Hi everyone. I am getting stronger each day but am still walking like a 98 year Nursing Home Resident!. Ugh a thousand times!
This blog will be different. No pictures. Sorry! Why? Let me explain. Havn’t we all heard about a glass being half empty or half full? It can be used to describe how people see things. Some think half full indicates a positive response while half empty is something else. Who knows? Olancho as with most of the world has not been except from the violence of a few. Earlier this week I prepared a paper for our Board trying to put things into perspective so not as to scare volunteers and parish groups who want to come. Years ago a friend, Jim Harney would travel to El Salvador and I would worry about him. Now I am next door and things look different. Then I would have influenced by what I did not know. It was suggested that I share these reflections with those who support our efforts.
Next issue, I will have tons of fotos. This blog is the exception. I should have been in California this morning with John, Mary and the Monley Family celebrating John’s law school graduation. Six hours on American seemed to be too much for my back. Sorry John. I will make it up to you in August. You choose the fish and I the gin! Congratulations. To others, especially my sister Kikie - Happy Mother´s Day. Let´s get ready for Pentecost and share God´s Spirit with one another.
God Bless
Father D
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They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Violence in Juticalpa Olancho Honduras
People of goodwill are bombarded daily by the escalating violence that affects every facet of life in every part of the world. Juticalpa is not exempt. It is not my intent to probe the causes of violence here or elsewhere on the planet. I have been in Honduras since 1991 and have stored many digital and non-digital memories of the thousands of people who are the lyrics in a hymn to those who form “a part of the fabric of our being”.
Violence comes in many colors and speaks every language. Come to think about it, love has the same characteristics. We live with the hope that love overcomes all (ICor:13)
Why do people choose to volunteer? Some define it as a faith response, others for humanitarian reasons, others to become a part of something much bigger than themselves, others to travel and there are some who want it for their curriculum vitae. Many reasons bring people to our not paved streets and energy deprived community. However among all, I have found one common denominator. It is for most their first exposure to witnessing poverty and personally learning to live without! Some handle it well! Others have more difficulty. Separation demands an adjustment and adaption to their new life. There is no promise of 24 hour inter-net access, the lights do go off just when you want pop-corn, some-one used all the water for both the shower and toilet, Some come with a Mother Theresa mentality of doing wonderful things, of being loved, hugged and praised but unfortunately never read her Dark Night of the Soul. Working with the poor is not easy!
It is not easy working in Olancho and it is not for everyone. Some volunteers relish the opportunities to be away, others long for their friends because they cannot handle being away. Others need to be busy, others get frustrated at their inability to speak and be understood and then Thank God there are some who are always so positive and joyous even the stones giggle as the Nikes touch down. As with most things in life we see and experience things differently and for those who enjoyed the movie “My Big Fat Wonderful Greek Wedding”, you may remember the toast at the wedding when the bride´s father says it is not important if we are apples or oranges, we are all fruit”.
I believe it important and necessary to at least attempt to put things in balance and hopefully a positive perspective. Is their violence in Olancho? Yes there is. Having said that can I add that we have not had any sniper shootings in any college campus, we have not had one episode of high school students killing teachers and classmates. Having said there is violence in Juticalpa I need then to ask: is their violence in your city? Can I ask you to consider the following?
Recently in Olancho a group of visiting North Americans was robbed after visiting a community. It was a frightening experience for them and an embarrassment to the community they had helped. The community set out with their pastor to find those responsible and clear their name. Within days it was done! All stolen items were returned as were the weapons used in the assault. What to do with these weapons? It was decided to dismantle them, bury them and to plant a tree above them so that its roots will strangle the weapons buried beneath. The tree will live and will offer shade and protection from the sun, families will gather under it and teach their children that as “love conquers all”. Violence will have no place above ground.
These humble men and women said no to violence and have given us a wonderful example of what it means to live for others and be a people that will not take up swords not train for war. It is the faith of this community and many others who have shown us alternatives. The Olancho Aid Foundation continues to invite people to come and work with us. We cannot allow a few isolated incidents of violence to deter us from preparing students intellectually, morally and spiritually for their futures.
The Foundation is committed to all families and staff who have put their trust in us to offer the very best educational opportunities possible. We would never ask people to join us if we did not believe it safe. Some who come have never had an urban experience and find adaption awkward. We are committed to the well-being of each and every person. Life in the Third World is challenging but volunteers must meet and mingle with Olanchanos to share the dreams and hopes of families and children. We are here for them.
