 "Photo: Kaitlin Bailey photo")
Veterans of the Gonzaga in Zambezi program excitedly gathered at the Spokane Airport Tuesday to welcome Fr. Dominic Sandu.
Faculty and students who have met and worked with Fr. Dominic in Zambia can finally show him a glimpse of life not only on campus, but also in America.
Junior Kelly Norris met Fr. Dominic last summer when she visited Zambezi.
“He wasn’t just welcoming us to Zambia, but welcoming us to his life. We immediately felt like family,” Norris said.
Having lived his entire life in one of the poorest nations in the world, Fr. Dominic is accustomed to a world of sickness, poverty and tragedy.While growing up, Fr. Dominic was influenced by the Franciscan monks that volunteered their time at his childhood parish, Our Lady of Fatima. He saw how they reached out to the poor and the sick and also how they taught the children there.
“People rely on the hard work and generosity of the missionaries that are there,” Fr. Dominic said.
In 1995, Fr. Dominic began his path toward priesthood. His novitiate work was done in Tanzania, where he studied spirituality. He studied philosophy at St. Bonaventure College in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. Finally he finished his studies in theology at the Salvatorian Institute of Philosophy and Theology. In 2007, he received his ordination.
During this time, Fr. Dominic worked with the Mother Theresa Sisters in Zambia, helping sick and dying people.
“It really transformed me,” he said about working with the Sisters, “They liked my smile or my presence and I really became part of that community.”
The transformation stuck with Fr. Dominic. Ever since he has been striving to improve the lives in his community.
As a priest, some may assume that Fr. Dominic helps his community solely as a spiritual leader. In Zambezi, however, he must also fill the roles of doctor, teacher and even architect.
“Dominic is a person who will never say ‘No’ when someone is in need,” said Sima Thorpe, who teaches a Service and Leadership class and has visited Zambezi twice with groups of students. GU students helping in Zambezi is something Fr. Dominic could easily say ‘Yes’ to.
Gonzaga partners with the very parish that Fr. Dominic grew up with, Our Lady of Fatima. Volunteers can help sick Zambians by administering shots and providing help at local health centers. Others go to schools to teach children literacy.
The most important aspect of Gonzaga’s influence, and all foreign aid in Zambia, is the idea of educating leadership. It is important for the natives of Zambezi, according to Fr. Dominic, to learn how to become self-reliant.
“The best help a foreigner can give is that education.” he said, “Don’t give me a car, give me the technology to build it.”
Luckily, the volunteers from Gonzaga have found a community leader that paves an easy route to help in any way they can.
“Students have bonded with him because he projects love and excitement when we’re there,” Thorpe said.
She continued by saying that through Fr. Dominic’s visit, the school has a rare opportunity for the campus community to learn about the culture of Zambia.
In less than a week, Fr. Dominic has already felt welcome, saying that the people of Gonzaga are “warm and wonderful.” He will be staying in Spokane for the next three weeks, and it’s nearly impossible to find him in a moment where he wouldn’t be willing to sit down for a chat.
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