Local youths contribute to Ugandan priest
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Youths at Holy Cross Catholic Church will host two local garage sales for the benefit of a parish in Uganda.

The first sale will take place from 7 to 10 a.m. on Sat., March 31 at 12419 Willow Forest Drive, and the second will be from 7 a.m. to noon Sat., April 14 at 13835 Donnybrook Lane.

All proceeds will be sent to the Rev. Charles Seebulime in Uganda, said Julie Cleary, junior high school youth ministry coordinator for the church.

Including the $859 they raised from a bake sale, the junior high students at the church now have a total of $2,876.64 for the African parish.

Holy Cross members are helping Seebulime's parish because the priest who studied at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo became a part of their lives, said Cleary.

His studies included assisting priests with Sunday Mass and giving homilies during Mass. He often helped at Holy Cross and in doing so became acquainted with members Mike and Diane Hawe, who took Seebulime "under their wing" because he didn't have any family here, Cleary said.

"They had him over for dinners and holidays and attended his graduation," she said.

Since Seebulime's return to Uganda, the Hawes have made it their personal mission to tell his story to as many people as possible so they could help the Ugandan parish.

According to local families, Seebulime was trying to run his parish on about $60 a month.

"So it struck me that helping him would be an excellent project for our junior high ministry," Cleary said.

"'Change for Africa' was born because we hoped to make our own little change for Africa by collecting change," she said.

Uganda, in eastern Africa, has a population of about 24 million. Civil war has raged over the last 20 years and children as young as 8 are often kidnapped to become soldiers.

The per capita income in Uganda is about $260 a year, life expectancy is 45 years and the political turmoil has left the economy behind others in the region.

The donations from Holy Cross help Seebulime provide clothing, medical attention and basic needs to the children and families of his parish.

To donate goods for the garage sales and for more information about "Change for Africa," call Cleary at (805) 529-0283.