If the residents of a small village can show us a new path than let us follow their example. We need the hundreds of short and long term volunteers who come each year because they are the ones who make the Foundation the best source of hope for families in Olancho. Check out Corinthians 13. It makes for good reading.
Sincerely
Padre Ricardo T. Donahue
Hi everyone. Belated Easter wishes to all.
I am writing this from Juticalpa – having returned here on Monday. I ditched the walker and replaced it with a cane. Need a walker? If so, it is in the garage at the Cape. RIP dear Walker! Truth be told I would prefer John Walker!!!
Arriving both at Logan and Miami I ate a good size piece of Humble Pie. Why? Simply I needed it to face the wheelchair. You have all seen the white shirt, black pants and rubber sole shoes that are standard wear for attendants at airports wheeling people from Gate D2 to Gate D 52. Did you know the attendants train at the Indy 500 track? Its the truth! Seeing life from a wheelchair puts you about three feet from the floor or reduces your height and vision to the size of a Samsonite carry on! I thought many times I was going to crash into another travellers bag but my Indy driver swerved with precision. Try reading the Arrival/Departure board at three feet with people in front of you and forget your caffein fix at Au Buon Pain! Easier to grab a warm bottle of spring water than risk the sliders on the freezer . I am held together with screws and metal bars but ” por la misercordia de Dios” got thru the security without alarm going off. Having heard horrow stories in the press I didn´t know what to expect. Hats off to those airport warriers and their chariots who whip us from gate to gate. Sometimes we are all three footers and need others to push us. If you have never had the wheel chair experience then thank God for those who push you along. I know I will.
Wednesday we had the 17th graduation with 30 students. It was a busy day moving from one place to another and I probably did more than I should have and broke the therapists Three No No´s. It is called The BLT and I don´t mean plenty of mayonaise! No bending, no lifting and no twisting. Here are some fotos for you to enjoy.
The university is closed for 3 weeks and classes start again in mid May. Good time to live life in the right lane and let others whip by in the passing lane. . Later today we will receive a medical brigade who will visit communities during the week. They are part of a company called Correct Care Solutions who offer medical care in prison facilities in 17 States of the Union.
Thanks to so many of you for e-mails during my time in the USA. a special hug to Bob and Jackie Leon for driving Tanquerry and Soup to my house, to Sue Matthews and Pat Ernest who saw I got to the airport and to my sister and husband for finding many Dunkin Donuts.
God Bless, kiss a tullip and enjoy Spring. Until next issue.
Father D
Hi everyone. Blessings for this week of our Salvation.
I am writing this from the Newton Medical Center where I will be staying until the weekend. The surgery took place on last Wednesday – long day. It started at 7:30 am and I got to my room around 4. The medical staff is pleased and suggested I need some rehab treatment. Had some OT in the morning. What a workout. The smallest things that once I took for granted are now problematic. Please God I will head to the Cape for the weekend, have visiting nurses come by and give me clearance to return to Honduras on the 16th.
No fotos this week. All fotos of walkers, canes and hospital jonnies have been confiscated and destroyed.
Thanks to those who responded to my call for help to build a hall in Jutiquile.
Blessings to all for a joyful Easter and I have my Black Berry and can also be reached at 617-831-2640.
Father D
Hi everyone. Getting closer to the Holy Week of our faith and I pray that each day the Lord of the Cross and Resurrection will bless you for your belief in our mission in Honduras.
I am writing this from Boston and spent most of the day today – Friday at the Brigham preparing for the operation. The medical staff is just wonderful and answerd all my questions. Not always to my satisfaction because I want to return here 2 hours after the operation. It is not going to happen. Here is what will happen. The operation will be on Wednesday, they tell me some a 2-3 hour procedure not including the preps before hand. A few days in the hospital and then an evaluation as to where I will go for therapy. It will either be a rehab facility or visiting nurses/rehab at home. I will leave that to the care coordinador at the Brigham. I will let you know what happens.
March 19th was the Feast of Saint Joseph and here it was Father´s Day. To all of you who receive this blog who are fathers, Congratulations and God´s Blessing as you continue to show what love and sacrifice mean. At the Nazareth School we had a celebration and the team from Holy Family Rockland joined us. Enjoy.
