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Franciscans in Action
October-November 2008 e-newsletter
Franciscan Missions Inc. Battles Leprosy in Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau is in Western Africa
For untold millions, the world is a place of suffering and loneliness because poor, vulnerable nations cannot afford to take care of their citizens. In fact, in many countries leprosy is still destroying lives. To westerners, leprosy is a disease of the past. Around eight centuries ago, St. Francis of Assisi embraced a leper in an act of love and acceptance. At that time the healthy cast lepers out of their midst for fear of contamination. Today in countries such as Guinea-Bissau where treatment for leprosy is virtually nonexistent and the disease itself prevalent, those who do catch leprosy are also cast out of their homes and villages to struggle for survival.
The Franciscans working for Franciscan Missions Inc. in places where leprosy is still a threat welcome all individuals who suffer from the disease, treating them with dignity and love. When St. Francis of Assisi embraced the leper, he saw a human being, the image of Christ and not the disease. To see the disease is to dehumanize the person suffering from it.
In Guinea-Bissau, Franciscan Missions Inc. runs the Hansen’s Disease Control Center (leprosy is known today as Hansen’s disease). At the center sufferers receive treatment from trained staff. Often – such was the case with Pedro – the sufferers find the center by chance. Banished by his fellow villagers who wanted nothing to do with a leper, Pedro nearly committed suicide out of desperation. Only his daughter who wanted to be with her father and stayed with him through the roughest times, kept Pedro from ending his life.
As a patient at the Hanson’s Disease Control Center, Pedro’s confidence improved. He was deeply thankful and humble. Although, the disease ended up consuming one of his legs and eventually his life, Pedro always saw others who were more in need than he. He even preferred crawling to riding in a wheelchair that a more debilitated individual could use. This was Pedro – another sad, tragic, yet very true-hearted Franciscan.
We encourage you our readers to send in stories where you see the spirit of St. Francis at work in the world. Email your stories to Peter Rajchert at peter@franciscans.org.
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