August 2017
The following two letters were sent to us recently. Just click on the images for more.
Thank you letter Br. Andre-Marie M.C August 2016
We took advantage of this great generosity and immediately set out to prepare packages for the needy prisoners. The trailer arrived on the feast of Saint Benedict, the eleventh of July (11-07-2016). We had been praying for the best possible talented use of the things that would come from Ireland for the poorest of the poor, especially for the prison visits. My friends helped me unload the vehicle and prepare the packages. Everything that we gave to the prisoners went right into their hands. I myself, together with the M.C. Sisters and some close associates, entered into the cells of the prisoners. I have to say that there was excellent material. It is such a joy to give excellent material into the hands of the poorest of the poor in prisons in Albania! I was able to give a pair of excellent socks to everyone in both prisons (Krye and Burrel), you have no idea what an act of charity that is! There are some poor prisoners who do not receive a change of socks or underwear for very long periods, perhaps ever for years! In the first prison visit to Krye on the twentieth of July, (20-07-2016) we had the joy of encountering about two hundred and forty prisoners in their cells. One hundred and twenty of them never receive anything from outside, you can imagine their condition!
In Burrel, I had the joy of giving to each one individually, an excellent pair of athletic shoes in their cells together with a pair of socks. I really feel so sorry for so many young men in that maximum security prison in such tiny little rooms. Only God knows how they manage to live together in such circumstances! I felt that so many of them were sad to the point of despair, when we met them, and after we left them, they almost all, had big smiles on their faces! If I may express the attitude of the majority, it would be this: “someone cares about us, we are not forgotten”. Jesus talked to Mother Teresa about entering into the dark wholes of the poor. I feel that the M.C. Sisters and I and my friends have become professional at this, by the grace of almighty God! How many dark wholes we entered into in the prison visits, how many poorest of the poor in miserable conditions we encountered! In Krye, we gave a real good package to each prisoner in the hands! They received shirts, pants, pullovers, under shorts (an incredible gift for many). Every single item was given to them into their hands with full permission of the prison authorities.
In both prisons we had Holy Mass. What a privilege in this jubilee year of my priesthood and in this year of Mercy, to celebrate those masses! We also had a few hymns with the guitar. One song was the hymn of praise of Saint Francis and the other was the Hail Mary, both in Albanian, of course. The songs are splendid works of art, if you play them properly! I tried my best! Of course, I made a few mistakes, but by the grace of God not as many as I thought, I would!
Thank you so much for the abundance of plastic gloves and tissues for cleaning; they are both very useful, especially for our hospital for the orphaned and handicapped. “Thank you for the pear conserves, for the many bags of flour, the abundance of food materials especially the first class marmalade in great abundance, the many sweets and like! Only in heaven will you know how much good you have done, how many of the really poorest of the poor have received into their hands from your hearts!
You may be interested to know that the best principle in all of our prison visits, for distributions, is the principle of giving into the hands, directly of the prisoners. In fact, we have made it a principle, if we cannot give into the hands, directly, we do not give! It really helps the prisoners receive what was meant for them (from your hearts especially)! I do not think that it is by chance that you have chosen such a beautiful name; it is certainly God’s providence that inspired your founder (I can see Kieran laughing!).
I have some real good news! We have received permission to visit all of the major prisons (22) in Albania, in sharp contrast to the local prison chaplains. We found out, for example, that the prison chaplains of Burrel have permission to visit only Burrel prison. This opens many horizons of service to the poorest of the poor in the Albanian context! They are a wonderful and very generous people, when you get to know them!
I would like to thank you for the many mattresses that came. Our higher Superior took them all for our hospital because many of the mattresses were on the point of breaking. I had really wanted to take them to the prison but we have almost thirty of the poorest of the poor in our home for hospitality, although the local people call it a hospital. They are severely handicapped and cannot live normal lives. It many ways it is, actually, a hospital, when I think about it!
Thank you so much for the sixty-three complete athletic suits for prisoners. The prisoners who received them could not believe their eyes!
Thank you so much for the medical supplies, stationary materials (pens and little note pads). Thank you for the hats, the children’s clothes, the bedding material, including sheets and pillowcases. Thanks for the towels, the soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and a large amount of toilet rolls. Although I personally use water, the rolls are very useful for those who do not!
Thank you for the highest quality jeans, brand new, we gave them in the hand to the prisoners!