Many of you who have been down have accompanied me to the community of Jutiquile on Sundays. It is , as many of you know a wonderful, faith filled community where people pray and serve one another. It is a community of which Peter and Paul would have been proud to belong to. Last Sunday we had a retreat and because we do not have a hall it was held outside in an orchard of mangos. I really enjoyed it. However the community really needs a hall. We have a budget set at $ 33,000 and we were set on fire with a promise of ten thousand from someone who later was described to me as a bastion of hot air. Anyway the community after more than six years has raised almost 17 thousand. Not an an easy task here. We need a central place for so many meetings, CCD, community groups and a zillion other things. I am hoping that some of you who have been hugged by this wonderful community might consider sending Jutiquile a piece of your Uncle Sam Tax Refund. It will be like receiving Valentines in March or April. I will send some – here´s hoping that there is a refund and I invite others to join me. Let´s be Valentine´s to each other for Jutiquile. Here are some photos of Sunday.
Monday morning the mission team from Rockland descended en masse to my office filled with energy to begin visiitng aldeas. Our prayers are with Kathy McNeely who has been part of the group for a long time and has some health issues that need attention. May the faith of Rockland bring you back to us in 2013.
I know that your prayers will acompany the surgeons this week. If you have the chance don´t be timid about falling to your knees at 9.30 EDT on Wednesday. You . Yes, YOU “gotta” get me back to Olancho as soon as possible.
Thanks, God Blessings, Feliz Semana Santa . Until the next time.
Father D
Hi everyone. We have been with-out electricity all day. Usually I hit ” send” before heading off to morning Mass with the Poor Clares. Today is the evening edition! Do you think there must be something to the Niño and Niña climate change. I read that the USA has had little to no snow, warm temperatures and a freeze less winter. Here in Olancho it is usually dry , hot, lots of dust and no rain. Not this year: It is chilly in the morning and rains come once or twice a day and we still have our Latin 40 shades of green.
I hope you are staying strong and determined with your Lenten promises or abstinences. Pray for this sinner who fell. The group from New Hampshire had the charity to bring me a bottle of John Jameson ( Strong Irish Whiskey) or JJ to his family and friends. It is wonderful stuff! I was going to save it for Saint Patrick´s Day. Did you know that anyone who has even passed through or flown over Boston gets a Lenten Free Pass for one day. I came down with what can only be described as the worst cold, gripe, flu, whatever I have ever experienced. There was only one way to ” heal myself” and that is hot tea, a little lemon and two fingers of John. I have to tell the truth -it was 3 fingers. Usually that with a sweat shirt produces enought sweat to cleanse out the infections. Well, not this time. I tried it again and again. Finally, John died having given me his best shot. He leaves behind two useless lemons and likewise three Lipton bags. I still have this cold, John´s gone and for that reason this blog will be brief.
We had a wonderful few days with the Mission group from NH and as they headed to the airport the group from Westport arrived. Unfortunately this cold has left me isolated and have not seen much of anyone. Claire and Kristin came yesterday with some antibiotics I am still waiting for them to kick in. Rockland comes next week and I will be here for a few days with them before heading to Boston to begin the pre-ops. Surgery is still scheduled for the 28th of March at the Brigham. I hope to be back for another university graduation and there are a few photos of the soon to be graduates at their Board Exams. The volunteers house is looking very lovely as it was painted by NH and groups are paining their own murals.
A big THANK YOU to Bridget King, a volunteer from last year who with the help of Lacey Severson arranged campus visits this week to Univ. of New Hampshire, U Mass Amherst, SalveRegina in Newport and Providence College. Thanks to all who offered her housing , food and transportation. This is the time of year when college grads begin to make inquires about a year of volunteer service.
Before I forget. Someone asked how my “nietos” were doing. That is the term affectionately used to describe my parakeets. It means grandchildren. Four more were born a few weeks ago, there are others who should be out of their nests and ready for the Easter Parade. That brings us to 29. Good Catholics creatures!
Blessings to all from Saint Joseph and Saint Patrick. Sorry Patrick but JJ will not be with us this year. RIP. More from Boston as the hospital adventure continues.
Blessings
Father D.
Hi everyone. When I am in the States I always purchase large bags of MiracleGro Potting Soil. I ship it to Rapido in Miami and then use it to plant seeds in my garage under very watchful eyes. That accounts for great tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, egg plant and beans all year long. Well Lent has started and Ash Wednesday is very popular here. I celebrated four Masses, fewer than I would have if I was still in the parish. As a result I am very concerned about my tomatoes and hope by tomorrow to get all the blacken ash stain out of my hands and nails. Tomatoes don´t handle stress well and I need to keep them happy and it is important not to let the ashes of Wednesday contaminating them. Pray for us in these difficult days !!!!!!!!
