FOR more than 20 years the parishioners of St Joseph’s Catholic Church at Peasedown St John have supported a variety of missionary initiatives in Rwanda.

These have grown from a close and long-lasting association with Father Leonard, a member of the Missionaries of Africa, an international missionary organisation that works extensively in Africa, often with the poorest communities. St Joseph’s has raised many thousands of pounds to support Father Leonard’s work.

Projects undertaken have included various agricultural schemes; a fish farm, the drilling of bore holes to bring fresh water for rural areas and establishing educational and community facilities. However, the most rewarding work for St Joseph’s has been the help that they were able to give to a young Rwandan girl, Chantal. She came from a poor background and, sadly, had such severe elephantiasis that her leg had to be amputated.

St Joseph’s worked hard to support Chantal financially both before and after surgery and, when her formal education ended, she received training and equipment to set up as a seamstress and become independent. But the biggest reward of all was for Chantal’s friends in Peasedown to see her competing recently in the Paralympics, as a member of the Rwandan national wheelchair volleyball squad. No mean feat indeed.

On his return to Rwanda, a new challenge awaits. He has been asked to develop a new parish in the village of Museyni, a word which means “dry sand.” The name says it all. There is no running water, the church looks like a derelict hangar and the only living accommodation is a tumbledown shack. The parish is larger than all the Somer Valley and has about 50,000 parishioners, some of whom regularly walk more than three miles to attend church.

On Saturday evening (September 21), a curry and quiz evening took place at St Joseph’s Church to say goodbye to Father Leonard, who is returning to Rwanda to improve the lives of his new parishioners in Museyni. They desperately need access to clean water and the first task will be to construct a borehole to facilitate this.

More than 70 people attended the event and more than £800 was raised. As a result of other fund-raising activities, the parish will be able to donate £2,500 as initial support for the Museyni project.

A new chapter for Father Leonard and another challenge for St Joseph’s, which they are happy to accept.