Galilee Centre is a retreat house run by the Jesuits. It is situated in Debre Zeit town, 50 kilometres south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Here we offer retreats to the religious and priests of the Ethiopian Catholic Church and to other Christian Churches as well.

We offer eight-day personally guided retreats and weekend retreats to seminarians in theology, to junior religious, to novices as well as to University students and youth coming from different parishes. Many religious and priests, attracted by the hospitality and by the beautiful volcanic lake and mountain view, come to spend a time of prayer and to have an experience of God.

On the initiative of one Jesuit on the staff, we are also helping to pay school fees of many students, distribute food to some poor families and offer special care to a small group of orphans.

About 60 per cent of the expenses incurred by the centre are covered by the room and board fees. Two European donors subsidise retreats offered to religious and priests. However, at the end the year, we are still ending in a deficit. We cannot manage to cover all the expenses due to the maintenance of the centre and to the rising cost of living. It was for this reason that we appealed for help to the Mission Fund and they responded generously.

I am very grateful for the grant offered to Galilee Centre for the maintenance of the place and for the servicing of our two cars, four computers and a photocopier.

I encourage readers to continue to send used stamps and donations to the Mission Fund.