Father Chiola, parishioners at St. Frances Cabrini and others are working to raise $20,000 to pay for shipping medical supplies to a medical center in the Archdiocese of Kisumu. Archbishop Zaccheus Okoth recently rebuilt a medical center in his archdiocese and is seeking items for the center and his medical training facilities.
With the support of the parish council, Father Chiola offered 100 chances to make a donation of $200 as a way "to help recognize our responsibility for promoting and sustaining life among the whole human family."
"This is not a typical fund-raiser where the individual's donation offers an opportunity to win a prize. In this case, the reward is satisfaction," said Father Chiola. "By raising $20,000 we can send $140,000 of medical supplies through the Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach."
For every $1,000 collected, Father Chiola is lighting a vigil light in the church sanctuary during Sunday Masses until there are 20 extra candles burning. "We lit seven this last weekend (Oct. 27-28) and we will light nine this coming weekend," he said.
Archbishop Zaccheus has visited Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach twice in the past three years and is familiar with the help medical facilities receive when the Hospital Sisters collect medical equipment and supplies and redistribute the items around the world.
"We are working with Archbishop Zaccheus to determine exactly what he needs, from the most basic items such as microscope slides and test tubes to the very advanced such as X-ray equipment," said Bruce Compton, president and CEO of Mission Outreach.
Father Chiola said the closing date for the challenge is Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, "as the church celebrates its mission to share the light of Christ with all the nations of the earth."
The idea for Father Chiola's fund-raiser began during the priest's convocation that was held in Springfield in late September. "We visited the Franciscan Mission Outreach Center and Bruce Compton issued the challenge to me," said Father Chiola, who worked with the Hospital Sisters for 12 years and has a history of raising money for the missions.
So far, the fund-raiser is going remarkably well. "All 100 chances have already been subscribed to, but we have also had three people who wanted to give even beyond the 100," Father Chiola said. "The majority of the money has certainly come from this parish, but we have had other people giving as well.
"One woman in the parish had a daughter visiting from Wisconsin who gave. We have a staff member who has sons who are giving," he said. "We had a woman from Blessed Sacrament drive across town with the money. We had a lady from Nokomis give and a couple from Hillsboro." Other priests and lay people have donated as well, he said.
Compton said he was impressed that the people at St. Cabrini - and those who helped out from other areas - were able to raise the pledges so quickly.
"We are humbled by the generosity of St. Frances Cabrini parishioners who realize the blessings we have in our healthcare services in this country and how many throughout the world are in need," he said.
Compton said Archbishop Zaccheus was naturally excited about the prospect of receiving the medical supplies. "I spoke to the archbishop on the phone and he was just thrilled with this good news. He said, ‘God is good!' He was so happy."