For Sister Julia Mafike HCP, beekeeping is more than a way of producing honey. It is a practical expression of her faith, a commitment to caring for creation and a reminder that even the smallest creatures have an important role to play in our common home.
Now, this dedicated Basotho religious sister from Mafeteng, Lesotho, has an opportunity to take her inspiring story to Rome. But she needs the generosity of people who believe in her work and want to help her make the journey possible.
The campaign, Take Sister Julia’s Bees to Rome, has been launched on BackaBuddy to raise funds to support her trip to Italy in December, where she has been invited to share her experience and passion for beekeeping.
Her story speaks directly to the message of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, which calls on humanity to care for our common home and recognise the interconnectedness of all creation. Bees, though small, are essential to the health of our environment. Through pollination, they help sustain plant life, food production and the delicate balance of nature.
By dedicating herself to beekeeping, Sister Julia offers a practical example of how faith can inspire action. Caring for bees requires patience, attentiveness and respect for the natural world. These qualities also remind us that protecting creation is not simply an idea to be discussed, but a responsibility to be lived out in our daily lives.
Her planned visit to Rome is an opportunity to bring the experience of a Basotho woman religious into a wider conversation about faith, environmental responsibility and sustainable living. It is also an opportunity to share what communities in Lesotho can contribute to the growing movement to protect the environment.
She was featured in the July edition of the Southern Cross magazine.
However, an invitation does not automatically make a journey possible. Travel and related expenses can be a significant burden, which is why the campaign is appealing to individuals, families, parishes, religious communities and everyone who supports the care of creation to contribute towards making this journey a reality.
Every donation, whatever its size, can help bring Sister Julia closer to Rome. A contribution is not merely financial assistance for a trip. It is an investment in a story of faith put into practice, a woman whose work with bees offers a reminder that meaningful environmental action can begin in our own communities.
Catholics, in particular, will recognise the connection between this initiative and the Church’s call to become responsible stewards of God’s creation. The protection of the environment belongs to all of us, and the example of people such as Sister Julia encourages us to consider how we, too, can make a difference.
As the December journey approaches, the hope is that a community of generous supporters will come together to help her share her work and experience in Rome.
You can be part of that journey. Please support Sister Julia Mafike by contributing to the BackaBuddy campaign. Every donation brings her one step closer to sharing her story with the world.
To help take Sister Julia’s bees to Rome, visit the BackaBuddy campaign and make your donation here:
Web page: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/take-sister-julias-bees-to-rome
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