Butembo

On 7th September 2003 at Cuves (Haute Marne), birthplace of our Congregation, the annual pilgrimage to Notre Dame des Ermites took place. After the Eucharist, in the open air, numerous people bought tee-shirts for the Mission.

In 2003, about thirty children were sponsored. The gifts aIlowed these children to pursue their schooling.

The school Saint Louis, Blanche de Castille at Villemomble (93 France) organised an Operation « Bowl of Rice » during Lent 2003. This permitted the continued financing of school books for yet another year.

Daffodils : March 2003

In the spring, as they do every year, younger and older pupils of the Sainte Geneviève school put on their boots, picked up their baskets and, accompanied by the parents and teachers, set off to the woods to pick daffodils.
On their return to the school playground, everyone made up bouquets of flowers and the children in the two senior classes were in charge of the sale.

In the month of May, the Support Committee of the Mission organised a race, in which all the children of the Ecole Sainte Geneviève participated with great enthusiasm, each one reaching the limits of his or her courage. Everyone was thinking of our friends in Butembo.

At the end of this race snacks were offered and tee-shirts with the Butembo logo were sold.

The chosen logo is the reproduction of the drawing which the children of Butembo sent with their Christmas wishes to the children of the Ecole Sainte Geneviève.

October 2003 :

Missionary Day at Chaumont (Haute Marne )
Sale of tee-shirts and presentation of the Mission.

March 2004 :

This year at the school of Sainte Geneviève, Gouvieux (60 Oise) « uninviting » weather prevented the picking and sale of daffodils.
Then big and small alike searched for another idea and - hey presto ! - our school children turned into cooks !
In each class, everyone made cakes ; the mothers kindly cooked them and on the following day the older children organised a small market in the school playground.

December 2004

Yet again the Christmas Sale of the Ecole Sainte Geneviève, Gouvieux, (60 Oise)

welcomed the « Butembo » stall.

The sale of calendars, photos and frames was organised by the friends of the Mission.

Lent 2005

During this period of Lent, the pupils of the school of Sainte Geneviève in Gouvieux, (60 Oise), organised their good deeds.

During their break, the senior classes shared their snacks (no more bars, sweets, treats ... they rediscovered the taste for bread, jam, chocolate). Every day they looked forward to this joyful moment.

Friday 13th May 2005 at the Sainte Geneviève school in Gouvieux (60 Oise)

Yet again we found ourselves reunited in the playground of the school (children, teaching staff, parents) and we ran the «kilomètres du coeur », running our hearts out !

The weather was not perfect, but the sunshine was largely replaced by a warm atmosphere : big and small ran, encouraged each other, clapped. A wonderful day !

Towards mid-March, the youngest children put on their boots, took their baskets and set off with their mistresses and their parents in the direction of the forest.

The daffodil picking (this year no rain !! ) was carried out with great pleasure ; return to school, making up of bouquets with the older children and sale at the end of the school day.

This will allow us to continue the sponsorship of our friends.