Santa Maria del Mexicano de Colon, QRO. I.A.P.

APDO. Postal No. 13, C.P. 76270

Colon, Queretaro, Mexico

To dial phone direct from U.S. 011 52 429 20245

Direct FAX from U.S. 011 52 429 20046

Mexico: LADA (91-429) 20248

DEAR FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS:

April - May 1996

A SHARED THOUGHT

LIFE IS HELL, IF WE REFUSE TO BE HEALED Working with and meeting so many different people has convinced me that the vast majority of us need to be healed yet we set up so many trivial defenses that the healing that we need becomes impossible to receive. We tell Ourselves the time is not right but we know that this is a lie. We Just don't want to rid ourselves of our masks of deception. We are comfortable with what people say and think about us; in fact we even might believe it, which is another lie. What we must accept as truth is that we need to be healed spiritually and most of us need this immediately. Why is it that there are so many living such miserable lives? Why is it there are so many divorces, broken homes, drug addictions, alcoholism, abortions, murders? Why is consumerism and materialism running so rampant and at the same time ridiculing the things of the spirit? I could go on and on: why, why, why? The answer is rather simple, not simplistic. We need the healing that only God can give and which He wants so badly to give to each one of us. But we must get on our knees and ask Him for it. That takes humility, which we Just might not have, but it can be ours just for the asking. What is so necessary in this process of healing is that we must be transformed or reborn or whatever you might want to call it into the likeness of Jesus. To some of you that might sound pietistic and if so, it is because the world, and all which it professes as the wonderful, good and beautiful, has brain-washed us into believing that this "rebirth into living like Jesus wants us to live is utter foolishness." Eat, drink and be merry...But what happens when tomorrow comes? That day will prove that the Son of God came to heal us and we just intellectually laughed him off. And who will come out on the short end? God? By no means. We will because we were blinded by our own superficial egoism and pride. As I write these lines, my thoughts turn to a beautiful person who we care for in our nursing home. Her name is Serverita, and I love her dearly. She is close to 90 years old, perhaps five feet tall, hunched over, unable to walk, blind, no teeth, but my what a beautiful soul. How she had suffered before she came to us being left alone and perhaps unwanted because she was only a"burden". Almost every day I ask her; "How are you Serverita?" "Fine, thank you and yourself?" Never a complaint about her pains and sufferings, total recognition that she is God's child and He is so good to her. And healing? Yes, she has healed me so many times! Frequently I tell her that I love her and she sheds a tear or two and replies "and I also love you so much."We both have watery eyes and we both see each other, she with the eyes of Jesus who has healed me through her and myself with the sight of my frail human eyes who has experienced an encounter with Jesus in one of His "little ones" who heals as only He can heal. If you are frustrated, unhappy, fearful, aggressive, hateful possessive or unlovable, go to Jesus and sincerely ask Him to heal you. You won't be disappointed. He just might ask you to change your priorities in life though and that will be the deciding factor if you will be healed or not. Give it a try. Being healed by Jesus is beginning a new life.

A DEACONS PRESENCE FOR THE SUMMER Nearly five years ago during my novitiate I, Deacon Dale Craig, a member of The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, visited Santa Maria del Mexicano. My visit was for the 25th anniversary of Sister Theresa, one of the four sisters of our community who continue to serve the children here at Santa Maria. This spring I rejoiced when my vocation director asked me serve here for my summer apostolate as a deacon. It has been a joy as well as great experience to offer daily prayers in Spanish with the children assist at Mass daily, give a number of homilies - some without prior notice - as well as grow in community life with the members of my community, the sisters and a lay couple presently serving here. Short lived will be my time here for I have to return to the seminary in September for my final year of studies before ordination to Christ's sacred Priesthood.

VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE TO SERVE Truly it is a joy seeing people give of themselves so generously as those who have come to us this summer as volunteers to serve the children and assist in the many needs here at Santa Maria- Matthew Dougherty, Rebecca Whiteman and Angela Lierly are college students who are taking time out from their summer vacation. Kurt Cary has years of experience working with children for he taught high school for a period of time and is now the school superintendent in Colorado. Erin Cosgrove came to us with two desires in mind. First, in order to assist in the daily cares of the children and secondly to enter into a period of aspirancy with the sisters of The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity.

THE WOES OF SCHOOL YEAR CLOSING Many are the problems of families with two or three teenagers, but can you imagine the many frightening possibilities that are present when you have approximately 140 teenagers, boys and girls, in the same program? Yes, we have the same type of children that you have, but the problems and numbers are compounded so many times that it seems to be an impossible situation at times. Although we have Mass or prayer each day, morning and at night, the hormones are ever present with these growing Children. Separation, observation, dedication an and minor miracles, daily help retain bur sanity and composure. Please keep us in your prayers. The grace of God is our absolute gift of survival.

VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS IN NEED If you, by chance, would like to serve the Lord in our program or perhaps, you might know of someone who might be interested in a tremendously rewarding year, please write me for more information. Being bilingual, or at least 50% so. is a necessary requirement.

SANTA MARIA BRIEFS Within the past two months we have had two groups of teenagers visiting and helping us out. One group was from the Alamosa-Center area and the other from Guadalupe Church in Colorado Springs. There was great joy and friendship exchanged between both groups and our children. It is always an important occasion learning and sharing with each other when groups such as these come together Because of our lack of staff and facilities, we must continue to refuse admittance to an average of about 4-5 children each week Mexico is still in a severe crisis and it continues to affect us also in so many different aspects The most recent teenage boy whom we accepted was an American son of a Protestant Minister, living in Texas. That is how much we have expanded in the past few years. Once again we sincerely thank you for your love, prayers and help. As I have said many times before, without your wonderful help, our door would be closed to so many poor abandoned children who are unable to help themselves.

Our Sincere Love and Prayers

Children, Staff and Fr. Cliff Norman