By Emilie Ng
WATCHING children joyfully pray the Rosary out of habit showed Birkdale parishioner Jane Walsh that faith, not money, brings happiness.
Mrs Walsh travelled with Birkdale parish priest Fr Frank Jones and fellow parishioner Roy Evans on a mission trip to East Timor in June.
The three visited their sister parish, Our Lady of Grace in Metinaro, a city in Dili district, and a nearby orphanage for girls.
“They are the happiest, loveliest children, and they have absolutely nothing,” Mrs Walsh said.
The mother of three said it would be almost “a disservice” to take any of the girls away from the orphanage because “there is so much spiritually to help them there”.
“Everyday at the same time they pray the Rosary in the grotto, without the Sister’s leading them, and they are so happy, their eyes are sparkling,” Mrs Walsh said.
“Because of that, I want to try and increase my children’s faith, and make it a part of their day, not just something they do on Sundays.”
Over the next year, the parish will help fundraise and co-ordinate over four projects in the next year.
More than $35,000 is needed to restore the orphanage’s kitchen, and plans are already in place to build a Catholic kindergarten for the parish, as Catholic education is not offered in the area.
“It is heart-wrenching for the parents to have to send their children to a non-Catholic school,” Mrs Walsh said.
The kindergarten will be named after St Mary of the Cross and is set to begin in January.
The parish has committed to cover the wages of the kindergarten’s first teacher and her two assistants.
Birkdale parish has also created a scholarship for a young male orphan to help him pursue studies as a mechanic in Indonesia.
High school girls in Dili will also receive a new dormitory with funds from the parish.
Mrs Walsh said helping the Timorese people live better lives in their own country was more effective than taking them out of their environment.
The parish is expecting to take a large group of parishioners for a 10-day immersion to continue “the Church’s mission for her option for the poor and youth”.