When we were coming back from the prison visit in Burrel, I made the comment that no one is really worthy of such a beautiful mission! I really feel that you generous Irish understand possible better than anyone else the principle of Saint Francis, Mother Teresa, and Saint Vincent de Paul etcetera! It is true that the most important is the spiritual as the final goal, but very often the material services that “Heart to Hands” provides for the individual is the best possible prelude and preparation. If we tried to serve the higher needs of man without taking care of his basic needs the service would be mockery. Saint Francis had the brothers serve, just the basic needs of some thieves and only after a year he introduced the spiritual! How much we have to learn from the pedagogy of the saints! Intuitively the Irish seemed always to understand this!
Thank you so much for the candles, the baby food, and the toys for children, the raisins, the cereals, the fish, the soups and the macaroni!
It may be that I have forgotten something. Thank you for everything and may the good Lord keep your Irish hearts smiling! May the good Lord keep your hearts and our hands always working in the best possible way for his kingdom, until the last moment, especially for the best talented use of the things for the poorest of the poor in the prisons in Albania!
Sincerely in Christ, invoking every possible blessing for you Irish in “Heart to hands”, through the intercession of Blessed (soon to be saint) Teresa of Calcutta and all of the angels and saints, I would like to express once again especially on behalf of the poorest of the poor whom we serve, thank you!
Brother Andre-Marie M.C..
In Burrel, I had the joy of giving to each one individually, an excellent pair of athletic shoes in their cells together with a pair of socks. I really feel so sorry for so many young men in that maximum security prison in such tiny little rooms. Only God knows how they manage to live together in such circumstances! I felt that so many of them were sad to the point of despair, when we met them, and after we left them, they almost all, had big smiles on their faces! If I may express the attitude of the majority, it would be this: “someone cares about us, we are not forgotten”. Jesus talked to Mother Teresa about entering into the dark wholes of the poor. I feel that the M.C. Sisters and I and my friends have become professional at this, by the grace of almighty God! How many dark wholes we entered into in the prison visits, how many poorest of the poor in miserable conditions we encountered! In Krye, we gave a real good package to each prisoner in the hands! They received shirts, pants, pullovers, under shorts (an incredible gift for many). Every single item was given to them into their hands with full permission of the prison authorities.
In both prisons we had Holy Mass. What a privilege in this jubilee year of my priesthood and in this year of Mercy, to celebrate those masses! We also had a few hymns with the guitar. One song was the hymn of praise of Saint Francis and the other was the Hail Mary, both in Albanian, of course. The songs are splendid works of art, if you play them properly! I tried my best! Of course, I made a few mistakes, but by the grace of God not as many as I thought, I would!
Thank you so much for the abundance of plastic gloves and tissues for cleaning; they are both very useful, especially for our hospital for the orphaned and handicapped. “Thank you for the pear conserves, for the many bags of flour, the abundance of food materials especially the first class marmalade in great abundance, the many sweets and like! Only in heaven will you know how much good you have done, how many of the really poorest of the poor have received into their hands from your hearts!
You may be interested to know that the best principle in all of our prison visits, for distributions, is the principle of giving into the hands, directly of the prisoners. In fact, we have made it a principle, if we cannot give into the hands, directly, we do not give! It really helps the prisoners receive what was meant for them (from your hearts especially)! I do not think that it is by chance that you have chosen such a beautiful name; it is certainly God’s providence that inspired your founder (I can see Kieran laughing!).
I have some real good news! We have received permission to visit all of the major prisons (22) in Albania, in sharp contrast to the local prison chaplains. We found out, for example, that the prison chaplains of Burrel have permission to visit only Burrel prison. This opens many horizons of service to the poorest of the poor in the Albanian context! They are a wonderful and very generous people, when you get to know them!
I would like to thank you for the many mattresses that came. Our higher Superior took them all for our hospital because many of the mattresses were on the point of breaking. I had really wanted to take them to the prison but we have almost thirty of the poorest of the poor in our home for hospitality, although the local people call it a hospital. They are severely handicapped and cannot live normal lives. It many ways it is, actually, a hospital, when I think about it!
Thank you so much for the sixty-three complete athletic suits for prisoners. The prisoners who received them could not believe their eyes!
Thank you so much for the medical supplies, stationary materials (pens and little note pads). Thank you for the hats, the children’s clothes, the bedding material, including sheets and pillowcases. Thanks for the towels, the soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and a large amount of toilet rolls. Although I personally use water, the rolls are very useful for those who do not!
