Many of you may remember our horror as this house caught on fire in December of 2006. The family lost a 6 year old girl in that fire. The child had been sent to Freetown for education since there wasn’t a school for her in Kabala at the time. …sigh… A family now lives in a section of the house that isn’t collapsed, but not in perfect condition. We took rice to them and provided some internal parasite treatment.
Many of you may remember our horror as this house caught on fire in December of 2006. The family lost a 6 year old girl in that fire. The child had been sent to Freetown for education since there wasn’t a school for her in Kabala at the time. …sigh… A family now lives in a section of the house that isn’t collapsed, but not in perfect condition. We took rice to them and provided some internal parasite treatment.
Eid Report via James Mansaray, NHA, Freetown:
Today 1st October 2008 marks the end of the month long of fasting and prayers. All over Sierra Leone our Muslims brothers and sisters making it a point of duty to fulfill the request made by the chief Imam of the huge central Mosque on Television last night.
Here in Freetown, we were greeted by heavy showers since morning but this could not stop people from making this special prayer day.
Devoted Muslims, men and women, boys and girls rushed in, in small numbers with their umbrellas or cloth on heads to receive this blessing.
As usual more beggars on the streets and gates hoping to receive something, seeing it as a big pay day for them to receive alms from people. I obliged them with a little money.
Else where in Kabala I spoke to a friend and he said it was done well and that the weather was great there. All kids at Nazareth House Apostolate School in Kabala were given a break, too, today to observe this special day of prayers.
I was there in Freetown, to see it all here and to join my brothers and sisters celebrate. See pictures above.
James B. Mansaray St. Laurence House, Freetown.
NOTE: Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr), often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while Fiṭr means “to break the fast” (and can also mean “nature”, from the word “fitrah”); and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated starting on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal.
Eid ul-Fitr is a three day celebration and is sometimes also known as the “Smaller Eid” (Arabic: العيد الصغير al-‘īdu ṣ-ṣaghīr) as compared to the Eid ul-Adha that lasts four days and is called the “Greater Eid” (Arabic: العيد الكبير al-‘īdu l-kabīr).
Muslims are commanded by the Qur’an to complete their fast on the last day of Ramadan. Because the day depends on the sighting of the moon or scientific calculations of the lunar calendar, the exact date (in the Gregorian calendar) varies from country to country, however, Eid-ul-Fitr is always celebrated on the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Shawwal.
Common greetings during this holiday are the Arabic greeting ‘Īd mubārak (“Blessed Eid”) or ‘Īd sa‘īd (“Happy Eid”). In addition, many countries have their own greetings based on local language and traditions.
Typically, Muslims wake up early in the morning and have a small breakfast (as a sign of not being on a fast on that day) of preferably the date fruit, before attending a special Eid prayer (salah) that is performed in congregation at mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc. Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible) to attend the Eid prayer. No adhan or iqama is to be pronounced for this Eid prayer, and it consists of only two raka’ahs. The Eid prayer is followed by the khutbah (sermon) and then a supplication (dua’) asking for forgiveness, mercy and help for Muslims across the world. The khutbah also instructs Muslims as to the performance of rituals of Eid, such as the zakat.[1] It is then customary to embrace the persons sitting on either side of oneself, whilst greeting them. After the prayers, people also visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances[2] and some people also pay visits to the graveyards (ziyarat al-qubur).[2] (Reference from Wikipedia, Eid/Ramadan)
Eid Report via James Mansaray, NHA, Freetown:
Today 1st October 2008 marks the end of the month long of fasting and prayers. All over Sierra Leone our Muslims brothers and sisters making it a point of duty to fulfill the request made by the chief Imam of the huge central Mosque on Television last night.
Here in Freetown, we were greeted by heavy showers since morning but this could not stop people from making this special prayer day.
Devoted Muslims, men and women, boys and girls rushed in, in small numbers with their umbrellas or cloth on heads to receive this blessing.
