Official Opening of Kindergarten, 16th October 2007 by Cardinal Vinko Puljic
Sr Jelenka Puljic, Franciscan Provincial Superior of Mostar/Herzegovina, welcomed the Cardinal, priests, sisters, friends and benefactors of St Joseph & the Helpers charity. She told us that four years ago it was still questionable whether or not the Franciscan Sisters would stay here in Kiseljak. Then the idea to build a pre school was formed as it was much needed in the area. Work began on the building without money in hand. Many donations were promised but never materialised.
The Sisters prayed for a sign from God about whether they should continue with the work. They got their sign when a beautiful young Franciscan nun called Sr Dominika met with a group of Irish pilgrims in Medjugorje. Their leader was Arthur McCluskey and he, with fellow directors in Ireland, had recently formed a charity called St Joseph & the Helpers.
Sr Dominika asked “will you build our Kindergarten in Kiseljak?”
The rest, as they say, – is history!
The Sisters’ prayers were answered but they continue to pray for us all. Sr Jelenka said: “My dear friends, I am not certain whether or not you feel the effects of our constant prayers, but I feel and believe that you do. We, the Sisters, pray for you daily: May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and your families. May your beloved donors be always blessed and covered with the Motherly love of the Queen of Peace and protection of Her Spouse, St Joseph.”
Sr Janja translated some of Cardinal Puljic’s homily for the 70+ pilgrims from Ireland and the UK. His Eminence apparently gave the sisters some homework! He told them that they are duty bound to pray for all the benefactors of the charity and to do so every day of their lives.
So, to all of you good people of Ireland, UK and USA we thank you most sincerely for your generosity, for the faith you placed in this charity by entrusting us with your money. We thank you for your fund raising efforts on our behalf and for your continued support and prayers. We will continue to support the Kindergarten by paying teaching and ancillary staff salaries as well as the maintenance costs as there is still no state aid available.
We can rejoice together that the first building project undertaken by the charity has been completed and is a fine, beautiful building that should stand proud for centuries.
May the Good Lord and His Beloved Mother Mary bless you all.
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From Left: Directors, Donal O’ Shea,Colm Smith, Pat Henry, Arthur McCluskey,Dermot Brennan and Gerry O’ Connor with Cardinal Vinko Puljic at the opening of the Kindergarten School.
We pray for your help...
We pray that your heart will be open to giving freely to these very worthy causes. Your donation (large or small) can make a huge difference to the lives of those whom we are striving to help.
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A Message from Sr. Dominika Anic, Principal Teacher
Kiseljak is a small town in the middle of Bosnia. People here live with great difficulties of all kinds of poverty and everyday battle with the results of the war that took place in the last 15 years. God’s Providence came to us through good people who were touched deeply by the tears and pains of the suffering refugees and the deprived. The generous people who become the Face of God to the needy has enabled us, The Franciscan Sisters, to be disposed to the Grace of God to help those people, especially children, and everyone who daily presents themselves in need. 
With the financial help that we have received from St Joseph & The Helpers Charity, we have built a great building, the Kindergarten for local children in Kiseljak. We are working with the children. We have 60 over the last year. The ages of children are from 1-6 years.
There are 10 of us working or employed; 7 lay people and 3 nuns. Aside from the 10 hours program with the children, we work with the parents as well. We are trying to help the parents to see and recognize how important it is to work with the small children especially in the first three initial years of childhood. Our desire is to receive more children under this roof and help as many as we can.
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With the project of the Kindergarten we wish to open the Spiritual Centre to cater for different Spiritual Activities and meetings for the youth, married couples, parents and those that suffer from post war syndrome. In our work to date we have come to realise that for our wounded people their spiritual welfare is paramount and we will continue to teach and raise the children in the virtues of their faith. We are confronted with so many destroyed families.
The parents, who are too occupied, and the poor children are abandoned. For all these necessities we need concrete financial and material provisions and professionally capable experts who will apply themselves for the good of all. We have an absolute statistic that over 40% of the youth of this town are using drugs. This presents a huge problem.
We feel that we are called also in this tragic area to take action. We need to apply ourselves to prepare these youths for rehabilitation and educate the parents. It is ours to highlight and enlighten all to human and Christian virtues.
We believe and hope that goodness will beget goodness and that love towards the gift of life day by day will confront all obstacles. Thank you for every single gift and contribution.
May God Bless and Keep you.
Sr. Dominika Anic.
The charity pays for all the running cost of the kindergarten. Your donations for these and for the special needs children from the area will be most appreciated.
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