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CRIMSON SHIELD THE ONLINE MAGAZINE OF BROTHER MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL |
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| September 2010 | ||
Missionary
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Brother Chris Sweeney's interest in Africa began in the Novitiate, a two-year period of religious studies in preparation for taking religious vows. During the outphase of his program, he spent three months in Uganda. Now, nearly two decades later, he's fulfilling his dream of returning to Africa.
Brother Chris graduated from Catholic High in Baton Rouge where he lettered in four sports: football, wrestling, baseball, and track. After spending two years at Texas State University on a track scholarship, he joined the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. While studying at UNO, he coached freshman football at Brother Martin. After graduation in 1992, he taught religion and P.E. while coaching. Following eight years as a prefect at St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis MS, Chris returned to Elysian Fields to teach P.E., coach 8th-9th grade football, and serve as Strength Coach. |
He was appointed Vocation Director for the three U.S. provinces of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart just two weeks before Katrina hit. In five years in that position, he visited college campuses across the nation counselling young men interested in religious life. He led missionary trips to Zambia, Klagetoh (AZ), and the Philippines.
In the spring of 2010, the General Council in Rome issued a call for volunteers for a new missionary project in Mozambique. Chris wasted no time in sending a one-sentence e-mail to the Superior General expressing his interest. He was chosen from about 20 applicants along with a brother from Brazil who will direct the school, and brothers from Peru and Zimbabwe. The bishop of Mozambique wants to restart a boarding school in a rural area. Built by the Franciscans in the 1960s, the high school/ trade school was closed when civil war erupted. Seized by the communists when they took control of the government, the school has sat idle and neglected for 20 years since a democratic regime was reestablished. |
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Chris will leave October 1 for Brazil where he will study Portugese, the language of Mozambique, for 2 1/2 months. After visiting home for Christmas, he will meet the other three brothers in Mozambique in February.
The team will spend nearly a year overseeing the refurbishment of the school and residence and recruiting teachers and students for the reopening in January 2012. The bishop is lining up international funding for the venture whose biggest expense will be a new roof. Brother Chris's personal project is collecting used laptops for the school. Anyone who can help should contact the Province Office of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart (504-301-4758). When asked about the availability of electricity and water at the site, Chris replied, "Good question." He's told that electricity is "hit-and-miss, maybe half the day. Water – not sure. They must have a well." Where will the brothers live until the school is ready? Again, "good question." The Crimson Shield will provide updates on the project during the coming months. |