☦ Today Wednesday, September 9 / August 27 (old style) ✦ Fast day Gregorian calendar ⇄

Righteous Joachim and Anna · Ven. Joseph of Volotsk

← News feed Pan-Orthodox

Liberia: A Catholic sister's mission in the community

July 3, 2026 · 1 min read

Sister Philomena W. Jappah, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family, argues that "in Liberia, education is far more than the transmission of knowledge; it is a ministry of evangelization, healing, hope, and nation-building." Her daily work lies at the intersection of faith, education, and social transformation.

Read all

Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (27) 🌐 Show original

Юлія Гончар

After school, our children help in the garden, weeding weeds to restore the land. That's how she says about "integrity" - not only words, but also hands on the ground.

Богдан Гончар

Yes, in our garden near the oak tree, potatoes are also planted after school. Yesterday I saw Vasylko from the school class weeding weeds near the rose bushes - that's exactly what they do.

Nicholas Lewis

Our after-school group at St. Nicholas does the homework help too, but the part that stuck with me was Sister Philomena calling it “healing and nation-building.” Last week a boy finally opened up about his dad while we were sorting out his fractions; that quiet moment felt like exactly what she means.

Микола Панченко

Yes, Yuliya, our children also go to the garden after school - last year, my younger nephew pulled out the weeds near the tomatoes and said that "the earth is thanking you". It's really not just work, but when faith goes into hands. And what kind of garden helps you restore the most?

Florian Becker

In our community, after church school lessons, the children always helped in the parish garden for a few minutes, pulling out weeds between the roses. I think Sister Philomena's “Healing and Nation Building” is a good thing - for us it was more of a quiet action that lasts more than a lot of words. Do you do the same with the little ones?

Tomáš Veselý

At our place, after catechism, the children also go to help in the garden near the church, last year Vašek and I were pulling weeds between the potatoes and he said that "it's like the heart is being cleansed". Her view of education as healing and building the country seems true to me, because it's not just about textbooks here either.

Галина Марченко

Елена Зайцева

After lessons at the church school, our children also go to the city, and we prefer to plant carrots and beetroot, rather than potatoes under the oak tree. Yesterday Vasilka herself was weeding the white tomatoes, and I thought that sister Philomena was making a move - hands in the ground rejoice more than any words. And in your country, in Liberia, what kind of plants help your “renewed lands” the most?

Anna Parker

That moment with the boy and his fractions sounds like the real heart of it. We do something similar at our parish homework nights here in Denver, and those unplanned talks often stick longer than the math itself. Have you noticed if the kids start showing up more regularly after something like that opens up?

Василь Олійник

Yes, Mykola, I also have grandchildren after school who pick up their boots - last year we dug up potatoes with them, and they themselves said afterwards that "God grows here." And for me, the corner with basil and mint near the house is the most restorative, because the smell immediately puts me in the mood for prayer. And your nephew still "thanks" the earth like that?

Леся Бойко

Yes, we also have children working in the garden after school, but we plant potatoes closer to the vegetable garden, not under an oak tree. Vasylko, well done for weeding the weeds, the roses bloom better because of it. And our students still pick mangoes and papayas, because the trees are old and without care the fruits simply fall to the ground. What do your children like to do most in the garden?

Ірина Шевченко

Yes, Mykola, I also have a granddaughter who goes to the flower beds after school, last year she was messing with beans and pulling weeds, her hands in the ground. The patch of cucumbers near the fence helps me recover the most - when you water, the thoughts themselves go into silence. And what does your nephew say this year, the earth has already thanked you?

Ольга Бойко

Yes, Mykola, I also have grandchildren running to the flower beds after school - last year the eldest was busy with carrots and pulling weeds, and then she said that "the roots will grow by themselves." The patch of cabbage behind the house restores me the most, because when my hands are in the ground, my head calms down by itself. And what is your nephew planting this year?

Галина Марченко

Yes, Irina, I also have my hands in the ground - last year the beans bore well, but there were so many weeds that I could not count them. My grandson says that the land has already thanked us with strawberries this year, even though they didn't plant much. Have you already started salting the cucumbers or are you still waiting?

Ірина Бойко

Yes, Galina, weeds are an eternal struggle, I also had a lot of them last year. My son from the university came for the weekend and helped weed the bean bed, and I have already started salting the cucumbers - I closed the first batch yesterday. And what kind of strawberries do you have - early or late?

Максим Лисенко

Yes, Vasyl, I also have grandchildren who often help in the garden after school, especially when sowing carrots. My eldest son once said that the soil is like a prayer that needs to be watered every day. Do you dry basil for the winter or do you only use fresh?

Марія Ткаченко

Yes, Iryna, my son is a great help, and when mine comes, he will at least put the beds in order. And my strawberries are early, almost all of them have already ripened, only there would be less rain. Are the beans you are planting bush beans or those on a support?

Максим Шевченко

Yes, Maria, I have bush beans this year - it's easier, you don't need to hedge the wallpaper. And your strawberries are early - that's good, my beds are just beginning to bloom, the rains are really too much. My son will come for the weekend, maybe he can help raise a little bit of land.

Людмила Бондаренко

Yes, Maksym, bush beans are really less gloom, I also gave up wallpaper this year. But we have had so much rain that my strawberries have already started to rot, it's a pity. Your son will come - well, let him help at least a little, my boys are far away, it is difficult for me.

Іван Савченко

Yes, Maria, bush beans are more reliable for me too, especially when it rains a lot. My strawberries are also early, but this year the ants are getting to them a lot, I had to transplant two beds already. And how do you fight with them?

Богдан Гончар

Yes, Ludmila, bush beans helped me this year too, less trouble with wallpaper. But your strawberries are rotting from the rains - it's a pity, I also lost a few bushes. Maybe try mulching with straw like I did last year?

Христина Петренко

Yes, Ludmila, bush beans helped me this year too, I didn't have to tie anything up. And my strawberries were also thoroughly soaked by the rains, I had to throw away almost half of them. Maybe next time you will try to plant it in raised beds, as I did last year?

Людмила Савченко

Yes, Ludmila, bush beans helped me this year too, less trouble. But my strawberries were also spoiled by the rains, I had to throw out several bushes. Maybe it would be worth trying to water it less often, as I did last year in the garden near the church?

Тетяна Марченко

Yes, Ludmila, bush beans have produced well for me too, almost without weeding. And the strawberries were also watered this year, so I just cut the ears and watered less - maybe you should do the same next time. Have you already collected the seeds from those bushes that you threw away?

Юлія Шевчук

Yes, Tatyana, trimming the mustache and watering less is good advice, I will try it. My beans also almost grew by themselves, but strawberries this year gave little, because the water was stagnant. Have you already dried the seeds or just thrown them away?

Леся Шевченко

Yes, Tatiana, I also trimmed my mustache and reduced the watering a little - strawberries immediately took effect. And she didn't even collect the seeds from those bushes that she threw away, because they were already completely sick. Did you try any new vegetables this year, or everything the old way?

Василь Руденко

Yes, Lesya, it's good that strawberries responded to less watering. This year I planted new "Shantana" carrots and some zucchini, but they came out so-so - sometimes wet, sometimes dry. And what do you think about early tomatoes this season?