E M I SSA R Y

FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + ACTIVITY REPORT + DECEMBER 2014

left, with Fr. Herald) of the European nonprofit Mido
- which raises funds for the same purpose - were also
visiting at the same time.
Cameroon is a developing country of 22 million, a
vast number of whom live in rural areas, survive on
what they grow and lack adequate medical care. The
average yearly income is under $2000 and life expectancy reaches only into the mid-50s. Cameroon has
an extremely high incidence of rheumatic heart disease: 100-200 times higher than in wealthier countries. Rheumatic heart disease (caused by the strep
virus) damages heart valves, affects mostly children
and young adults and is the most common cause of
cardiovascular death in the region. Its estimated that
40,000 people in Cameroon suffer from this disease.
The Cardiac Centre at St. Elizabeth Hospital has the
advanced capacity to do open-heart valve replacement surgery to treat this disease and save lives. The
Centre has a full time, European trained Cameroonian cardiac surgeon, Dr. Charles Mve Mvondo
(right), and the staff and technology to provide intensive pre- and post-operative care. When Dr. Dailor is
there the surgical team is complete. Though the cost
of this surgery in Cameroon ($7000) is only a small
fraction of that in the US, it far exceeds the means of
almost everyone there who needs it. Nearly 100 patients unable to pay are on a waiting list for surgery.

rom October 15 to 24 Fr. Herald accompanied

US cardiac anesthesiologist Dr. Ellen Dailor (top
right) to the Cardiac Centre at St. Elizabeth
Hospital, Shisong Cameroon, run by Franciscan Sisters. Dr. Dailor has served several times at this stateof-the-art medical facility - the only one of its kind in
Central Africa - and shared her experiences with Fr.
Herald. He went to see how Franciscan Mission Outreach might help provide life-saving heart surgery to
Cameroonians in need. By Gods providence, Dr.
Claudia von Lutterotti and Andrea Maria Zeller (below

Thats where Franciscan Mission Outreach comes in.

We are working with the Live Greater Foundation to
match donations from Mido and cosponsor patients
for heart surgery at which Dr. Dailor will attend as
anesthesiologist. We are endeavoring to make sure
this amazing Cardiac Centre functions at full capacity
for the benefit of the poor. Our goal is to raise
$25,000 to give seven Cameroonians in need the
Christmas gift of free heart surgery.

Please help us in this effort to save a life!

Visit: www.youcaring.com/fmo-h4c

LI V E G RE A T E R

FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + PO BOX 1086 + SECAUCUS, NJ 07096-1086 + TEL: 718-618-4511

francsicanmissionoutreach@gmail.com + www.facebook.com/franciscanmissionoutreach

OUR MINISTRY IN HONDURAS CONTINUES! Fr. Herald and Franciscan Mission Outreach, with the frequent collaboration of
Missioners of Christ (based in Comayagua), have been active in the past few months: giving talks, retreats and spiritual formation
to school children, youth, university students and young adults; in different forms of outreach to couples and families; in providing
spiritual support to communities of religious sisters; with Sacramental assistance at local parishes; making mission visits to Catholic
communities on outlying islands; participating in Catholic radio programs; visiting orphanages, prison and a home for the elderly.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

December 6 - 10: Parish Mission, Mother Seton

Germantown, MD

March 19 - April 5: Jess en la Playa / Holy Week

La Ceiba, Utila and Guanaja, Honduras

January 3 - 10, 2015: Haiti

May: Honduras

January 27 - March 2: Honduras

March 7 - 11: Parish Mission, St. Michael Church

Gainesville, GA

June: Ghana and Cameroon, Africa (tentative):

Eucharistic Youth Retreats

Our missionary efforts depend on your spiritual and financial support. Please pray for us
and know you are remembered in our prayers. Tax-deductible donations to support the life,
ministries and missionary outreach of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal can be made out
to Franciscan Mission Outreach and sent to:

Franciscan Mission Outreach

PO Box 1086
Secaucus, NJ 07096-1086

Merry
Christmas!

Baby Francesco of La Ceiba, Honduras,

at four months of age (left).
He was saved from abortion
with the help of Franciscan Mission Outreach.

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