The St. Camillus Center

StThis afternoon we arrived at the St. Camillus Center. The center was just completed and the children moved in last December. The building and property are beautiful. There is much more land then I expected. Besides the building that is home to 20 children, there is also a structure that can hold 200 chickens and a large portion of land that is being prepared to grow vegetables that will not only feed the children, but also provide income for the center.

The building of the Center was funded by the Lesotho Connection (TLC). TLC was started in Tacoma, WA about 7 years ago when Theresa Power-Druitus was working on her doctorate in Lesotho, Theresa had heard about the work of Sister Julianna and she set out to meet her. As she shared her experiences with her husband, Joe, back in Tacoma and their dear friend Fr. Bill Bischel, SJ (better known as Bix), Joe and Bix set out to establish The Lesotho Connection to support the work of Sr. Julianna.

I was on the original board of TLC for 3 years. The building project seemed like such a huge undertaking. In those early years, the progress towards the building seemed so slow. Now I see that there was a foundation being built. As the board has changed and grown it has drawn to it many people who have a lived experience of Lesotho and their passion for this place has fueled its growth. I am moved to see this dream fulfilled and I feel a spark of passion for this place being fanned within me.