As usual more beggars on the streets and gates hoping to receive something, seeing it as a big pay day for them to receive alms from people. I obliged them with a little money.
Else where in Kabala I spoke to a friend and he said it was done well and that the weather was great there. All kids at Nazareth House Apostolate School in Kabala were given a break, too, today to observe this special day of prayers.
I was there in Freetown, to see it all here and to join my brothers and sisters celebrate. See pictures above.
James B. Mansaray St. Laurence House, Freetown.
NOTE: Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr), often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while Fiṭr means “to break the fast” (and can also mean “nature”, from the word “fitrah”); and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated starting on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal.
Eid ul-Fitr is a three day celebration and is sometimes also known as the “Smaller Eid” (Arabic: العيد الصغير al-‘īdu ṣ-ṣaghīr) as compared to the Eid ul-Adha that lasts four days and is called the “Greater Eid” (Arabic: العيد الكبير al-‘īdu l-kabīr).
Muslims are commanded by the Qur’an to complete their fast on the last day of Ramadan. Because the day depends on the sighting of the moon or scientific calculations of the lunar calendar, the exact date (in the Gregorian calendar) varies from country to country, however, Eid-ul-Fitr is always celebrated on the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Shawwal.
Common greetings during this holiday are the Arabic greeting ‘Īd mubārak (“Blessed Eid”) or ‘Īd sa‘īd (“Happy Eid”). In addition, many countries have their own greetings based on local language and traditions.
Typically, Muslims wake up early in the morning and have a small breakfast (as a sign of not being on a fast on that day) of preferably the date fruit, before attending a special Eid prayer (salah) that is performed in congregation at mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc. Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible) to attend the Eid prayer. No adhan or iqama is to be pronounced for this Eid prayer, and it consists of only two raka’ahs. The Eid prayer is followed by the khutbah (sermon) and then a supplication (dua’) asking for forgiveness, mercy and help for Muslims across the world. The khutbah also instructs Muslims as to the performance of rituals of Eid, such as the zakat.[1] It is then customary to embrace the persons sitting on either side of oneself, whilst greeting them. After the prayers, people also visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances[2] and some people also pay visits to the graveyards (ziyarat al-qubur).[2] (Reference from Wikipedia, Eid/Ramadan)
As we crossed the bridge heading back to Freetown from Kabala, Father Seraphim did his traditional prayer walk across that Bridge. We waited in the car for him to return and while we did so, we were able to purchase some cucumbers and pineapples from the side of the road.
All photos on this blog are property of Nazareth House Apostolate & its photographers, all rights reserved unless otherwise noted.
As we crossed the bridge heading back to Freetown from Kabala, Father Seraphim did his traditional prayer walk across that Bridge. We waited in the car for him to return and while we did so, we were able to purchase some cucumbers and pineapples from the side of the road.
All photos on this blog are property of Nazareth House Apostolate & its photographers, all rights reserved unless otherwise noted.
James reported in our previous post this morning via this blog that those in need came out looking for a bit of help from those celebrating the end of Ramadan. They also come out for Holy Days of other religions such as Christmas, etc. It is important that we remember those in need at all times and not only during special holidays. Now that the school in Kabala has completed the Construction Stage and is now in maintenance mode (monthly teacher salaries, student school materials & supplies); Nazareth House wishes to re-focus to our special care of those who have fallen in the cracks; seeking out those who have no other means of assistance for survival, growth or education. We depend on your compassion and generosity to meet these needs.
James reported in our previous post this morning via this blog that those in need came out looking for a bit of help from those celebrating the end of Ramadan. They also come out for Holy Days of other religions such as Christmas, etc. It is important that we remember those in need at all times and not only during special holidays. Now that the school in Kabala has completed the Construction Stage and is now in maintenance mode (monthly teacher salaries, student school materials & supplies); Nazareth House wishes to re-focus to our special care of those who have fallen in the cracks; seeking out those who have no other means of assistance for survival, growth or education. We depend on your compassion and generosity to meet these needs.
