Sister Stan Mumuni, a missionary in West Africa for over 26 years, will be virtually at StFX April 2-4th to deliver the Jules Léger Lecture Series and to meet with the Sisters of St. Martha, StFX students and the Service Learning office to talk about experiential learning opportunities.
After years of missionary work in West Africa, Sister Stan, an Opus Prize Finalist in support of her work to care for disabled orphans in Ghana, founded the Nazareth Home for God’s Children in 2009 to serve one of the most vulnerable populations in Ghana: ‘spirit children.’ Certain communities believe children who are born with physical, mental or behavioral disabilities are bad omens and must be cast out or even killed. Sister Stan takes in these children and raises them, providing the sustenance and care they need to thrive.
On April 3rd, Sister Stan will deliver the Jules Léger talk, “Building a Sanctuary of Hope and Resilience: Reflections on 15 Years of Work with ‘Spirit’ Children in Northern Ghana” virtually from 5:30-7 p.m. in Mulroney Hall 2032. The event is open to all.
The next day, Sister Stan will meet virtually with Sisters of St. Martha in a private event, while later that day, on April 4th from 5:15-6:15 p.m., all those interested are invited to Coady 242 with the Service Learning office and StFX students to discuss experiential learning opportunities at the orphanage by sharing the experience of volunteers and interns. This event is open to all.
To start the week on April 2, Service Learning students Emma Dixon, Emma Ryerson and Ella MacRitchie from Development Studies 311 and 202 are hosting a fundraiser for Sister Stan’s orphanage at Candid Brewing (must be 19 years of age). Entrance is $5 or by donation. There will be a live band.
Dr. Jonathan Langdon, Canada Research Chair in Sustainability and Social Change Leadership, has worked with Sister Stan for several years, and supervised StFX students who have undertaken experiential learning placements with her at the Nazareth Orphanage. He is very excited she can share her reflections with our campus community: “Sister Stan is the kind of exemplary figure we need to hear from in these times; through selfless devotion, she took on the needs of the children literally dropped at her doorstep, and has continued to find ways to support them, through access to medical supports, and educational opportunities, all with an eye for them to one day return to their families and share all they have been able to accomplish. Their examples, she has told me, are the best ways to open the hearts of the children’s home community to children with disabilities. We regret she couldn’t be with us in person, but are so happy she can join us virtually for these engagements.”
