The Lay Mission-Helpers and the Mission Doctors celebrated the appointment of a teacher, nurse and physician who will each use their talents as missionaries in Cameroon. The formal commissioning took place at St. John the Evangelist Church on May 17.
The Lay Mission-Helpers are celebrating their 60th anniversary of sending faith-filled individuals to share their gifts and live their faith in remote countries.
The missionaries accepted their new role after graduating from a four-month course that began earlier this year. Their coursework included classes in scripture, theology, mission culture and adult formation.
Martha Franz, MD, was commissioned to serve at Njinikom Hospital in the Archdiocese of Bamenda. She is from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and planned to become a missionary doctor in Africa at the age of 15. She completed her medical training at the Medical School in Chicago and her family medicine residency in Jerome, Idaho.
Ashley Hansen was commissioned to serve as a teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes College in the Archdiocese of Bamenda. She is a member of Padre Serra Church in Camarillo and has previously worked as a volunteer in Appalachia and Detroit.
Alicia Adajar-Duante was commissioned to serve as a nurse. She is a member of St. Francis de Sales Church in Riverside, where she worked, before retirement, in the cardiac, emergency and critical care departments.
Recruitment for the class of 2016 is underway, according to Elise Frederick, the executive director of Lay Mission Helpers. For more information, please visit laymissionhelpers.org or missiondoctors.org.
