Walking With Cheetahs

By Deacon Bill Brawner

Brief overview of a 2017 CRS clergy delegation to Zambia to observe family-building programs operated by Catholic Relief Services

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365863974

Book preview

Walking with Cheetahs

CRS Rice Bowls at Work in Zambia

Deacon Bill Brawner

Catholic Relief Services Global Fellow

©2017 – The Foundation for Justice and Charity, Inc.

Published by Lulu.com

ISBN: 978-1-365-86397-4

Photo Credits: Mikaele Sansone/CRS

Forward:

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There was a cheetah licking my hand. In the middle of a 10,000 acre game preserve, full of elephant, giraffe, antelope, wart hogs, lions and monkeys. In Zambia.

I’m a Roman Catholic Permanent Deacon assigned to a lovely, vibrant parish in western Massachusetts. So, why Zambia? This is the final day of a twelve-day adventure as a member of a delegation of priests and deacons from across the U.S. who’ve traveled to learn more about the life-enhancing programs sponsored by our Church, through Catholic Relief Services.

We’re all newbie members of the CRS Global Fellows program. Global Fellows are clergy who have committed to share the CRS story with parishes around the U.S. through homilies, workshops and articles.

Until now, you would be forgiven if you asked, What is CRS? Catholic Relief Services operates in over 100 countries, offering Emergency Response & Recovery, Agriculture, Health, Education, Microfinance, Water & Sanitation, and Justice  & Peace building. They were created by the US Catholic Bishops back in 1943 as the official international humanitarian agency of the American Church, originally to provide assistance in the aftermath of the massive destruction during and after WWII.

You may know about Rice Bowls; you may donate through your parish’s Lenten Rice Bowl project; you may not know where and how those funds are used, who they help. You need to know; you need to know what good works our Church is doing around the world; you need to know why your gifts, and interest, are so important to families in those 100+ countries.

That’s why I ended up being licked by a cheetah. 9,000 miles from home; because you need to know, and you will only know if I, and others like me, can tell you the CRS story. You can start with my short story, and then go to http://www.crs.org/. If you are interested in hearing the CRS story in person, ask your pastor to contact http://www.crs.org/get-involved/participate/crs-clergy-outreach/global-fellows/invite-speaker or call 866-608-5978 to set up a parish visit from a CRS Global Fellow.

Peace,

Deacon Bill Brawner

2017

The Delegation

We consisted of seven CRS Global Fellows, two CRS HQ staff members – pictured on our last day in Zambia: Charity Bushama Chitatu [Exec Asst to Country Rep] Deacon Mark Westrick, Fr. Jason Sharbaugh, Deacon Bill Brawner; Deacon Robert Vigil, Fr. Timothy Fuller, Deacon Nick Pasculli, Deacon Don Smith, Jennifer

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Maez [CRS Rice Bowl], Mikaele Sansone [CRS Manager, Clergy Outreach & Delegations ]

We were together because CRS Global Fellows share personal stories from their experiences traveling to witness the work of Catholic Relief Services. Through engaging homilies and presentations, Global Fellows share how parishes, schools and dioceses can respond to the needs of the world’s poorest communities.