Nuns lifting Filipinos out of abject poverty

Every day 50 malnourished Filipino children and their mothers trudge long distances to the parish of Tandang Sora, in Quezon City, to eat their only warm, healthy meal of the day.

The feeding programme is the latest project of Sr Annie Catania, a Maltese Dorothean nun who has been working with the poor in the Philippines for the past six years.

Together with the parish and other sisters of St Dorothy, Sr Catania is hoping to make a difference in the lives of the villagers.

The children, who are aged between two and six, walk to the parish for a good lunch, a glass of milk and an egg. While the team is preparing the meal they are taught religion, singing and writing.

The mothers who accompany the children are also taught a craft - crochet, sewing, or cross stitch - so that they would be able to earn some money.

"We're not doing that much, it's just a drop in the ocean, but at least they will get one nutritious meal in the day," she said.

Sr Catania, who is bent on helping to improve the lives of these people, said she was deeply affected by the poverty in the region.

One day, Sr Catania realised that the mother of a boy never accompanied him to the parish and after questioning the child, she decided to accompany him home.

She found his 30-year-old mother, Mary Grace, lying on a mat on the floor in her home by the river - a mere room measuring three by three metres.

"The young mother had become partially paralysed after the birth of her fourth child and was unable to walk. Her husband, who earns Lm10 a week, can only return home every fortnight to save costs on transport," Sr Catania said.

The nuns forked out Lm200 for the doctor's visit and a scan, which established that the woman had a growth in her spine and would need an operation. However, this costs Lm2,000 and neither the nuns nor the woman have that sort of money.

So Sr Catania is back in Malta on a brief visit to raise some funds before she returns to the Philippines on August 14. Apart from money, she requires sewing machines and anything that could make up a playground for the children.

In the past few years Sr Catania, together with the parish, had also been hoping to build a one-storey school, which could take 400 students. However, it costs Lm54,000 to construct and Sr Catania only managed to raise Lm2,000.

"While labour is cheap, the building material is expensive since most of it is imported. If we get the money one day we'll continue with the project, but at the moment it's been put on hold," Sr Catania said in an interview.

Those who wish to help Sr Catania with her projects in the Philippines can send a donation to the Bank of Valletta account: 18208305010, or to St Dorothy's Convent, Mdina Road, Zebbug. Otherwise contact Sr Catania on 9904 0858.