Upper Midwest Jesuits | Chicago-Detroit Province

The family of Fr. Martin Connell, SJ, hosted a fundraiser that raised $10,000 for an agricultural project in Tanzania.

How does a small bar and grill in Maumee, Ohio, have a connection to a Jesuit high school in Dodoma, Tanzania?  They–Dale’s Bar and Grill– just helped raise over $10,000 for St. Peter Claver High School’s new agricultural program, and this isn’t the first time they’ve made a big contribution.   Following the great success of last year’s inaugural fundraiser, “Big Bucks for Books,” the family of Fr. Martin Connell, SJ, led by his sister Toni Arman and longtime friend Rob Loeb wanted to repeat that success this year.   “We had asked Marty, the headmaster of the school, specifically what he needed most and we went from there,” said Toni, “and that’s how we came up with, ‘Holy Cows for Marty,’” a campaign designed to provide a farm full of animals for Our Lady Queen of Peace Educational Centre in Dodoma, Tanzania.

Fr. Martin Connell, SJ, began his work in Dodoma in 2009 to help open St. Peter Claver High School located on the Our Lady Queen of Peace Educational Centre campus on the east coast of Africa. The Catholic Jesuit boarding school opened in January 2011 with Connell as the headmaster and currently serves 140 boys and girls in their first year of secondary school.

On August 14, 2011, family, friends, and loyal supporters of the Jesuits came together for mass at St. John’s Jesuit Chapel followed by food and drinks at Dale’s Bar and Grill.  “The owner of Dale’s graciously donates the use of his restaurant for our event, his wife and kids run the grill, the committee runs the bar, and my son and his friends (all Jesuit school alumni) bus the tables.  We have a splendid time!” Toni explained. Their goal was to raise money that would provide animals such as pigs, rabbits, chicks, cows, and goats that would not only teach students to be as self-sufficient as possible, but also to provide them with a basic foundation in agriculture.  So far, they’ve collected $10,000 and the generosity continues as donations are still being received.  The need is still great, and even though you may not have been able to take part in the food and drinks, you can still help.

To make an online contribution by credit card, please click here to visit our website

If you would like to send in your donation via postal mail, please make checks payable to The Jesuits with “OLQP Farm” in the memo line and mail to:

Chicago-Detroit Province Jesuits
Re: OLQP Farm
2050 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614

To view of copy of the invite with information on what your donation could provide, click here.

To view a copy of the letter sent by Fr. Connell to participants of the event, click here.

For more information on the great work of Fr. Martin Connell, SJ, and St. Peter Claver High School, click here.