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:

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1996

A SHARED THOUGHT

One of the most important spiritual writers of the 20th century was Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk. He said: "The problem of unbelief in modern time is clearly not a problem of faithlessness but of irrationality." Most men and women of our time do not have enough brains or training to be capable of formal sin against the theological virtue of faith. The faithlessness is so prevalent in the world today is not a formal unbelief but rather ignorance, which might make one guilty. it seems that there is a great confusion among well meaning people who are lost in a fog.

Thomas Merton continued to say: "Millions bf men and women who have found it impossible to believe in God have blindly submitted themselves in human faith to every charlatan who has access to a printing press, a movie screen, talk show or microphone. Men and women who cannot believe in the revealed Word of God swallow everything they read in the newspapers or hear on T.V. and the real irony of the situation in this: while one or two men hold, as a result of false reasoning that theological faith is unacceptable, millions of others reject the notion of faith by an act not of reason but blind faith. Here is ,evidence of supreme indigence of our culture: our very refusal to believe is based on faith."

Thomas Merton

We seem to place ourselves in an absurd situation. We reject the Word of God because we are told to do so by men, who in turn, were told to do so by other men. They won't accept infallible authority but are most anxious to accept the fallible authority of some super-athletes, movie stars or one of the many prolific writers that are making many bucks from their pragmatic or superficial opinions, calling it the "real truth". Many of these great prophets have had trouble getting out of high school or at least have never made a serious study of historical facts yet they are "authoritative" in everything from astrophysics to theology. Yes, we are in sad shape in how we are permitting our faith life to be formed. Hopefully soon we will see a reversal of this disaster.

ELEMEMTARY SCHOOL PROJECT BEGUN AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WILL BE REALIZED

We have begun excavating and foundations are being laid for 6 classrooms and two offices. The plans call for two extra rooms at a later date which will be utilized for some of our very special handicapped children and another classroom for children who arrived an advanced age, but have yet to finish elementary school. This is a frequent problem. There is no doubt about the necessity of this school, so we intend to take another step in faith and let the good Lord work out the financial problems. The dominant reason for this school is the lack of patience and comprehension of our "troubled children" by the public schoolteachers upon arrival. The public school system is anxious for our exit. It is not the child's fault, but because of one or several reasons, he/she has been on the street or has had no parental guidance in the formative years and perhaps is a real mess. Hopefully we will be able to provide the individual attention that these children need. Public schools also lack a great amount of discipline. We on the other hand have and will continue to have a group of teachers who will be expected to form a well disciplined child dictated by the philosophy of Santa Maria. A well formed and educated child is the only hope for better families and an improved society. Without your prayers we just might sink, but I know the good Lord will not permit that.



SISTERS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

We are off to a very good school year, about 100% better that is. Our four Sisters from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, the new staff members and the volunteers from our Lady's Society are doing a tremendous Job this year. We now number right at 290 children and young adults. From 4 years to 21 years of age, from Kinder to the University or to the level of professional training. A real big bunch of beautiful children who can cause the strongest person to have ulcers or heart attacks. If we could somehow control the hormone dilemma, life would be so much less difficult. So we Just do our best and let the Lord do the rest.

ONE OF DAVID TRAVERS FAVORITE STORIES

I am a great fan of David Travers of Milford, Connecticut. He writes: My favorite Old Testament story is the burial party carrying the "Dead" one wary of robbers and they spot them coming and panic, dropping the body it rolls an touches the bones of a prophet and they all run back to town. Why else did Jesus clue us: "The only sign is the sign of Jonah?" Yeah - a bunch a empty tombs and all the Dry Bones singing and dancing to Handel's Alleluia Chorus of "I saw their ways and I will heal them anyway!! Isaiah 57 Using one's imagination can cause only aloud joyful laugh. The Lord indeed has a great sense of humor and so does David Travers.

SOME BASIC STATS ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

Lots of love and thanks



Kids, Staff and Fr, C.A. Norman