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| ...This challenging parish is, in fact, two missions. The
rural part, which we are accustomed to serving, has characteristics of unity and many
dimensions very favorable for building the Christian commitment. The rural parish also has
high levels of participation by our Mayan brothers and sisters in the life of the Church.
The urban parish, on the other hand, is very different. Community is difficult. Many of
the men must work long hours to support their families and are often at a distance from
all religiosity. The Indian men end up losing their native values and culture. Families
disintegrate, the television begins to exercise a negative influence, and the Protestant
sects are always trying to attract our Catholics away from the Church. We need to design a
different method of evangelization for the urban Mayans versus the rural Mayans. Similar
challenges await us in Mission San Carlos, Altamirano, a small town a little more than an
hour away, where we also minister. In the rural areas there have been many important changes, some of which are quite unfavorable. For all the dirt roads that have been built, which help us get to many more villages than before, still there are many inaccessible places we have to reach by mule, on horseback, or on foot. Some still require being dropped in by plane. Although many years have passed since my first steps here in Chiapas, the poverty continues to be very real. At least the fincas (plantations), in which many native people were treated like slaves, are something of the past. Today, there are many rural communities developing in which the Indians have the possibility of working the earth and improving their condition in life. More Mayans are completing primary school, and some are going on to high school. There are only a few that can overcome the odds, making it to university, and sadly, few of them return to the villages to share their educational "wealth!" While in recent years the government has begun many programs of development, as often as not, they fail, since they don't take into account the opinions, experience, and actual needs of our native people. The health services offered by the government often are useless, since the medicines are too expensive for our people to buy. Our little Hospital San Carlos continues responding well to the real needs of the communities, although it can't keep up with the ever- increasing needs. In general, the situation is difficult, and many social, religious, and political tensions exist. The Mission here must be an important force in creating a culture of peace and the respect of human rights, as part of our Catholic faith. With great joy and gratitude, Triduum of Saint Martin de Porres How can you help? Find out how to support the Western Dominican Missions. |
MISSION APPEALS JULY 2002We have been invited to speak on our missionary work at the following parishes. Please come out and meet our Dominican preachers at the weekend Masses. July 6/7 July 13/14 Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Kelso, Washington Preaching: Fr. L.E. Banfield July 20/21 St. Mary's Church Seaview, Washington Preaching: Fr. L.E. Banfield July 27/28 |
