Category: enewsletter stories

“The Cross confronts us with the greatest mystery of love that Christ brings to humanity,” says Veronica, our Arica site director. “For Christians, it is the best symbol of victory and salvation, the most explicit expression of closeness and delivery of God's unlimited love to us.”

That staff in our Arica site in Chile see parents carrying many crosses of love for their children. But they marvel at German, whose son Ricardo was recently sponsored.

Ricardo is 12 years old and was born with cerebral palsy. His condition keeps him in bed, and he eats through a feeding tube. German is a single father and arrived in Chile from Bolivia with no family in the area.

But ever since Ricardo was sponsored, he has never felt like he was caring for his son alone.

"German has met many brothers in Christ who are helping him carry his Cross," Veronica says. "Thanks to the support of the Chalice family circles and the community” who have been collecting donations of food and household items to support the father-son duo.

“I am very moved by the reception of so many Chilean brothers helping us with food, diapers, blender, etc.,” German says. “The families of the family circles in my area have organized to help us and have made me feel at home.” 

“Since my son was sponsored, we have felt incredible support and are no longer alone.”

“It's incredible how Ricardo has reached so many generous hearts," the staff say. 

“I want to thank God and this extraordinary institution that supports us with prayer, with its presence and help," says German. “Thank you so much.”

“Christ speaks to us with love through the Cross that we can carry together," Veronica says. 

“May the Lord bless all who lovingly take their own Cross and help others carry theirs.

Category: enewsletter stories

“I heartily welcome you to Mkono Wa Mara school,” says head teacher, Goodluck. 

Goodluck oversees the primary school in rural Tanzania, a part of Chalice’s Mbinga sponsor site. More than 420 children arrive daily for their classes, which span from kindergarten to grade seven.

Goodluck oversees the primary school in rural Tanzania, a part of Chalice’s Mbinga sponsor site. More than 420 children arrive daily for their classes, which span from kindergarten to grade seven.

The school buildings were built in 1962 – right around the time Tanzania achieved independence. Mkono Wa Mara has never had renovations.

“Thus, the classrooms are not conducive for learning due to rusted and leaking roofs,” Goodluck says. Their school cook used to try to prepare meals in a roofless hut. They also did not have a water tank, so she had to push it in on a wagon. It was time-consuming and exhausting work.

“We used to cook in the rain,” says Goodluck. “When it rained, we couldn’t cook.”

Their school needed a lot of love and support – which they found in their sister school in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Through Chalice’s School Connections program, St. Teresa of Calcutta’s students dedicated themselves to fundraising for Mkono Wa Mara’s many needs. Their efforts have brought about a tremendous metamorphosis!

They are most excited about the transformation of their kitchen and their new rainwater storage tank. “It is a modern kitchen, and it is connected to the water tank,” Goodluck says. “So, there will be water for cooking and for the students to wash. The kitchen will be very efficient.”

“You also remembered that we needed cooking pots and brought those!” Goodluck says to the St. Teresa students. “Very nice, big pots that mean we can cook for the whole school. That has been especially helpful because it reduced student absenteeism. It has also increased the students’ effectiveness in learning because they used to be hungry, but now they are getting food and eating.”

Mkono Wa Mara staff have plans to also renovate nine classrooms, a computer room, and dining hall. “We will also add 200 new classroom desks for the pupils to use while studying,” Goodluck says.

“Through the renovation of our classrooms, we will have a conducive learning environment, even in tough rainy seasons,” says Brooklyn, a grade seven student. “Thank you very much. God bless you.”

“You stand on behalf of God. We are very grateful to you,” Goodluck says on behalf of the school. “I ask God to continue to bless you, for what you have done is great.” 

 “God will bless you. God will increase you where you gave.”

If you would like your school or class to ‘get connected’ to a sister school in one of our African sites, check out https://chalice.ca/school-connections. 

Category: enewsletter stories

With her husband Arthur by her side, Rosalia arrived in Canada in 1967. They chose Ontario for their bright new life in a new country.

The couple loved children. They had six of their own, and then welcomed seven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Rosalia became a teacher, of course, and her students still speak about her kindness.

Rosalia was passionate about education, children, and helping people living in poverty. By becoming a Chalice sponsor, she was able to combine those passions and make a significant impact on the lives of the children she supported. When it came time for her to prepare her will, she left legacy gifts to causes she cared about. When it came to Chalice legacy giving, Rosalia never directed them to a particular country or region – she was happy to give to anyone in need.Earlier this year, we learned that Rosalia had passed away. Her daughter got in touch with Chalice, letting us know that her mother wished for her legacy gift to help children’s education and nutrition, anywhere in the world. The team at Chalice knew exactly how to use it. Rosalia’s gift contributed to our African School Farms and Food Security program, which supports sustainable agriculture and school lunches in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Ghana.

When Rosalia’s family learned where their mother’s gift went, they were thrilled. It was perfect, they told us, because Rosalia was from Kenya! The Chalice team was surprised and pleased – Rosalia had never mentioned where she’d grown up, and her surname suggested Portuguese heritage.

As Pope St. John Paul II said, “In the designs of Providence there are no mere coincidences." Everyone at Chalice was touched that they could be God’s instruments in this way. Wilson, one of Chalice’s planned giving specialists, expressed that it was his honour "to fulfill those intimate wishes which might not have been expressed on paper but were certainly held in Rosalia and Arthur’s hearts.”

Rosalia’s generosity left a legacy of hope to children and families in a country close to her heart. We pray that her soul rests in eternal peace.

If you want to know more about legacy giving with Chalice, check out https://chalice.ca/plan-a-gift.