March 2007 | Vol. 43 No 3 | Inde

Blessing the New Dominican House in Mexicali

By Fr Martin de Porres Walsh, OP  Mission Director

Dear Mission Friends:

In 1995 when Fr. David Bello, O.P. arrived in Mexicali to begin our new Mission there, the Bishop of Mexicali assigned a vast territory of the poorest sections of the eastern part of the city along the U.S.-Mexican border to our Dominicans. With the exception of our small chapel, there was no presence of the Catholic Church in the area, which extends almost 30 miles out into the countryside.

At that time Fr. David did not believe it right to build our own house while our parishioners were without chapels and had to celebrate the Eucharist out in the elements: 125 degrees in the summer and very cold in the winter. Therefore, he rented a small house where the first three friars lived in cramped spaces.

By 2005, we had completed ten years in the Mexicali Mission. Over those years, we built one church and three chapels and formed Christian communities. We then decided that having our own house would enable us to establish a permanent presence in the parish and to expand our missionary team. The house could also be used for retreats for our catechists, youth, and other parish groups.


 “El Convento de San Juan Macias & San Martin de Porres” 
Our new Dominican house in Mexicali, Mexico.

 

 

 

Thanks to the generosity of you, our Mission Friends, property was purchased near our parish church and construction began. Then, more funds came from a source that could be used solely for construction of a Dominican House and the work could be completed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The visit of our Dominican Master General from Rome
 to inaugurate the new “Convento”

 Pictured from left to right: Fr. Martin Walsh, O.P.; Fr. Gerald Stookey, O.P. Socius of the Master General; The Most Reverend Carlos Azpiroz Costa, O.P. the Master General of the Dominican Order; Juan Jose Loubet the architect and “Padrino” of the Mexicali Dominicans; Sr. Catalina Alvarez, O.P.; Sr. Cristina Carillo, O.P.; Fr. Roberto Corral, O.P., Provincial of the Western Dominican Province; Chipina Ortiz parish secretary; Fr. Bartholomew de la Torre, O.P.; Fr. David Bello, O.P.; Fr. Hector Gallardo of the Mexicali Diocesan Seminary.  Kneeling in front is Fr. Gonzalo Ituarte, O.P., the Provincial of the Dominican Province of Mexico.

 

 

 

 

 

Last May the Master General of the Dominican Order, Fr. Carlos Azpiroz Costa, O.P. arrived from Rome to begin his official “visitation” of our Western Dominican Province. His visit to Mexicali to inaugurate the house coincided with our first night to sleep there. Our Dominican Community of Friars now consists of Fr. David Bello, O.P, Fr. Bartholomew de la Torre, O.P., Brother Stephen Lopez, O.P., and me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The blessing of the Dominican House by
His Excellency, Monseñor
 Jose Isidro Guerrero Macias,
Bishop of Mexicali,
 with Fr. Martin Walsh, O.P.

 

 

 

 

We ask for your prayers that from this house, under the patronage of our Dominican Saints, Juan Macias and Martin de Porres, we may go forth to celebrate the sacraments, preach the Gospel, and build up the kingdom of the peace, justice, and love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Christ's Peace,

Fr. Martin de Porres Walsh, OP

 

 

 

 

 


The Dominicans of Mexicali with our Bishop, Monseñor Jose Isidro Guerrero Macias.  Pictured left to right:
Sr. Alejandro, O.P., Sr. Esmeralda, O.P.,
 Sr. Gabriela, O.P., Brother Stephen, O.P., Fr. David, O.P., the Bishop,
Fr. Bartholomew, O.P., and Fr. Martin, O.P.


Our new house with its garden and enclosure is a perfect place for quiet reflection and prayer for our various parish groups.  Here we see Sister Alejandro, O.P. leading our youth in a one-day retreat.

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to remember our missionary work in your will, our legal title is: 

 Province of the Holy Name, Inc.
Dominican Mission Foundation
2506 Pine Street
P.O. Box 15367
San Francisco, CA 94115-0367

 

Prayer: Triduum of Saint Martin de Porres

How can you help?
Find out several ways you can support the Western Dominican Missions, or make an online donation today!

 

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