We leave NY to fly to San Salvador -- the capital of El Salvador.  Travel to  Santa Ana the second largest city in El Salvador where the CFCA center is located.

Pictures of life at CFCA Center

The beautiful road to Tacuba winds through fields and mountains.  We travel through Chalchuapa and the state of  Ahuachapán.  We were warmly greeted and celebrated mass with the community.  We did readings and prayers in both English and Spanish and Fr. Mike and Fr. Bob spoke to the community with the local priest Fr. Luis.

After lunch we met the community in a tent set up for the afternoon.  Children showed us traditional folk music and dance,  some members spoke of how the mission influenced their lives, and the young children all dressed as angels brought us prayers and blessed us.

Pictures of our time with the community

Introduction to Economic Situation in El Salvador
Group Meeting Leaders: Maggie Frodell,, Mike Nowartarski, Kerrianne Thomas (with help from Henry and Yessenia)

The focus of today was on youth and understanding.   In the morning we journeyed to one of the poorest schools in Santa Ana.  In this two room schoolhouse with no electricity a pair of dedicated teachers care for students in grade K to 6.  It was a chance for our young people to play and work together with these students.

Pictures of our visit to the school.

In the afternoon we met with older students who are part of the CFCA scholars program.  We began with a get to know each other softball game (better deal for us than soccer!) and then we spent time talking about the kinds of hopes and dreams our young people share.

Pictures of the game.

Focus on Catholic Social Teaching and Preferential Option for the Poor
Group Meeting Leaders: Katie Dolan, Erica Barbera, Theresa Maher (with help from Fr. Bob and Fr. Mike)

We spent our morning working alongside CFCA staff to help clear land where a new mission center will be built.  Our job was to cut brush, fell some small trees, remove a couple of stumps, and help with measuring and posting the land.  It was hot sweaty work and who knew OLL kids were so comfortable wielding axes and machetes.

Service day pictures:

After lunch we still had plenty of energy and the CFCA staff and friends were eager to get us into a sport they excel at -- SOCCER.  What can be said?  We did our best.

Pictures of Soccer

Focus on Romero and Jesuit Martyrs
Group Meeting Leaders: Sean Smith, Tara Davidson, Maria Caputo (with help from Carolanne and Allegra)

Today we left the center early to travel to San Salvador.  We celebrated mass at the chapel where Bishop Oscar Romero was martyred.  You can read more about Bishop Romero on this site.    At mass with us were many of the sponsored children from our group and other OLL families.  Afer mass we spent several hours with the children, taking them to a local children’s museum. This is not something these children would probably ever get to do and it was a wonderful and special treat for them.

Pictures of  Mass

Pictures of our museum visit.

Immigration FAQ’s: What is the immigration policy of the U.S. towards Salvadorans? Who can visit? Who can move to the US? How has that policy changed over the years? What is life like for Salvadorans who are in the United States without documents?
Group Meeting Leaders: Tom Monaghan, Cora McElwain (with help from Jen and Sr. Mary Beth)

Today we  traveled  back to Tacuba to host Bible Camp for the young children of Pope John Paul 2 school.

Pictures of the camp.

In the afternoon we visited with  some local families and identify some who might receive funds from our casa project to build some homes here in El Salvador

Visit to a Tacuba Family

Some homes we will rebuild in our CASA project.

We begin our journey home.  We stop by a handicrafts market where we can purchas items to help raise funds for our Sister Parish Projects.