The Church is Complete!
April 2023
We are overjoyed to announce the completion of the brand-new St. James Catholic Church in Yookudi, Liberia! After years of building brick by brick, the beautiful sanctuary is now ready to faithfully serve the surrounding families and communities. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to each and every donor who selflessly contributed to restoring and strengthening the Faith around the world. You have made a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals, providing them with new beginnings and a sacred space to worship, grow, and find Christ.
“…Thank you, Catholic World Mission, for supporting the construction of our Church through the Diocese of Cape Palmas. We are very happy that we have a new church in our village for us to pray. This church will also help us to bring others to know Christ. Thank you very much and may the Lord bless you.” – On behalf of St. James Catholic Church in Liberia
The Faith is Alive in Liberia!
March 2022
Construction for St. John the Baptist Church is still underway, but that is not stopping the surrounding village from drawing near to the Lord! Individuals and families gathered together in their Sunday best, sitting on makeshift pews made of wooden slats and cinder blocks, to participate in the Mass that was celebrated by Bishop Andrew Karney.
Thank you to all of the benefactors who are supporting the restoration of the Catholic heritage in Betu and Sasstown. This Mass celebration, despite the unfinished church structure, shows that the faith is alive in Liberia! The community’s dedication to the faith is a beautiful reminder that the Church is the body of believers, not the building. We are hopeful for the remainder of the construction and are excited to provide this deserving community with a newly finished church.
Rebuilding St. John the Baptist Church
October 9, 2021
Thanks to our remarkable donors, CWM has been able to fund the rebuilding of the over one-hundred-year-old St. John the Baptist Church along with the purchase of three canoes to satisfy the need for stable transportation in the Betu area. The Diocese of Cape Palmas is grateful to Catholic World Mission and its benefactors for supporting the restoration of the Catholic heritage in Betu and Sasstown.
Rebuilding St. John the Baptist Church:
This past summer kicked off the construction process and by the end of August, the pillars and beams were established into the foundation. Through determination and grit, the construction team successfully built the roof onto the church!
The next restoration phase entails plastering pillars, building walls in the sanctuary, crafting the front gable, and laying the floor inside of the church. Future plans include installing electricity inside of the church.
Canoes for Transportation:
Thanks to a generous donor, we purchased three canoes for the Betu community. These canoes will transport pilgrims across the Gbartu River for the annual diocesan pilgrimage. Due to deplorable road conditions in the area, these canoes have been a blessing to the Betu community-providing safer passage to the outstation.