We had on the 13th of this month a Mass of Farewell and as Mass of Welcome for both Bishop Muldoon and for Bishop Bonello. In addition the religious sisters who have been in this diocese as well as other Central American countries for 20 plus years finally received their approbation from Rome as a Religious Institute and it was a Mass of Celebration for them as well. The sisters entered in a procession at the beginning of the Mass. there were more than 150 and I would guess the median age to be around 28. Can I admit to a piece of perverted glee? Many of the native Olancho priests who were seminarians when I arrived are now showing pieces of grey hair. We are young for so short a time. A day before he left I was with Bishop Muldoon and took his mug shot for the last time. Its a great picture of a Columbian tee-shirt. He will be back for a few days in March to celebrate a wedding and clear up a few things. The diocese is very grateful to Bishop Muldoon for all he was able to accomplish in 29 years. He is spending a few weeks in Florida, veting to be the Spiritual Director of the Red Sox. Don´t we all have our own definition of Heaven? Mine has got to do with Olives, Martinis and Eternity!
I have some pictures for you of the day the Nazareth children went to a local mini mall that allows them to roam for an hour or so before opening doors to the public. This is a result of donations sent from Saint Luke´s in Texas at Christmas but we hold on to it and bring the students on the 14th of Febraury – Day of San Valentine and Day of Friendship. Also they – the Nazareth students came to the university the day before and were warmly greeted by all the students who saw that they had plenty of cake and soft drinks.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Cardinal Rodriguez High School and to mark the day Bishop Bonello came and blessed all the classrooms. As I mentioned in another blog the recent College Board exams make it abundantely clear the superior education our students are receiving. Imagine we are Number 1 in Olancho and Number 14 in the country. Enjoy some photos of the day.
I am still waiting for the miracle but if it doesn´t materialize I will be in the Boston area ” for a few days” to have the surgery done. It is scheduled for the 28th of March which means I will not be walking in many Holy Week processions here this year. i may not be walking anywhere. I am not good at doing nothing….. what I refer to as turnip days. Do any of you know if there is a patron Saint of Patience? Because if there is , I will give him/her a run for their money!
Thursday evening arrived the first group of volunteers from NH. They will be her for about ten days and we will drop them off to pick up Westport and as they depart Rockland will be jumping on the bus. Life is so boring in Olancho! Yesterday the bi-lingual school had its annual science fair and we used the auditorium of the university. The fair is in name of the best science student in the school and this year the honor went to Carlos Armando Osorio Banegas. Felicitades Carlos.Here you will see Padre Raimundo with Mary Roy who has brought groups now for close to 19 years. Some of them are CIA people who will report back to the Manchester Diocese what Father Dan is doing. There are many other groups coming after Easter.
Off now for Mass with the Poor Clares. Saturday is my sleep in day and the Mass is at 7. Next week we have university exams which means the Mass might be at 5:15am because the University Boards begin at 6am . Lifestyle here is a “bit” different from elsewhere.
Blessings for Lent! Last week there was a terrible family and a senseless human tragedy when close to 400 men were incinerated to death in a prison outside Tegus. Pray for them and their families. Some live to eat while others fast so others may live.
Father D
Hi everyone. Sorry I missed last week’s deadline but life in the fast lane does cause disruptions. Will get back in stride!
On Monday classes will begin in the Cardenal and also in Nazareth. The wonderful folks at Temple Texas enable us to bring the children to a local clothing store and they can buy whatever they need to start the school year. Socks and underwear are big numbres. No “frilly” stuff for our kids. Those of us on Social Security from New England remember the sounds of getting ready to return to school and the refrain from kitchen radios telling our parents that ” mother knows for better clothes its time to visit Robert Hall again . I am either losing it or showing my age!!!! The Robert Hall franchaise was buried years ago but memories do run deep. I celebrated a funeral yesterday for a woman who ” died suddenly” at 101. Try to convince the family otherwise? Impossible.
Carlos and I again visited Holy Family Parish in TN and ejoyed the hospitalilty of The Hayes Family and the extended family which is Holy Family Parish. The Parish has a Mission Committee which did an incredible job in setting up the breakfast. This year we had no snow and the hall was filled with people.Here are some slides of the breakfast.
