Denver Catholic

DCR - Nov. 12, 2014

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BY ROXANNE KING While his country "bleeds and burns" from terrorist-driv- en violence and chaos caused by the Islamic militant group Boko Haram, one Nigerian priest continues doing good with a passionate commit- ment to life. Father Simeon Omale, 40, is a parish pastor, university professor and health director for the Diocese of Idah in rural Nigeria. He was in Denver last week seeking support for Mag- nificat Maternal Health Pro- gram, a nonprofit striving to reduce one of the world's worst maternal and infant mortality rates, and to ask for prayer for his ravaged nation. "The maternal mortality rate in Nigeria is 1-in-13," Father Omale told the Denver Catho- lic Register explaining a wom- an's great chance of dying in childbirth in his homeland due to a lack of medical resources. "Magnificat Maternal Health Program is committed to life and to saving mothers." The organization is foster- ing life in a nation suffering the death and displacement of thousands by Boko Haram since 2009. The Islamic ex- tremists' recent announce- ment that the 200-plus school- girls they kidnapped from a boarding school in April were converted to Islam and mar- ried reminded Father Omale of a group of Augustinian nuns who found safety in his dio- cese, the Diocese of Idah, after their convent in the Diocese of Maiduguri—which covers the part of the country hardest hit by Boko Haram—was attacked in September. A seminary in Maiduguri was also attacked, churches looted and a hospital burned down. "That is the heart of this cri- sis," Father Omale said. Father Omale and the Dio- cese of Idah uphold the dignity of human life by partnering with Magnificat Maternal Health Program, which trains midwives and offers services at a hospital and seven clinics where women can be treat- ed for a variety of pregnancy issues and bring their babies to safe delivery. Just $15 covers the cost of a birth in Idah. Magnificat Maternal is raising money to improve its training insti- tute, medical facilities and equipment. "We call on Catholics who believe in a culture of life to help support the program," Father Omale said. "When you save the life of a mother and her child, you never know what that child could be when they grow up—they could be a priest." This week Father Omale is in California visiting the three-year-old organization's founder and medical director, Dr. Mary Davenport, an ob- stetrician-gynecologist in El Sobrante. "Last year we trained 25 midwives," Father Omale said, adding that Magnificat Mater- nal plans to expand its educa- tional facility so it can train 50 midwives a year. In addition to directly sup- porting the healthcare of wom- en, the Diocese of Maiduguri is doing what it can to alleviate the misery of residents dis- placed by violence. "(There is) a camp for dis- placed persons," Father Omale INDEX Archbishop's column .......................2 The Catholic Difference ..................4 Marriage Missionaries ....................4 Letters to the Editor .......................4 Bulletin Board ...................................9 Crossword/Word Search ................9 Nun of the Above quiz .................. 10 Service Directory ....................... 10-11 Hope for a nation in crisis PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY DAVENPORT A RURAL Nigerian woman with children in the Diocese of Idah. Magnificat Maternal Health Program was established in Idah to reduce the high maternal and infant mortality rate there. Father Simeon Omale was in Denver last week seek- ing support for the nonprofit and asking for prayers for the country. NOVEMBER 12, 2014 114 Years of Service to the Gospel Volume XC - No. 39 www.DenverCatholicRegister.org I Follow us on INSIDE RESPECT LIFE PAGE 5 Did an out-of- touch abortion stance cause Democrats to lose the Senate? ANSWERING THE CALL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PAGE 6 PAGE 7 Independent Catholic school to move into archdiocesan school Denver psychologist-priest to head international treatment center FOR MORE INFORMATION Magnificat Maternal Health Program www.mmhp.org Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria www.cbcn-ng.org See Omale, Page 7

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