VICAR GENERAL OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE’S VISIT TO SABANA YEGUA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Fr. Pat Heppe, Vicar for Clergy and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, visited La Sagrada Familia Parish in Sabana Yegua from September 17 to September 24.  His visit was a good occasion to strengthen the bonds between the parish and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which has had La Sagrada Familia as its sister parish for more than 30 years.  This relationship, begun in 1981, has become more solidified over time, and as Fr. Heppe reminded us, has been a source of blessings for both parties.

It was an intense week in which he participated in the pastoral activity of the parish, including several liturgical celebrations. He could also see some of the human promotion projects that we carry out in the region and that link many people of Milwaukee with Sabana Yegua.

We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to Fr. Heppe for his visit. With his customary down-to-earth way and joyfulness, and with his words of support, he encouraged the whole parish team to continue forward in its work.  

TALK ON NUTRTION FOR THE WOMEN RUNNING THE “POPULAR PHARMACIES” OF LA SAGRADA FAMILIA PARISH (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)

The “popular pharmacies” program, which is dependent on the La Sagrada Familia Health Center, offers medicines at low cost to several rural communities, many of which are far from any health center. The women in charge of these small pharmacies carry out this work as volunteers for the benefit of their community. They regularly broaden their training regarding medicines and their use.  To this effect, we recently took advantage of Dr. Mireria Morera’s visit, a physician from Spain specializing in nutrition. Dr. Morera gave a talk to these women so that they in turn would be able to teach what they have learned in their communities. The training given by Dr. Morera was very beneficial since the communities have numerous problems and deficiencies with regard to nutrition.  

SCRIPTURE STUDIES PROGRAMS IN RACINE

This fall, two members of the Community of Saint Paul are holding Scripture Study sessions in their respective parishes in Racine.

Fr. Ricardo Martín is leading sessions on the Acts of the Apostles as part of a continuous reading program that began last year with the Gospel of Luke.  There has been a very good turnout of over 50 people attending.  The group meets twice a month on Fridays.  

José Mario Nieto is leading sessions as part of the Bible Study Series at St. Richard Parish, which is his teaching parish as part of his formation at the seminary.  This semester’s sessions fall under the title of “Prophets of Israel: from Moses to John the Baptist and Jesus.”  These too have had good turnouts with over 30 adults attending.  José is leading a total 11 Monday night sessions through late October.   

REFLECTION

“Come and See”

The invitation that Jesus makes to those who, intrigued, ask him where he lives to “come and see” (John 1:38-39), firstly indicates that the Gospel cannot be explained as if it were a theory – one has to experience it, to see it. Now this invitation has another aspect that deserves some reflection: if we invite someone to come and to see, we must have something to show. Otherwise, someone who does decide to come may arrive and find a soulless house, a joyless community, an empty wrapper with nothing inside, a Church without spirit.

We Christians cannot complain that our churches are empty without at the same time asking ourselves a self-critical question: those who from time to time decide to stop by our communities, those who in a word “come,” do they then “see” something attractive, something that touches them?

We do not have much of a right to complain about the indifference that many have towards the faith if when they venture to visit, they do not discover in us anything that speaks to their heart.  Once again: if we invite someone to come and see, we should have something to show. 

INVITATION TO THE FOURTH AND FINAL VATICAN II ANNIVERSARY TALK

On Monday, October 28th, the Community of Saint Paul will co-host with Sacred Heart Parish in Racine the final of the four-talk series in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council.  The talk The Church We Believe In: Understanding our Profession of Faith in the light of the Second Vatican Council  will be given by Fr. Pere Cané, with refreshments to follow.  We hope to see you there - and remember, it's open to the public, so bring some friends!

READING IS FUN! STORYTELLING IN THE LIBRARIES AROUND SABANA YEGUA (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)

We have now launched three libraries in the La Sagrada Familia Parish territory around Sabana Yegua.  To promote reading with the children, this past month of August a sort of storytelling show was organized in the different libraries with the help of two volunteer youth from Barcelona.  In each library a story was told in a fun way with the help of drawings, and then was discussed together with the  children. Shortly after many of them who were not yet members hurried to sign up and get their library card in order to take one of the stories that they had heard home to read.  Thank you to Clara and Mar for their help!

CONSTRUCTION OF THREE EARTH-DAMS IN THE ALTIPLANO OF COCHABAMBA, BOLIVIA

The Community of Saint Paul has begun a new project in the Ayopaya Province in the department of Cochabamba, in Bolivia.  The project entails the construction of three earth-dams, each with a capacity of 300 cubic meters (79,251 gallons).  The water will be channeled through a distribution network ending in a sprinkler irrigation system that will cover an area of 70 hectares (173 acres) of cultivable lands.  40 families in the community of Totorani will benefit from the project.  The families are very eager and ready to work during the two months that are programmed to construct the necessary infrastructures.  Once the construction is finalized, they will be able to grow alternative products like vegetables, fruits and grains that will help to generate food stuffs and economic resources and thus lower their level of poverty, which is principally due the low productivity of their lands.