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We will arrive in the morning. On the way to Santa Ana we hope to visit a new CFCA community in a place call Huizucar. Is located on our way to Santa Ana (half way). We would visit the community and have a gathering with the families, visit some homes and also a little hiking towards to all small waterfall
Prayer and Study :: Joe Walsh and Dana
Introduction to Economic Situation in El Salvador & Overview of Catholic Social Teaching
We will join the community in Tacuba for morning mass. After lunch we will visit with the community and share friendship and music together.
Prayer and Study :: Kristen and Jamie
Focus on Human Dignity and Solidarity
We had a wonderful day today. We set our early this morning for Tacuba, where we celebrated mass with the community on Sunday. Today we brought a version of vacation bible camp to the children of Pope John Paul II school. In addition to soccer (they had a lot to teach us), crafts, and projects we also brought hundreds of books donated by our parish during Project Read.
In the afternoon, after lunch, we took a trip by 4 wheel drive trucks to Esquipulas. Our mission group and parishioners have helped the people of this community to build a bridge over the river that divides them from the cities where they work and go to school. It was a difficult crossing in summer and very dangerous during high water in the winter. Now the community has a wonderful new bridge.
Prayer and Study :: Katie and Lauren Olsen
Focus on Common Good and Option for the Poor
Cerro Verde is a national park in El Salvador and home to two of the highest volcano’s in the country, Santa Anna Volcano and Isalco Volcano. This beautiful setting is a perfect place for us to appreciate the beauty of this country. We travel from the valley up through corn fields and then through coffee plantations as we head for the 6000 foot summit of Cerro Verde between the two volcanos. It is also a place for us to spend time with some of the children sponsored (supported) by our parish families. Sponsorship, as Katie and Lauren Olsen explained to our group last night, is an act of solidarity - a way for each of us to stand with the poor of this country as they struggle for human dignity and a hopeful future. Bishop Oscar Romero spoke of the importance of solidarity when he told his own people that “no one can do everything but everyone can do something!” In the pictures that follow you will see much shared good times in a beautiful place. Remember that this time together is an act of hope and affection for these children. If you are interested in sponsorship you can speak with any member of our mission group or visit the CFCA web site.
Prayer and Study: Watching the film “Romero” together. Focusing on the Salvadoran martyrs.
Today we traveled into the capitol city of San Salvador to visit the place where Bishop Romero was martyred over 26 years ago. We were able to celebrate mass in the chapel of Divine Providence Hospital where Bishop Romero lived and where he celebrated his last mass on March 24, 1980. The chapel was a beautiful and meaningful place for us to celebrate mass together and reflect on our mission trip. After mass we were able to visit the small residence where Romero lived. The room is a tribute to his simplicity and solidarity with his people. It contains many of his personal books, papers, vestments and other mementos left exactly as they were the day he left his room for the short walk to the chapel where he offered mass for the last time.
In the afternoon we visited a local crafts market where we were able to buy souvenirs from our trip. We also purchased numerous items to bring home with us to share with you as a way to raise funds for the needs of our sister parish.
Talent Show Tonight
This morning we had prayer and breakfast with a number of local families. Afterwards we took a short trip to the community of LaRealidad. This community is important to us because it was one of the first we visited 5 years ago and at that time we met a family who had just lost their simple home to fire. We raised the money for CFCA to help them build a new sheet metal home. They are now in the process of receiving a real solid construction home (brick and steel reinforcements). It was mostly good to see the family looking so well and healthy thanks to hte efforts of CFCA and their sponsors.
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