Peace through Justice Stories
Lukeleisia's Well
Early in 2006 one of the Congregation Small Groups, the Ladybugs, learned about Lukelesia Saiti, a Kenyan woman whose daughter is now a member of the Seattle Carmelite community. Lukelesia's village had no well, so she and other women had to walk for miles every day to get muddy, contaminated water for their family.
The Ladybugs got busy raising money to dig a well for the town. Our efforts were soon multiplied like loaves and fishes as a major donor came forward and Fr. Jim Dalton's parish, Immaculate Conception in Arlington, joined in. Together we were able to provide enough money for two wells that tap into an existing aquifer below the village.
Through the generosity of friends who covered his travel expenses, Fr. Jim was able to go to Kenya and get to know Lukelesia and her village, Siritanyi. Later, Fr. Christopher Wanyonyi, Pastor of Christ the King Cathedral, Bungoma, Kenya (where the sub-parish of St. James in Siritanyi is located) visited. He brought water from the newly dug well which became the holy water for a sprinkling rite at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue, Washington- nine months after the idea was born at the Ladybugs' meeting.