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I stayed an extra day so as to connect with Doctor Laura Clark at Middle Tennessee State University which I believe is the largest university in the state with almost 30,000 students. We met with Dr .Lana Seivers who is Dean of the College of Education and later with Dr. David A. Schmidt, the Vice Provost for International Affairs. We are “just having some conversations” about what some future involvment might be beneficial to them as well as the Foundation. Here are some photos. The golf cart was an added just because I have a few minor difficulties walking and the campus is immense. Dr. Clark will be visiting us in the Spring.
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Earlier the same day we met with some of the students and staff from Father Ryan High School in Nashville who will be visiting us later this year. This high school has almost a thousand students with most going on to universities. The facilities are incredible and I would kill to have a library like theirs. Hats off to all at the school for the courtesy, maturity and spirit that I witnessed in their students. These kids love learning.
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This week two former volunteers came to help us address some short and long term planning issues. John Monley who will be graduating in a few months from law school somewhere in in Kalifornia and Dr. Rob Privette from the State of Washington. Rob and I were talking last evening and we both had the same feeling that life was much easier when we were a Mom and Pop operation. Today with over one hundred employees and many , as in many needs……………. it is difficult to balance time, energy and budgets. My anchor remains that ” we have come this far by faith and faith will never let us down”.
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With the help from Saint Luke´s in Texas, The Chisholm Foundation and another generous benefactor from TN we have been able secure enough funding that enables us to project a $4,000 a month deficit for Nazareth. The deficit runs at $10,000 a month. The glass is half FULL and not half EMPTY.Deficits happen when you serve the poorest of the poor. Anyone interested in helpíng Nazareth by adopting a child can open up :www.olanchoaid.org and look for the scholarship link.
On Monday the 13 there will be a Mass of Thanksgiving for Bishop Muldoon who after 29 years is ready to give the keys to someone else. On the second of February the official annoucment came from the Vatican that the Holy Father had accepted the bishop´s request for retirement and that Monseñor José Bonello is the Shepherd of Olancho. At the same Mass the church in Olancho will rejoice that the Franciscan Sisters of the Assunption, have been formally been recognized as a religious congregation with all the rights and obligations that entails. It has been a long process to get that accomplished. Rome moves slow I guess. While I was away Celio celebrated the Mass where we distribute diplomas to the best students. Allow me an aside. I am so pleased that the new bishop has selected Celio as his Vicar General. Happy because Celio is more than competent and is a native Olanchano. As I was saying…….getting a diploma at this campus is not easy. They go the the best students. Imagine a church jammed to the doors with youth. It happens here and in many other places I hope!
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Okay me! I am scheduled for spinal stenosis surgery at the end of March and mostly likely will be in the States for Holy Week. Still waiting for a miracle however and if that happens I will cancel the flight. Keep us in your prayers. Don and Rick from Westport have arrived and are busy installing sunken tubs with Jacuzzis for the New Hampshire people who come at the end of the month.
God Bless and until next time.
Father D
Hi everyone and once again let me send my best wishes for the new year to all of you with the hope the year brings you many blessings and also an abundance of God´s grace for the moments which won´t be so great. Life is not a Perpetual Disney World with Magic Kingdoms. This side of the grave there will be the wonderful and the not so wonderful moments. God is Emmanuel!
Lots happening and somedays I pop an extra Centrum to keep up. Age? Never! Can I share with you some wonderful news? Of course I can- it is my blog! This week the National University of Honduras announced the College Board Results for 2011. They listed the best 50 public and private institutions. There was one public high school from Olancho that placed- 33rd out of 50. Our high school, Cardenal Rodriguez High School is number one in Olancho and number 14 in the country! Imagine. We are with the most prestigious and financially well heeled institutions in the country. Look out Goliath ……………….David is kicking up dust in Olancho. All week there have been interviews with local communication networks and newspapers. I keep telling them not to interview me but rather the teachers and administrative staff who accomplished this incredible honor. Thank you who sponsor kids in the school, thank you who send materials to us, thank you for believing in us. It is not easy offering quality education when the red dog called deficit is never far from the table.
On the same line, many of you know Victor the bus driver from the Nazareth School who has taken you back and forth many times from the airport. Olancho Aid is not part of the Trump Dynasty and as a result our employees don´t have much left over after putting bread on the table. His daughter took the high school exam and did very well. He would like to send her to the Cardenal and I said I would look for people to sponsor her. I have already paid the registration fee and can handle books and uniform. If any one ( or groups) could help this family let me know and I will have Wendy in the Scholarship office contact you.
