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| Letter received via email on March 3, 2017. |
As usual, I tweaked the above letter to improve its legibility and to give it a greenish (?) tint in order to recall the Aerograms that Fr. Hattie used to send (before the days of email) years ago when he was in India and then Uganda.
In order to assist those who have trouble reading a typewritten page, my transcription is below. I have done my best to render the letter accurately but I apologize in advance for any errors.
My Fr. Hattie page contains a list of the letters I have received from Fr. Hattie and posted on my blog. It also contains contact information for Fr. Hattie and how to donate to help support "his" orphans in Nsumba, Uganda.
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My dear Rick: Peace of Christ!
So, you're at it again! Millions of tons of gratitude for your latest lovely and extremely generous Gift of $ for the kids, appreciated more than you'll ever know. I'm late in thanking you because the Report was late in reaching me as Sister Nantabe was on Retreat. With donors like you the orphanage will never [go] broke. Why can't more people be generous like you? The Sisters do not know how lucky they are.
Last week I had a VERY pleasant surprise when two handsome young men stopped in for a visit and gave me generous bear hugs...and I had not the faintest idea of who they were. Then, to my greater surprise the mystery vanished.
You may remember that some years ago, when I was in Uganda, I built 4 homes for 140 hapless 'street kids.' [Well], my visitors happened to be two of the first ones to enter. In the meantime, one of them became a Salesian priest and is now Director of the homes. They also brought a letter of thanks from 16 of my kids who are still living there. Many of the 'old boys' still keep in contact with their friends there. Many are now married & have kids and jobs. As far as they know, none of them are still living as beggars. Makes me feel that my time & effort & the donors' Gifts were by no means wasted.
Since the Salesians took over they have built a beautiful chapel and residence for the Fathers & Brothers and built a residence and made it their Uganda Headquarters. God is good...(great).
Know that you & the family are in my daily Mass & prayers. Please give my love to your wonderful Mom.
P.S. Your latest EM* just arrived. Will reply later. So sorry for being so late. No Dcan man[?]
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* EM = email. This was likely a 2/22/2017 email that I sent regarding the proposed sale of St. Adalbert's church in Chicago (see http://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/chicago-cardinal-to-sell-off-historic-church-for-millions).
"No Dcan man" = ? [Let me know what you think Fr. Hattie meant to type]..
So, you're at it again! Millions of tons of gratitude for your latest lovely and extremely generous Gift of $ for the kids, appreciated more than you'll ever know. I'm late in thanking you because the Report was late in reaching me as Sister Nantabe was on Retreat. With donors like you the orphanage will never [go] broke. Why can't more people be generous like you? The Sisters do not know how lucky they are.
Last week I had a VERY pleasant surprise when two handsome young men stopped in for a visit and gave me generous bear hugs...and I had not the faintest idea of who they were. Then, to my greater surprise the mystery vanished.
You may remember that some years ago, when I was in Uganda, I built 4 homes for 140 hapless 'street kids.' [Well], my visitors happened to be two of the first ones to enter. In the meantime, one of them became a Salesian priest and is now Director of the homes. They also brought a letter of thanks from 16 of my kids who are still living there. Many of the 'old boys' still keep in contact with their friends there. Many are now married & have kids and jobs. As far as they know, none of them are still living as beggars. Makes me feel that my time & effort & the donors' Gifts were by no means wasted.
Since the Salesians took over they have built a beautiful chapel and residence for the Fathers & Brothers and built a residence and made it their Uganda Headquarters. God is good...(great).
Know that you & the family are in my daily Mass & prayers. Please give my love to your wonderful Mom.
Tons of love & gratitude,
Fr. Gene, SJ
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* EM = email. This was likely a 2/22/2017 email that I sent regarding the proposed sale of St. Adalbert's church in Chicago (see http://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/chicago-cardinal-to-sell-off-historic-church-for-millions).
"No Dcan man" = ? [Let me know what you think Fr. Hattie meant to type]..
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Links:
http://www.salesianmissions.org/our-work/country/uganda
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Written/Completed on Holy Sat April 15, 2017.
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Written/Completed on Holy Sat April 15, 2017.
