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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