BELLEFONTE—When one of the members of Bellefonte’s Catholic Daughters of the Americas requested help for a priest in Indonesia, there was no hesitation.
The Bellefonte group is Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Ct. Rev. Patrick McArdle, No. 448. Bellefonte CDA is one of approximately 67 courts in Pennsylvania. This national organization’s purpose is to participate in the church’s religious, charitable and educational Apostolates (from www/cdapa.com). Bellefonte CDA has the motto of “Unity and Charity.”
Angelia Moningka, a Bellefonte resident from Indonesia and a member of CDA Bellefonte, explained to the Bellefonte CDA that Father Andi lives in the small village of Flores, where the people are poor and have almost no resources for medical attention.
However, the most extraordinary lack is in the mental health situation. People who exhibit mental illness are chained to boards or trees in the forest because there are no other means of help at this time.
Furthermore, the village lacks buildings to safely house the mentally ill for their protection and the protection of others.
Christine Surovec, recording secretary, and Barbara Surovec, a member of the Spiritual Enhancement Committee, both worked on the project for the CDA.
Christine Surovec talked with The Centre County Gazette about their efforts.
“The proposal was that Father Andi was trying to raise money to buy a truck. But unfortunately, the truck he had used had died,” she said. “A replacement truck would allow Father to travel again from place to place to serve these people and to transport materials to build small huts.
“So, Angela reached out to our CDA court,” she continued. “We needed more money than the court had, so we reached out to family and even a car dealership,” She said the appeals took many months of letters, emails and face-to-face speaking.
“Never has our court undertaken such a huge project as purchasing a truck which would cost $13,500 and was for a foreign country. Nevertheless, we exceeded our goal and were able to give Father Andi $14,094, and he purchased a truck from a dealership in Surabaya, Indonesia.”
“The photo the Bellefonte CDA received,” said Surovec, “is proof for us to behold the benefits of a good and faithful God who truly does answer prayers.”
There are 100 members who do the work and outreach of Bellefonte’s CDA.
