St. Bede Parish

PASTOR: Rev. Edward M. Bryce

GET_Serve_Fred

Father Fred’s School

The Association of Friends of Queen of Apostles Academy Solidale-Kyeror

In January 2004, Fr. Fred and a group of volunteers established the Queen of Apostle Academy Solidale-Kyerero.  This is a secondary school and a vocational training center.

Since its beginning, many students have been sponsored by people of Kyerero.  In March of 2006, the school had its first sponsor from the United States and that sponsor was a family at St. Bede Parish.

Since that time, many families at St. Bede and others have committed to sponsoring children in the Queen of the Apostles Academy.  This sponsorship has spread to other schools in need in Kyerero.

Children in need of sponsorship range in age from 2 years to 19 years.  A sponsor may continue to support his/her child or children until the child has completed his/her studies and has acquired sufficient skills for job opportunities.

The children work hard in school.  The parents of the children work hard to ensure that their children receive a good education.  Sponsorship eases the burden to these families.  Sponsorship ensures that these children continue their education and that education will free them from many of life’s hardships.

How You Can Help

When you sponsor a child, you will receive information about the child from Fr. Fred.  This includes the child’s name, age, gender and school attending.  Throughout the year you can write to the child that you sponsor.

At Christmas time, Mrs. Maryann Zajko collects money to send to the school for a Christmas gift for all of the children.  This allows all the children to benefit from sponsorship even if they do not have their own personal sponsor.  In 2009, St. Bede sponsors sent enough money for the school to buy traditional drums for the school.  The children use these drums throughout the year for liturgies, social and cultural events and celebrations.

Sponsorship of a child is $150.00 per year.  At St. Bede, the yearly donation is typically collected at the end of May, to coincide with the Feast of St. Bede.  But, anyone can begin sponsoring a child at any time during the year.  You can also request to sponsor a boy or a girl and can request the child’s age

Sponsorship checks should be made out to St. Bede Church and the memo should read:  Fr. Fred’s Kyerero Education Scholarship Program.   They should be dropped off at the rectory along with the sponsorship application.

Application for Sponsorship of a Child

A Personal Journey for Katie Prochownik

Fausta and I have been pen pals for 5 years now. We have grown up learning about our different ways and cultures. It was exciting knowing that I was going to meet her when we went to Uganda. My entire service project was thought up with her in mind. I knew I wanted to go to her school and teach there.

My time in Uganda was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Although I traveled there to teach them in their schools, it was really the people there who taught me. They taught me about love, patience and generosity.

Fausta will always be a part of me. Our correspondence now has a tangible anchor. I have learned so much from her and I hope that, with each letter, we continue to become closer.

Thank you to all of those who helped to make this trip possible…it was one in a million.

Katie is 17 years old and studies at Shadyside Academy.

For more information:

Mrs. Maryann Zajko
412-512-4689 (cell)
Email