Lusu, February 12, 2003 (IKA) — Croatian missionary Boris Dabo and two of his colleagues, Fr. Patrick and Fr. Cornelius, were attacked by three masked men wielding knives and pistols in Livingston, Zambia. The attackers robbed the missionaries and fled, without injuring them.
Boris Dabo serves in the Zambian missions of Lusu and Shangombo. He maintains the established routine at one mission, where his parish colleagues play an important role, and the second mission is under construction. Construction is moving in two directions: organization of the pastoral team for creating a new Christian community and the construction of buildings needed for the activities of the missionary station. There are also plans for the construction of a school in Lusu, where there is a great need. On two occasions, there were discussions with the authorities concerning government assistance for opening the school but such assistance will not be available. Therefore, it is up to the missionaries to do something, together with the local population. Several days ago, a woman from the island of Krk in Croatia offered to assist the mission by contributing one thousand kunas monthly, which would be sufficient to cover one teacher’s salary. Moreover, three small houses are nearly completed for the missionary staff, who, together with the priest, will participate in various activities. A small wooden house is being built for the priest. In connection with an initiative in Novalja, Croatia, for establishing a missionary-charitable community, Dabo proposed that the money they collect should go to a fund for schooling children in Lusu. To cover the cost of the building materials for the new school, it is necessary to collect US $8,840. A total of 339 students will attend the school, and it will be necessary to secure salaries for two teachers of US $150 per month each.