University classes started this week and there are 125 + new students. We had an orientation session with them last week. This week is always difficult for me because there are too many parents and students coming to my office in tears because they have not received checks from their family stateside. I understand the un-employment numbers have taken an up-swing and while helpful we all know there are many factors in determining the validity of these numbers. Bottom line is there are many still out of work and the backlash hits here as well. As you know my salary from the university goes to paying many scholarships and I cannot add any more rice nor water to the soup. Can I ask you to pray or better ” to gamble”? My university ID is 0855. Maybe a great lottery number? Who knows the mind of God???? Play it for me! Love ya!
How can I thank all those who participated in our end of the year appeal? While I was doubtful we would reach the original goal of $98,000, your Thomas was speechless ( a rare occasion) when we ended at a few dimes short of $135,000.00.
We are offering a program a 6 month course to help our teachers become better at developing educational strategies in the classroom. Part of the process is using “ice-breakers” to help them become more comfortable. As you will see our university group seems very relaxed and enjoying the process.
We had an opening Mass on Thursday to start the new school year and distributed Bibles to the new students which they will use in some of their classes and especially in the activities of the Pastoral. Bishop Muldoon was with us and he is waiting for a letter from the Vatican telling him that after 30 years in Olancho he can hand over the reins to Bishop Bonello.
I feel obligated to say something about the violence in Honduras. Some have read that The US Department of State has withdrawn the Peace Corp from Honduras for ” security reasons”. Unfortunately they never gave an explanation. One Peace Corp volunteer was shot in the leg some time ago in another part of the country and we have heard nothing to indicate it was anti-American related. My first Mass here in 1991 was a funeral Mass for a person who was murdered. However I have celebrated a wedding in the United States where armed body guards were in the sacrisity for fear that an anguished not to be bride might come to the wedding and kill her former companion. Isn´t that a nice word? Violence happens!!!!!!!! Here it is principaly in the capital and in the north. Crime. poverty, lack of jobs, lack of education and drugs destined for the States are all part of the problem. We had one isolated incident here with our volunteers recently. I am not sure however that all the basic security measures we have put into a Rules Book were followed. We all need to be street smart. Let me sing it from the highest tree I can find, ” we would never consider having people visit and work with us if we thought there was a danger to their lives”. I cannot say it any clearer. Living and serving the poor means living in their everyday reality. You can read my letter to potential volunteers at: www.olanchoaid.org.
Next weekend Carlos and I will be in Tennessee for a breakfast with supporters. Holy Family Parish has sent many volunteers, facilitated health care professionals from Correct Care Solutions, many construction projects and so much more. Please keep them and us in your prayers.
Off to Mass with the Poor Clares now. Enjoy your weekend and until next post….God Bless
Father D
Last day of 2011
Can I share with you the closing of Pope Benedicts´s Christmas Homily? The both of us thank those who contributed to our Appeal that to date has raised $133,684.68 . What do you say after “incredible”? El Papa says:
Let us allow ourselves to be made simple by the God who reveals himself to the simple of heart. And let us also pray especially at this hour for all who have to celebrate Christmas in poverty, in suffering, as migrants, that a ray of God’s kindness may shine upon them, that they – and we – may be touched by the kindness that God chose to bring into the world through the birth of his Son in a stable. Amen.
Father D.
Let me wish all of you a Merry Christmas with special thanks to so many who participated in our Appeal. I am humbled to announce that to date we have surpassed our goal and as of today the Foundation has received: $ 105,409,68
I have notes from others that their donations ” are in the mail”.
Muchas Gracias a todos.
This week the university students, faculty and administrative staff re-read Saint Matthew´s invitation (22: 9) and brought to the wedding toys, clothing, prayer, song ,faith and food for those who live on the highways and byways! In addition because of the incredible generosity of Saint John´s Parish in Westport MA toys and candies are given to the community of Jutiquile.
With this in mind here is my Christmas Carol to you. May the lyrics be written in your hearts – put there by those you are about to meet. Thanks Saint Matthew! Because of you I will have a very Merry Christmas . Secondly it is not to late to contribute to the Appeal.
Until the New Year. Emmanuel, YES, He is with us!
Father D
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor ……….Blessed Be the Lord
I will bless the Lord at all times, with praise ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the Lord, who will hear the cry of the poor.
Let the lowly hear and be glad: the Lord listens to their pleas;
and to hearts broken, God is near, who will hear the cry of the poor.
Merry Christmas
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