Thank you for the highest quality jeans, brand new, we gave them in the hand to the prisoners!
When we were coming back from the prison visit in Burrel, I made the comment that no one is really worthy of such a beautiful mission! I really feel that you generous Irish understand possible better than anyone else the principle of Saint Francis, Mother Teresa, and Saint Vincent de Paul etcetera! It is true that the most important is the spiritual as the final goal, but very often the material services that “Heart to Hands” provides for the individual is the best possible prelude and preparation. If we tried to serve the higher needs of man without taking care of his basic needs the service would be mockery. Saint Francis had the brothers serve, just the basic needs of some thieves and only after a year he introduced the spiritual! How much we have to learn from the pedagogy of the saints! Intuitively the Irish seemed always to understand this!
Thank you so much for the candles, the baby food, and the toys for children, the raisins, the cereals, the fish, the soups and the macaroni!
It may be that I have forgotten something. Thank you for everything and may the good Lord keep your Irish hearts smiling! May the good Lord keep your hearts and our hands always working in the best possible way for his kingdom, until the last moment, especially for the best talented use of the things for the poorest of the poor in the prisons in Albania!
Sincerely in Christ, invoking every possible blessing for you Irish in “Heart to hands”, through the intercession of Blessed (soon to be saint) Teresa of Calcutta and all of the angels and saints, I would like to express once again especially on behalf of the poorest of the poor whom we serve, thank you!
Brother Andre-Marie M.C..
Thank you email from Br. Andre-Marie M.C
Dear Kieran L.M.C. for life, Margaret his honorable wife, Pat and all of our Irish friends at “Heart to Hands”. May this e-mail communication find you well! Your hearts have given much material to the hands of the needy, as you have done on so many other occasions. Thank you so much for everything! Thank you for the generous service of one of the better drivers I have ever met (Harry). Harry remarked on the difference between the south of Albania and the north. The north is far behind, industries are almost nothing, the ground is barren and many farmers do not have money even to plant their crops. In our area there are about 1,000 families in dire need. In the south there are plenty of factories, huge warehouses and the like. In the north these things are almost nonexistent. Those who are able to survive well do so, on the income of their children living abroad. There are some rich looking houses, surely, but there are also so many of the poorest of the poor whose houses are often without a roof in some rooms (this is not an exaggeration – you can get a full view of the sky) of the poorest of the poor. Some are so poor that they take turns eating. One member of the family eats one day, another eats the next day, and they take turns (it is rare but just to show you how desperate some people are). Ask Harry, that very talented Irish lad, who took us the lorry for us, to give you his impressions, for the difference between the development of the south and the barren north. We go to one prison in the far north, center, where even the M.C. Sisters rarely go. They go when I invite them to go with me. We are going to prepare the packages for the prison visits, with which we intend to go with the M.C. Sisters. They said, they are coming, their regional (Sister Thaddeus) has given full permission to us, as did Father Sebastian M.C. our co-founder and Father General, whom you know so well. We insist now that we give everything in the hands of the prisoners, your hearts use our hands to give the poorest of the poor in the prisons of
Burrel and Kruje first class material, soap, sweets, blankets, pants, shirts, socks, shoes and sweaters. We don’t know how to thank you! Our generosity to get the things into the hands of the poorest of the poor is our great thanksgiving for your generous Irish hearts.Only in heaven will you see how much good you have done. How much good has gone from your hearts to the hands of the poorest of the poor! We also have twenty-five (25) orphaned boys staying with us. The great majority are so handicapped that they cannot even feed themselves, wash themselves or clothe themselves. Once again your generous Irish hearts, together with our whole hearted and free service, clothe them, feed them, wash them and take care of their medical needs.
We can only thank you. There is a song, if I remember the words correctly, “When Irish eyes are smiling”. Thanks be to God that now, not only the Irish eyes are smiling, also the Irish hearts are smiling on us and on the poorest of the poor whom we serve in Albania according to our fourth vow. The M.C. Sisters have full permission to take whatever they want from us. The M.C. Sisters from Shkoder have come today and another group will come from Puka tomorrow. Brother Ramon M.C. has given them full permission.
We celebrated Mass for your health, well being and especially for your Irish generosity. You Irish are famous for fighting. Thanks be to God that your particular group of Irish fight with the generosity of good deeds and charity and not with weapons which destroy! We need more Irish like you!
