When Sarah was four years old, she was wrongly implicated in the deaths of fifteen local people. Due to her speech impediment, some in the community believed the little girl to be a “spirit child”, in accordance with local customs associating disability with evil spirits. Many of those community members, including Sarah’s own family, became furious at her inability or unwillingness to speak, casting her out and threatening to kill her.
Thankfully, Sister Stan Therese Mumuni and the local Church was made aware of the imminent danger Sarah was in. Sister Stan recalls fighting—almost physically—to save Sarah from the most terrible fate and give her a new chance at life.
Sister Stan runs the Nazareth Home for God’s Children in the Diocese of Yendi in Ghana— she rescues children just like Sarah who have been shunned or are in danger from their family or community. Currently, Sister Stan cares for 78 children, ranging from just a few weeks to 18 years old.
With education about disability reaching more communities in Ghana it is less likely that stories like Sarah’s will reoccur; however, children with disability continue to face discrimination, rejection, and lack of opportunity in Ghana, and often they have nowhere to turn.
Only through word of mouth and the diligence of local community members can Sister Stan intervene and rescue defenceless children if they are in immediate life-threatening danger.
Sarah says of Sister Stan, “I like her because she saved my life”. If not for Sister Stan’s intervention and lifelong care, Sarah may not be here today.
Please help missionaries like Sister Stan to continue their life-saving work for children in Ghana and around the world by giving generously today!
The Nazareth Home for God’s Children in the Diocese of Yendi in Ghana is a haven where children of all ages are loved and cared for unconditionally. Sister Stan Therese Mumuni has dedicated the last decade to running this home, which currently cares for over 60 boys and girls, giving them safety, nutritious meals, healthcare and education.
Sister Stan ensures the children receive quality education so that they may one day gain employment and provide for themselves. Her dream is that they will one day return to their home community and show how the love and support of the Church has empowered them to develop and reach their goals.
The Nazareth Home is one of the many critical initiatives established by the Catholic Church in Ghana to save and nourish the lives of the country’s most vulnerable young people. Without the tireless efforts of Sister Stan and other religious and lay missionaries around the country, many children will lose out on all that life has to offer.
However, the survival of these programs, and the children and young people who benefit so greatly from them, relies so much on the support you can provide today.
“Everything has changed, but one thing is for sure: we will continue the work here.”
Facing the uncertainty created by the pandemic, the Church in the missions shows its unanimous willingness to remain in the mission, with the people.
Pontifical Mission Societies, known in Malta as Missio launches an international video in which missionaries from all over the world and representatives of local churches join their voices to give a message of hope to the world: those most in need will continue to count on them.