St. Catherine Laboure's 'astounding' response provides wells in Kenya

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St. Catherine Laboure Parish's support for the Clean Water Project for Kenya has far exceeded expectations, raising $100,000 -- double what was needed for two deep-water wells.

Vincentian Father James Cormack, pastor of the parish, said he was not surprised with his parishioners' generosity, but "the response was absolutely astounding. ... Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would manage that amount of generosity. It's a testimonial to the goodness of the people and their desire to see the Church grow in Africa."

Father Cormack noted that the parishioners understood the need for the project. "This is something we absolutely take for granted. But in a developing country, it's something that can be the difference between life and death, between development and diminishment."

The parish has a personal connection because the pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Kamulu -- located on a dry plateau in a community that desperately needed clean, safe water -- had served at St. Catherine Laboure as a transitional deacon. Another connection is a priest and native Kenyan who had served at St. Catherine Laboure while attending classes at St. Louis University to sharpen his skills as treasurer of the mission in Kenya.

"Dream big and go forward" is how Father Cormack said the Kenyans have approached their task.

In the original request, $19,000 was needed to build a well at Holy Cross Parish in Thigio and another $25,992 for a well at the parish in Kamulu. The project also sought to raise $2,200 for new prayer books for the 20 Vincentian priests and 44 seminarians who serve the faith-filled people of the Vincentian mission parishes.

Father Cormack said the parishes don't generate enough income to support a full-time priest. Having running water can help the parish provide water to the local population, make a little income and expand their schools. "It allows them to become self-supportive. Clean, running water is an asset that allows them to look forward and grow."

He noted that the Vincentians focus on helping people in poverty. St. Catherine Laboure supports all the regular second collections in the archdiocese and adds two others each year. "The parish understands that while we have our own needs, we have resources to be generous to others," the parish pastor said.

The first request for the Vincentians' water project took place the second Sunday of Advent. Originally it was planned to have a second appeal at the start of Lent, but the response made that unnecessary. A dedicated endowment fund was created for the extra funds to help the Kenyan parishes and their mission.

The need was connected to Matthew 25 and the phrase "I was thirsty and you gave something to drink."