Thank you so much for the detergent baby wipes, you sent me exactly what I wanted. After meals I try to put into practice what I call project Veronica; I wipe the faces of our orphaned boys like saint Veronica did to Jesus, regardless of what others think. I will be doing so now with the wipes that you sent in large number. You also sent the latex mono-use gloves; I had hoped that you would send me more. I use them very often. We use them for cleaning fecal material from the bottom and for washing filthy things like plates. They enable me to do the first washing, which few have the courage to do. Those who don’t have gloves do the second washing, or rinsing. It is terribly unhygienic to wash without them. If you saw the plates you would understand why! Please come and see us some time. The orphaned boys also will use your socks, underpants, sweaters, pants and the like (with the left over after we have prepared the packages for the prisoners). We thank you so much for the pampers. They are of first class service to us. If you had wanted you could send us an entire load of pampers, they will not go to waste! We are happy with whatever you give!
Those good things which are left over are very important for us. We have an Albanian Brother who serves the local poorest of the poor, giving them food, and clothes. I have not yet in my life seen such generous service. Like the apostles and Jesus, after the multiplication of loaves, everything we have left over we gather up. We use it for a day to day distribution. This year the Brothers are preparing between forty and five packages for the poorest of the poor families in our neighboring villages, mainly from the abundance of your contributions. We try always to have low key, well organized distributions. We live in one of the poorest areas of Albania where there are many so called “thieves”, out of desperation and poverty. Maliushit and Torovic are two villages where almost all are desperately needy.
Thank you again abundantly for all that your Irish hearts have provided, we assure you that we are doing our best (“and a little bit more”), as Kieran says, to see that everything is given into the hands of the poorest of the poor. Thank you so much for so many bags of rice, for so many liters of milk, so many sacks of flour and first class oatmeal porridge (one ton)! Thank you so much for the large amount of macaroni and jars of jam! You also gave many gifts for children, where it is written, for example, for a 5-6 year old girl etc.. Br. Ramon is giving these things for the orphaned girls at the M.C. Sisters in Shkoder. They contain first class, toys, sweats, and games for children. You also gave much baby food and baby clothes. These things are going to the M.C. Sisters in Shkoder who will use them to take care of their orphaned babies.
I would be very grateful if you sent us another full load at your convenience, even after 6 months if necessary. Thank you so much for so clearly marking what was for me. In the past the things that you sent for me did not reach me. The way you did it this time hit the target. That big sign in the back of the Lorry saved the load for the prisoners and the poorest of the poor here, it really made the difference!
Once again thank you again for everything. I am offering the first prison visit on the twenty-eighth of December (28-12-2015) to Kruje (hospital prison) for sick and elderly poorest of poor for Robin and the prison visit to Burrel maximum security prison on the thirtieth of December (30-12-2015) for Margaret. I cannot guarantee that God will heal them. But we are trying our best and a little more. It is better on the other side (if God should so decide to take either of them).
We are giving to each prison a baby Jesus figurine that glows in the night, some of the better beautiful holy cards I could find in Rome as well as a picture of Pope Francis in this year of the jubilee. We also will give a book of mother Teresa’s letters to Father Sebastian M.C. to each prisoner.
Sincerely in Christ Br. Andre-Marie M.C.
P.S. I have some of the more honest men in the world who are preparing the Christmas packages for me under my close supervision. I have tested them many times and they will not even take a chocolate bar without my permission. They are 100% loyal. If you want to send me a load for the prisoners for Easter I will arrange another visit to the prisons, or in the summer. The prisoners always need new underclothes, socks and soap. To all with Kieran L.M.C. coordinator of Heart to Hands a heartfelt thank you!
Burrel and Kruje first class material, soap, sweets, blankets, pants, shirts, socks, shoes and sweaters. We don’t know how to thank you! Our generosity to get the things into the hands of the poorest of the poor is our great thanksgiving for your generous Irish hearts.Only in heaven will you see how much good you have done. How much good has gone from your hearts to the hands of the poorest of the poor! We also have twenty-five (25) orphaned boys staying with us. The great majority are so handicapped that they cannot even feed themselves, wash themselves or clothe themselves. Once again your generous Irish hearts, together with our whole hearted and free service, clothe them, feed them, wash them and take care of their medical needs.
