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St Martin de Porres Community Center: Beginnings

Naomi Hard discussed with Fr. Paul Sobande MSP by e-mail in 2016 and in person with Fr. Emmanuel Mbuk MSP the concept of an evangelistic parish outreach to the greater Kakata community. The priest quickly saw the merits, but wanted to follow the proper protocol of calling upon the Parish Council for their input.
Mary Yah Coleman – Parish Council member and quite active in the parish (Legion of Mary and much more), 2017.
Parish Council member, conferring with Fr. Emmanuel Mbuk MSP on a business item, 2017.
Parish Council member, taking time away from work for a planning meeting, 2017.
Parish Council member, sharing his views on an item of business, 2017.
Several of the Parish Council members agree to meet in the middle of work day to discuss the St Martin de Porres Community Center, 2017.
Parish Council members tour land donated by an Irish Religious Sister in the late 1980’s, turned over to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, 2017.
Fr. Emmanuel Mbuk MSP and Naomi Hard travel two hours to meet with Archbishop Lewis Zeigler to discuss plans and seek permission to pursue construction of the St. Martin de Porres Community Center. Permission was granted, with the stipulation that the Center eventually become financially self-sufficient after the completion of construction, 2018.
Three days later, Archbishop Lewis Zeigler traveled to Kakata to visit the St Christopher Catholic School and tour the proposed site of the St
Fr. Emmanuel Mbuk MSP, Archbishop Lewis Zeigler, a parishioner who remembers the purchase and surveying of the land and its borders, and Naomi Hard walked the perimeter of the proposed Community Center property, 2018.
It was obvious from the placement of the survey markers that people had encroached upon the Archdiocese land. This fact was brought to court, but a definitive judgment was not made in such a way as to aid those who encroach to willingly leave. The two buildings on the left exist on Archdiocese land, 2018.
The entire perimeter was examined, 2018.
All survey markers were located, 2018.
The Archdiocese land goes straight back and diagonally to the right and back from this marker. The perimeter is an odd shape with 5 corner markers, 2018.
This parishioner is acquainted with the history of the land, from the original purchase by the Irish Religious Sister, through two civil wars, re-surveying and transference to the Archdiocese. Where he is standing will likely be the corner of the caretaker/guard office and dwelling, 2018.

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Archdiocese of Monrovia, Liberia

Offices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, 2018.
To visit these offices, it was about a two-hour trip each way from Kakata, due to both the distance and the dense Monrovia traffic, 2018.
Fr. Emmanuel Mbuk MSP sharing with Archbishop Lewis Zeigler the proposed plans for the St Martin de Porres Community Center in Kakata. The Archbishop expressed his whole-hearted support with the stipulation that the completed center be run in a self-sufficient manner. Our session concluded with an Apostolic Blessing for the project.
Catholic Radio station in Liberia, 2018.
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Monrovia, Liberia, is across the street from the Archdiocese offices (facing the altar), 2018.
Sacred Heart Cathedral, view of Sanctuary, 2018.
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Monrovia, Liberia (facing the rear of the church), 2018.
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Networking – National Liberian Leaders

I am extremely impressed with the following people who used their platform and station of influence to help make Liberia a better place for everyone.

Naomi Hard and Jane Heinks chatting with the Liberian Ambassador to the United States, Jeremiah Sulunteh, 2013.
Naomi with USAID Education Department head, Dr. Paul Binkley (green bow), 2013.
Father Paul Sobande (Lt) showing Archbishop Lewis Zeigler around the school yard at St. Christopher Catholic Church and School, in Kakata, 2018.