Fr. Lee Walker, a Roman Catholic priest from the African nation of Liberia, visited Queen of Peace High School last winter. He spoke to the Religion classes last year about social justice issues, including his plight to build and maintain schools in Liberia.

One problem facing the country is how to deal with "child soldiers." Liberia has been torn by internal conflict that has resulted in thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands) of parentless children who've been "adopted" by rival militias and warlords. These children are then indoctrinated into a "lifestyle of destruction" from an early age.

Fr. Walker told a story about two young men who saw a pregnant woman. One bet that her unborn child was a boy, the other said it was a girl.  They murdered her and cut her open to settle the bet.  "People in America can't believe such things happen", said Fr. Walker, "but such unspeakable brutality and lawlessness exist."

Fr. Walker's solution to the child soldier problem is to engage these young men in vocational schools as well as basketball and soccer teams.  He has already started 2 computer schools. One computer school is in Voinjama, an area seriously destroyed by the civil war.

Queen of Peace High School, led by the student clubs Youth for Life and Social Justice Awareness, raised $700. This money was received by Fr. Lee with much gratitude, pledging that the funds will go directly to help build his school.

Fr. Lee was also very grateful for the shipment of supplies and clothes (that arrived in October after being sent in May!) donated by the Queen of Peace community.