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- Mission Mentions -

Three Colombians Enter the “Basilian Way”

In Medellín, Fathers Pedro Miguel Mora and Bob Seguin are now accompanying three young men who are interested in the Basilian Way of Life. Two of these young men are from Bogotá and one is from Choco. They are taking basic courses in preparation for seminary courses, living in community with Fathers Mora and Seguin, and helping at Ecce Homo Parish.

St. Lucia Students Pass Exam

Six of the children of St. Benedict's Parish sat for, and passed, the Common Entrance exams in June. This rigorous test determines whether a student will be eligible for secondary education. Two of the girls ranked among the top 100 girls writing the exam. Only a few years ago, no student from the parish area school was accepted at any secondary level school; now, annually, there are a good number who go on to receive secondary education opportunities. 

Caltepec Grateful for Vestments

When the missionaries return “home” to the Sugar Land Mission Center in the summer, they bring along an empty suitcase that can be filled with items which have been donated and take them back to their missions. The enormous cost of shipping and poor mail service in their area prohibits us from sending many tangible items. Father John Boscoe, pastor at Caltepec was particularly thrilled to be able to “pack back” two sets of priestly vestments, a gift from Holy Family Parish in Missouri City, TX. He was particularly happy that the vestments are plain, as the ladies in Mexico will enjoy embroidering them. In his parish, there are 9 churches at which our three Basilians – Father Boscoe, Father Jess Owens, and Father Jesus Herrera - celebrate Mass on Sundays. There are also numerous chapels on the surrounding ranchos where they also celebrate Mass occasionally, and some of these churches and chapels have no vestments.

St. Michael’s Volunteers Mark 5th Year

For the fifth year, a group of students from St. Michael’s College School in Toronto, along with two of their teachers, gave up a week of spring break to come as volunteers to St. Lucia. This year's projects included painting the outside of the women’s shelter which is known as “The Coop”, since in a previous life it really was a bright, cheerful yellow, chicken coop. They also built a real chicken coop to help a family gather eggs for food; began construction on an extension of a small home for a family; and led an after school Bible and Sports camp for fifth grade boys at the parish school. 

Update From Medellin

Ecce Homo bustles with activity. The parish has a medical clinic, a program for teaching adults how to read and write, how to work together with others in group work, and a parish library which serves about 200 children on a daily basis with volunteers who help the children with their studies. An Internet center serves the population of the entire parish, making this modern technology available even to the poor.

Taller (workshop) San Basilio Arte Joven continues to help young people in the barrios to produce their various art crafts for sale. A community store continues to serve those in need. A number of training courses in various skills are being given by people from local barrios and by various professionals on a voluntary basis. The parish also continues working with the local schools in terms of ministry and Father Pedro Mora is teaching several classes in the Sister’s school.

A Dream Materializes

Father Clair Watrin and his wonderful Canadian lay volunteers constantly encourage their parishioners to dream - and share their dreams as a starting place for action. One of the mission moms shared her dream of helping others who have so little of this world’s goods. Her dream has materialized in the hot meals cooked and served every other week to the elderly poor. The volunteers, themselves recipients of help from the parish food bank, cook delicious meals which are given out in containers which the recipients bring with them. These elderly poor take the meal home and it can easily be stretched to last the rest of the day. Perennial favorites are salt fish, green fig salad and baked macaroni and cheese.