PO RIVER, BOMI COUNTY – Stella Maris Polytechnic has broken ground for the construction of center which will be named in honor of the late Archbishop Michael Francis.
The center will be the human right, justice and peace center.
Report by Jackson F. Kanneh 00231770195412 Jackson f [email protected]
The US$450,000 project located in Po river along the Bomi County highway, will comprise of a museum and a research library detailing the activities of the Catholic church in Liberia as well as the life of the late Archbishop.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, December 19, Sister Mary Laurene Brown, president of the Stella Maris Polytechnic (SMP) commended the board of trustees of SMP for working with her to come up with such “a meaningful project”.
Sis. Mary Laurene said the center, when completed, will provide more knowledge to people in and out of Liberia on the activities of the catholic church in Liberia.
“The museum will be there to expose to the world and all of those interested on how the catholic church developed in Liberia and what it continues to do,” she noted.
According to the SMP president, the Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis center for human right, justice and peace will also ease the many challenges universities students face on the daily basis during the course of their study.
She said the center will also provide the space for the coexistence of every Liberians irrespective of religion affiliation.
“This center is going to provide not only a knowledge for those who want to know the history of the Catholic Church in Liberia, but also space for inter-religion dialogue activities among people from different religious background,” she stated.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Patrick Kabba, Chairperson of Stella Maris Polytechnic Board of Trustees, lauded the SMP president and her entire leadership for their effort in uplifting the polythenic from where it used to be to where it is.
Rev. Kabba assured the SMP president of the board’s willingness and commitment in making the project a reality.
“We will never leave you and you will never leave us behind, we will all work together to see this true. As you all know, Stella Maris Polytechnic is going to come here from capitol hill,” he averred.
The ground-breaking ceremony was followed by a fundraising event at the site of the project in order to raise the US$450,000 needed to complete the project.
In support of the project, some prominent Liberians also made their initial contribution toward the project.
Attending the program were former Vice Chairman for the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) Wesley Momoh Johnson, Former chief justice of Liberia Cllr. Henry R. Cooper and the president of the University of Liberia (UL) Dr. Ophelia Inez Weeks who all pledge their initial contribution toward the project.