We can only thank you. There is a song, if I remember the words correctly, “When Irish eyes are smiling”. Thanks be to God that now, not only the Irish eyes are smiling, also the Irish hearts are smiling on us and on the poorest of the poor whom we serve in Albania according to our fourth vow. The M.C. Sisters have full permission to take whatever they want from us. The M.C. Sisters from Shkoder have come today and another group will come from Puka tomorrow. Brother Ramon M.C. has given them full permission.
We celebrated Mass for your health, well being and especially for your Irish generosity. You Irish are famous for fighting. Thanks be to God that your particular group of Irish fight with the generosity of good deeds and charity and not with weapons which destroy! We need more Irish like you!
Thank you so much for the detergent baby wipes, you sent me exactly what I wanted. After meals I try to put into practice what I call project Veronica; I wipe the faces of our orphaned boys like saint Veronica did to Jesus, regardless of what others think. I will be doing so now with the wipes that you sent in large number. You also sent the latex mono-use gloves; I had hoped that you would send me more. I use them very often. We use them for cleaning fecal material from the bottom and for washing filthy things like plates. They enable me to do the first washing, which few have the courage to do. Those who don’t have gloves do the second washing, or rinsing. It is terribly unhygienic to wash without them. If you saw the plates you would understand why! Please come and see us some time. The orphaned boys also will use your socks, underpants, sweaters, pants and the like (with the left over after we have prepared the packages for the prisoners). We thank you so much for the pampers. They are of first class service to us. If you had wanted you could send us an entire load of pampers, they will not go to waste! We are happy with whatever you give!
Those good things which are left over are very important for us. We have an Albanian Brother who serves the local poorest of the poor, giving them food, and clothes. I have not yet in my life seen such generous service. Like the apostles and Jesus, after the multiplication of loaves, everything we have left over we gather up. We use it for a day to day distribution. This year the Brothers are preparing between forty and five packages for the poorest of the poor families in our neighboring villages, mainly from the abundance of your contributions. We try always to have low key, well organized distributions. We live in one of the poorest areas of Albania where there are many so called “thieves”, out of desperation and poverty. Maliushit and Torovic are two villages where almost all are desperately needy.
Thank you again abundantly for all that your Irish hearts have provided, we assure you that we are doing our best (“and a little bit more”), as Kieran says, to see that everything is given into the hands of the poorest of the poor. Thank you so much for so many bags of rice, for so many liters of milk, so many sacks of flour and first class oatmeal porridge (one ton)! Thank you so much for the large amount of macaroni and jars of jam! You also gave many gifts for children, where it is written, for example, for a 5-6 year old girl etc.. Br. Ramon is giving these things for the orphaned girls at the M.C. Sisters in Shkoder. They contain first class, toys, sweats, and games for children. You also gave much baby food and baby clothes. These things are going to the M.C. Sisters in Shkoder who will use them to take care of their orphaned babies.
I would be very grateful if you sent us another full load at your convenience, even after 6 months if necessary. Thank you so much for so clearly marking what was for me. In the past the things that you sent for me did not reach me. The way you did it this time hit the target. That big sign in the back of the Lorry saved the load for the prisoners and the poorest of the poor here, it really made the difference!
Once again thank you again for everything. I am offering the first prison visit on the twenty-eighth of December (28-12-2015) to Kruje (hospital prison) for sick and elderly poorest of poor for Robin and the prison visit to Burrel maximum security prison on the thirtieth of December (30-12-2015) for Margaret. I cannot guarantee that God will heal them. But we are trying our best and a little more. It is better on the other side (if God should so decide to take either of them).
We are giving to each prison a baby Jesus figurine that glows in the night, some of the better beautiful holy cards I could find in Rome as well as a picture of Pope Francis in this year of the jubilee. We also will give a book of mother Teresa’s letters to Father Sebastian M.C. to each prisoner.
Sincerely in Christ Br. Andre-Marie M.C.
P.S. I have some of the more honest men in the world who are preparing the Christmas packages for me under my close supervision. I have tested them many times and they will not even take a chocolate bar without my permission. They are 100% loyal. If you want to send me a load for the prisoners for Easter I will arrange another visit to the prisons, or in the summer. The prisoners always need new underclothes, socks and soap. To all with Kieran L.M.C. coordinator of Heart to Hands a heartfelt thank you!
Thank you letter from the Missionaries of Charity
