Please send in your sponsorship money if you haven’t done so this year. There are many more students who would love to attend school if additional sponsors would like to help.
On Feb. 6, 2016, 11 parishioners returned from our 23
rd parish mission trip to Patzun, Guatemala. The joys, prayers, sorrows and faith we shared with the loving, poor indigenous Mayan people filled each of us with God’s grace and blessing.
Providing basic medical care and medicines was such a small part of our mission. Building and strengthening our relationships with fathers struggling to support their families and mothers worried about food and clothing for their children made us realize we are all God’s family striving for the same goals of providing for those we love.
One stark contrast we noted was the faith, togetherness and reliance on God the poor have versus the isolation, anxiety, and self-reliance so many have in our country. Love is universal and we are all a part of God’s mercy and goodness.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, which is run by the Carmelite sisters, continues to grow. Many of the students have graduated and found better jobs and opportunities they couldn’t even dream of 10 years ago. Several have become teachers and returned to teach at the school. They and their families are so grateful to those who have helped a child attend school and pray daily for all who support them. Currently, there are 72 parishioners who sponsor have children every year.