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- Mission Mentions -
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Parish On-Line

Ecce Homo in Medellin has put their parish newsletter “on-line.” Parishioners who are too poor to afford internet access, and most are, can go to the parish Internet center. They seem to enjoy the novelty of reading it on-line, and it is good practice for the many adults who are learning to read through the parish literacy program. The pastor, in addition to Parish notices, includes a weekly reflection with a biblical text, a request for prayers for those in the parish who are ill, and a request for prayers for eternal rest for those who have died. You can visit the parish on-line at:

http://espanol.geocities.com/parroquiaeccehomo/anuncio.htm

Blessed Pro Novitiate Chapel Receives Relic

The chapel at the Novitiate in Tehuacan is named for Blessed Miguel Pro, S.J. Recently, Father Alberto Ferrara, the novice master, was given a first class relic of Pro by the Jesuit postulator, Father Fernando Suarez, S.J. We pray that Blessed Pro, the merry Mexican martyr, will shed his blessing on our Mexican Novitiate, giving the novices his own sense of joy in serving Christ the King.

Plea for Prayers

From Colombia, Father Seguin asks, “Please remember all of us in your prayers as we continue to build up the body of Christ. We are working in a special way with our small base communities. There are about 16 at the moment. We have begun a process of reinforcement for the leaders and they are meeting every Monday for leadership training.”

Pope Prays for Missions

This year’s August intention for the Apostleship of Prayer was for the “growth of communion and cooperation among institutes working actively in the missions.” The intention is adopted by the Pope, who offers his personal prayer and sacrifices together with thousands of faithful worldwide.

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said “How can we remain insensitive to the cry of humanity while the number of missionaries decreases. We must return to evangelical radicalness, knowing how to recognize the signs of the times, confident in the Word of the Lord, without being hindered by doubts, incomprehension, and the spirit of self-sufficiency.”

The Priests of the Basilian Fathers Missions have long recognized this need for cooperation and work hand-in-hand with a number of religious institutes in their mission areas, among them Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, the missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart, Madres Escolapias, Hermanas Marianitas, and the laity.

Medellin Construction Update

Last month, the people held a "Marcha de Adobes" (March of the Bricks) to help raise money for their new church. The people each paid a thousand pesos (37 cents US) per brick and carried it from one place to the site of the construction. They were able to sell 700 bricks!!! It was a proud procession of men, women, children, and young people as well as the elderly walking with their brick to place it at the site. Then each person received a delicious "salpicon" - a fresh fruit drink.

Marcha de Adobes (March of the Bricks)