July 2005 | Vol. 41 No 8 | Index
 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS IN
VILLA ZAPATA

Our Mission Parish in Mexicali extends for roughly 20 miles along the U.S. border on the eastern side of the city of Mexicali.  The farthest part of the parish to the east includes the settlement of Villa Zapata.  There in the windswept desert, hundreds of families are in the process of building shacks of plywood,  old   metal,   hand-made abode bricks, and whatever other material is available.  They are struggling to survive without electricity or running water in our summer heat of over 120 degrees.
 

Sister Cristina and I had the moving experience of sharing with the catechists of Villa Zapata the celebration of the First Holy Communions of eight of the children from  10  to 15 years of age.   At the retreat that we offered  for the communicants and the parents who could attend, it was inspiring to share their faith and to hear of their struggles. 

Sister Cristina, O.P. with Fernando and Roberto.  The local grammar school is in the background

The father of two of the communicants, Antonio and Luis, tends sheep at a nearby ranch.  It was a great disappointment to them that the patron would not give their father the morning off from work to attend their First Communion Mass.

Roberto, another of the communicants, is 10 years old.  He goes every day with his mother to the city to work.  Six days a week, Roberto washes dishes at a taco stand from 3:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

In this issue of our Missionaries in Action newsletter, I would like to share with you some pictures of our experiences in Villa Zapata and to thank you for your loving support of our missionary ministry.

 In Christ’s Peace,

Fr. Martin Walsh, O.P.