each patient and staff person.
4:00 p.m. Leave. Perhaps walk to store and buy some food. Walk home,
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Do miscellaneous jobs as needed: charting, intakes of new patients (5-page examination and interview), prepare dead bodies and take to morgue, check oxygen or IV, change position every 2 hours of bedridden patients, prepare electrolyte solutions, clean patients’ cups and water jugs, fill water jugs, etc.
6:00 p.m. Supper time at home.
7:00 p.m. Watch evening news.
7:30 p.m. Personal time: Read, study, prepare class or homily, talk with Cecilia and/or other residents of the guest house, E-mail, evening prayer, etc.
11:00 p.m. Bedtime.
The first compound contains:
1) St. Francis Guest House, the original old farmhouse, where long-term volunteers and other guests live.
2) House of Mercy, an inpatient treatment center for drug & alcohol addiction.
3) Outpatient clinic and two satellites (where Cecilia works).
4) a sheep pasture for twenty or so sheep that we keep.
5) a large recreational field for soccer, volleyball, etc.
6) a house for some staff people.
The second compound houses the following:
1) St. Francis Care Centre (the hospice where Tim works) which consists of two wings with a roofed patio between them; maximum capacity = about 50 patients.
2) Rainbow Cottage for children with HIV/AIDS (about half), or orphaned by AIDS; maximum bed capacity = about 25.
3) about thirty other buildings (administration, chapel, chaplain’s office, laundry, morgue, large community room (@ 350-400 capacity), nursery school, training room, handyman’s office and shop, etc.
4) three playgrounds, open grassy areas, many flower beds, three fruit and vegetable gardens, and a large pasture for 3 donkeys, many rabbits, and many geese.
Second, a bit of background about the patients. Technically, we are a hospice offering palliative care for patients who are terminally ill. In reality, we do much more. We serve about 300 to 500 patients per year, giving them full medical, physical, emotional, and spiritual care until they leave, either through death (166 last year), becoming healthy and strong enough to live out a relatively normal life (106 last year), or because they either develop conditions which we don’t have the capability to treat, or they decide to leave for personal reasons (35 last year). All of our patients have HIV/AIDS, and most of them have other diseases or infirmities. The majority have TB, and most who die here do so because of TB or related disease. Our youngest patient was 14, and the oldest was 84.
A (more or less) TYPICAL DAY IN MY DAY
7:00 a.m. Arise from our suite in the guest house, eat, say morning prayer, and walk the quarter mile to the hospice -- a nice walk with sheep on both sides, palm and fir and deciduous trees, many flowers, and nice grassy areas.
8:00 a.m. Say “good morning” to each patient individually, and to each staff member, and help collect breakfast trays from bedridden patients and return them to the kitchen. Read night shift’s “patient’s report” and/or make rounds with doctor and nurse.
Pass meds, treat sores, change bandages. Help patients to move outside: help them dress, change “nappies,” lift from bed to wheelchairs, “drive” wheelchairs to outside place of patient’s choice,
9:00 a.m. Tea time. Prepare and serve tea and sandwiches (egg, tuna, peanut butter, jelly), and partake thereof myself.
9:30 a.m. Make beds, give massages, cut nails, and (some days) prepare for mass and help move patients and children from rainbow cottage to chapel.
10:00 a.m. Mass (some days) or personal time with patients (individually or in small informal groups): talking, praying, playing games, doing crafts, etc.
11:30 a.m. Lunchtime. Serve patients, clean up, and eat lunch myself.
1:00 p.m. Personal time with patients: visit, sit with dying, walk with some.
2:30 p.m. Begin to move some patients inside and into beds.
3:00 p.m. Tea time. Help prepare and serve tea and snacks (cheese crackers, bread and jelly, cookies, biscuits, candy -- whatever is available).
3:45 p.m. Say individual “good-bye” to each patient and staff person.
4:00 p.m. Leave. Perhaps walk to store and buy some food. Walk home,
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Do miscellaneous jobs as needed: charting, intakes of new patients (5-page examination and interview), prepare dead bodies and take to morgue, check oxygen or IV, change position every 2 hours of bedridden patients, prepare electrolyte solutions, clean patients’ cups and water jugs, fill water jugs, etc.
6:00 p.m. Supper time at home.
7:00 p.m. Watch evening news.
7:30 p.m. Personal time: Read, study, prepare class or homily, talk with Cecilia and/or other residents of the guest house, E-mail, evening prayer, etc.
11:00 p.m. Bedtime.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
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