April report
Partnership in Mission is headed to Sucre, Bolivia. The medical, construction, and outreach teams will be in Sucre from April 23rd through May 5th. Please keep them in your prayers.

Partnership in Mission plans return to Africa. An opportunity for medical personnel to expand their skill set.

The mission will seek to develop a working relationship with the diocesan hospital in Ibanda, Uganda and the nurse college that is associated with the hospital.

When we left Africa the last time (2012) it was with sorrow. Relationships change over time and missions have to end. But there is always hope for a new opportunity. That time has come again. We have a new opportunity for mission in Ibanda, Uganda.

When Fr. Alfred came to the Diocese of Joliet to share his story of life in Uganda it was an answer to the prayer for mission to Africa. You see Fr. Alfred is the medical director for the Archdiocese of Mbarara. As we talked Fr. Alfred explained the needs of his Archdiocese and it was very similar to the work we did in Kenya. People we care for are poor and don’t have the care we do in the United States. Patients we normally see have advanced disease beyond what may be seen here. Because of the advanced nature of the cases we see, the medical team can be challenged to go to the edge of their skill level. There are very little matter of fact procedures. It’s not just work in the field, it’s work in the bush. The operating theater is much simpler and doesn’t have all the high-tech equipment we expect to have in hospitals here at home. There are times when the medical team has to think quick and solve problems. Instruments surgeons are used to having may not be available. Problem solving and team skills are tested regularly. All of the challenges the medical team faces are worth the challenge when a patient’s life is changed for the better. A recovering and smiling patient make it worth the challenge.

Physicians needed include the following surgeons: General, ENT, OB/GYN and Pediatric surgeons.   We will also need persons to administer anesthesia (MD’s or CRNA’s) as well as operating room nurses and recovery room nurses. 
The mission is scheduled for October 7th through 21st. This first team will be focused on surgery and working with the Nursing College associated with the hospital in Ibanda. In the future we hope to add a construction and outreach component to the mission. We will have an information meeting April 18th starting at 7:00pm until 9:00pm at the Blanchette Catholic Center, 16555 Weber Rd, Crest Hill, IL  60403.  
Next mission to Sucre, Bolivia leaves on April 22nd and returns May 6th.

As you can see by the picture above we have a large team going to Sucre, Bolivia this year. We are blessed to have many long time missioners returning along with many new missioners. Once again we will work at the Hospital Cristo de las Americas. 

The medical team will perform various surgeries. Most of the surgeries will be general surgeries with some gynecological surgeries. We will have two operating tables available to us. The hospital has a total of four operating tables. On an average day we can do 5 - 7 operations. The clinic team is something like wandering nomads. Each day they pack up their supplies and head out to a location to provide medical care to people in remote villages. Many of these locations don't have any medical care so this is an important opportunity for people to see doctors and nurses to address their needs. 

Our construction and outreach teams this year will have a range of projects. As is our custom we will build a bathroom for a family. We also have a painting project at the Sisters Charity home in Sucre. The Sister's care for university students from poor families. We have a large group of people this year for construction and outreach so everyone will get a chance to work on the bathroom, painting, and Water With Blessings project. 

I'll attempt to write a daily report on what is happening with the mission team. Of course it all depends on how well the internet behaves. 
Navajo Mission on target to leave on June 10th.

This years Navajo team is half way through it's formation process. they are 18 strong. We don't know exactly what projects they will be working on yet. Some examples of work done by the mission team is maintenance on the swamp coolers, repair of plumbing, dry-walling, power-washing, framing rooms, finishing rooms, general building repair, etc. That's the fun part of working on mission, you never quite know what you're going to have to do. Our mission motto is, "Be flexible and no whining!" The team will leave this year on June 10th through June 23rd.
Faith Promise Dinner

Mark your calendars for our annual Faith Promise Dinner on November 5th. Doors will open at 2:00pm and we'll look to finish by 5:30pm.

Also if you have some suggestions for this years Faith promise Dinner or would like to help we certainly invite you to join us. Just give a call or email us at missions@dioceseofjoliet.org.

Our Global Mission Sites

Sucre, Bolivia - Navajo Nation, Arizona - Bacolod and Borongan, Philippines - Kenya and Uganda, East Africa - Natural Disaster Recovery, USA,
"MissionX"  High School Missions throughout the Joliet Diocese
Partnership in Mission is an outreach of the Office for Human Dignity
Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois, USA

Bruce Carlson, Administrator
 Nancy Schramm, osf, Formation Director
Thomas L. Garlitz, Executive Director
 | 815-221-6258 | Fax - 815-221-6088 | missions@dioceseofjoliet.org| www.dioceseofjoliet.org/missions