It was also because of that friendship, as well as the call to action of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, that the Mercy Sews ministry was formed.

"We've had this wonderful relationship with the bishop for a few years, and so it just came about that we thought just step forward and do a work of mercy," said Clare Noonan, one of the founders of the group.

That work of mercy, Noonan said, was to take the form of clothing, something that parishioners at the collaborative knew many children in the pygmy communities in the Central African Republic were in need of.

Historically a marginalized population, Bishop Agbenyadzi had worked among the pygmy populations for around eight years.

"That was my first mission... these people touched me so much," he said.

"They are poor, but happy. They have been marginalized by other groups. So, in this year of mercy, Pope Francis says let us reach out to the peripheries... My intent is (to reach out to) the pygmies first, then we reach out to other peripheries," he said.

The Mercy Sews group has around 35 members, each with their own role.

"We have some people that sew, some people that said 'I don't sew, but how can I contribute?'" Noonan said, noting that many of those who do not sew donated money.

It is her hope that the ministry will continue past the Year of Mercy.

"We're looking to expand this, we're looking for others that want to reach out to these children," she said.

"We hope that this is an act of some outreach of love from our community," she continued.

Father Hickey praised the ministry, calling it a "very tangible way to help the poor."

He said that the parish's relationship with Bishop Agbenyadzi has had a positive impact on its parishioners, and has been a learning experience for them as well.

"What I love is that people know... where the Central African Republic is, they've heard of it," he said.

Landlocked in the middle of Africa, the Central African Republic recently was thrust into the international spotlight when Pope Francis opened the first Holy Door of Mercy at Cathedral of Bangui, Nov. 29.

The door was declared the first Holy Door of Mercy of the Year of Mercy, which officially started on Dec. 8 when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.