DEAR FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS

SEPTEMBER 1998

A SHARED THOUGHT:

FOR THE MAJORITY OF US IT USUALLY TAKES AN ACCIDENT OR A SICKNESS BEFORE WE GET THE MESSAGE FROM OUR DOCTOR OR FROM OUR BODY THAT WE SHOULD REST MORE BY TAKING OFF A DAY. EVEN GOD TOOK A DAY OFF. THE BIBLE TELLS US-THAT GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY AFTER THE UNIVERSE AND THE HUMAN RACE WERE CREATED. THIS INSPIRED WORD WAS GIVEN FOR OUR SAKES. GOD DIDN'T NEED THE REST BUT HE WANTED TO TEACH US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE:.TO TAKE A REST WE ARE SO CAUGHT UP IN OUR SECULARISTIC SOCIETY WHICH DEMANDS OF US TO BE TOTALLY INVOLVED IN CONSUMERISM AND PRODUCTIVITY AS A GAUGE TO MEASURE

ONEI'S VALUE AND SUCCESS, THAT WE SO EASILY FORGET THAT THESE PRIORITIES ARE ABSOLUTELY CONTRARY TO OUR CHRISTIAN WAY OF LIFT.. MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH DEMANDS THAT WE TAKE THE PROPER TIME TO REST.

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT GOD'S PEOPLE WERE COMMANDED TO HONOR THE SEVENTH DAY BY NOT DOING ANY WORK. THE SABBATH WAS A DAY OF RECOVERY AS WELL AS A DAY TO BE SPENT WITH GOD IN PRAYER AND OFFERING SACRIFICE. (WE HAVE THE PERFECT SOLUTION IN, THE HOLY MASS.) THE PERCENTAGE OF CHRISTIANS FULFILLING THIS COMMAND TODAY. IS PROBABLY SOMEWHERE AROUND 25%-30%. IN ANY, SCALE OF MEASURING SUCCESS THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A DIASTROUS RESULT.

IN GOD'S PLAN WAS ALSO INCLUDED THAT THE LAND WAS TO BE LEFT IDLE EVERY SEVENTH YEAR. MODERN AGRICULTURAL STUDIES HAVE. PROVEN THAT THIS PRINCIPLE. 1S ESSENTIAL FOR MAXIMUM YIELDS. IN THE LIFE OF JESUS WE READ THAT HE ALSO TOOK TIME OFF "RETIRING TO A SOLITARY PLACE WITH HIS APOSTLES TO REST UP AND LET THE BODY AND MIND RECUPERATE."

HOW ABOUT YOUR SCHEDULE? ARE YOUR SUNDAYS SO CRAMMED WITH ACTIVITIES THAT GOD IS LEFT OUT OF THE "DAY OF REST?" IS THIS ONE OF YOUR MOST HECTIC DAYS? IF SO PLEASE SLOW DOWN FOR YOUR OWN SAKE. IT'S NOT. WORTH IT. MANY HAVE LOST THEIR HEALTH AND FAMILY, OVER THIS VALID POINT. SLOW DOWN A BIT IT CAN BE DONE. WE JUST HAVE TO GET OURSELVES BETTER-ORGANIZED. YOUR PEACE OF, MIND HEALTH AND FAMILY ARE WHERE TRUE HAPPINESS IS FOUND. JUST ONE LAST POINT:

"UNLESS WE COME APART AND REST A WHILE, WE MAY JUST COME,...APART. PERSONALLY I HAVE LEARNED THIS THE HARD WAY. THE "REST" ASPECT WHICH I AM NOW TAKING IS LIFE-SAVING, OR AT LEAST EXTENDING MY LIFE. REMEMBER, EVEN GOD TOOK OFF A "DAY". FORGET ABOUT ALL YOUR JUSTIFIABLE EXCUSES AND "JUST DO. IT"

The case of the missing needle: (From Fr.'John's desk)

We have all heard reference to something being lost, and unsuccessful in a diligent search to find it, as an object that is as futile to look for any further as it is to find a needle in a hay stack. Wel1, this is,:what happened to one of our girls who worked at Santa Maria during the summer, except that it was lost in her stomach, not in a hay stack! About a month ago there was an excited attempt to take her to the doctor to extract the needle, which she had in her mouth (maybe while she was getting ready to thread it. when she suddenly swallowed it.) Then the excitement began. I saw the doctor a few days afterward and asked if he found the needle. There was no needle, he said, after examining her stomach with an x-ray camera. The girl went back home after this incident without a complaint. So where is the needle? This might be considered a normal happening at Santa Maria on a daily basis. We are full of surprises. If you don't believe, come and see!

ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR .BEGIN

OFF AND RUNNING AGAIN WE ARE RUNNING AWAY FROM THE INNUMERABLE PROBLEMS THAT WE INVARIABLY MUST RETURN TO AND ATTEMPT. TO RESOLVE. AT LEAST THIS IS WHAT WE SOMETIMES THINK "LORD' GET ME OUT OF THIS MESS!" THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS IS THAT THERE IS CONTINUAL ACTIVITY AND EVERY DAY. HAS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM: RUN-AWAYS FROM H0ME AND FROM SANTA MARIA; KIDS LOOKING FOR DRUGS; LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO STEAL; LOOKING FOR SEX; JUST NAME IT AND WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVERY YEAR WHEN THE NEW "STUDENTS" ARRIVE. THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF ONLY THREE WEEKS, SUDDENLY RETIRED; HE SAID THAT HIS SANITY WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LITTLE SALARY HE RECEIVED.

THEN THE DISCIPLINE BEGINS AND THE REACTIONARY ATTEMPT TO. COUNTER THIS RADICAL NEW, FORCE, WHICH THEY NEVER RECEIVED FROM THEIR PARENTS, MEET. AND THE EXPLOSIONS BEGIN TO HAPPEN. IN THE FIRST MONTH LOTS OF REBELLION--THEN THINGS SMOOTH, OUT AS THE LORD TAKES HOLD OF THINGS, AND HE ENTERS THEIR LIVES FOR THE FIRST REAL TIME. THIS FIRST BATTLE IS WHAT REALLY MAKES OR BREAKS YOU. CONFESSIONS ARE HEARD, KIDS GET BACK INTO THE MOOD OF REALIZING THAT LIFE REALLY CAN'T BE THAT BAD AFTER ALL. LEADERS ARE FORMED WHICH IS A BIG HELP TO THE STAFF, .AND WE JUST MOVE ON. LIFE IS A BIG CIRCUS.

AND THE WATERS CAME

YES THEY DID AND WITH A DESTRUCTIVE FORCE THAT BROUGHT DOWN THROUGH OUR LITTLE CREEK, WHICH RUNS ABOUT TWENTY FEET FROM OUR MAIN LIVING QUARTERS AND SCHOOL IN SANTA MARIA's TONS AND TONS OF WATER, TREES, HUGH BOULDERS AND TONS OF MUD. OUR LIVING QUARTERS AND SCHOOL RECEIVED NO DAMAGE OUR WATER SUPPLY WAS COMPLETELY IMMERSED. RETAINING WALLS WERE WASHED AWAY, OUR ONE AND ONLY ENTRANCE ROAD, USED BY ALL VEHICLES, WAS REDUCED TO A 4-FOOT PATHWAY, THE SMALL CREEK WHICH COMES FROM OUR UPPER. DAM, ROSE SOME 16 FEET DURING THE 10 HOUR RUSH OF WATER.

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS, HIDDEN AWAY IN A DEEP CANYON AND CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN IT RAINS WE RECEIVE A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ALL THE WATERS COMING FORTH FROM A VAST RADIUS OF THE MOUNTAINS. ALL OF THE LITTLE VILLAGES ALSO RECEIVED SOME DAMAGE IF THEY WERE SITUATED IN THE PATH OF THIS' TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR. WE THANK THE GOOD LORD FOR THE PROTECTION RECEIVED THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF Our Lady AND ST. PHILOMENA. GOD INDEED IS WATCHING OVER US. MATERIAL DAMAGE CAN BE REPLACED, BUT DEATH CANNOT.

VISITORS

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A SOMEWHAT STEADY FLOW OF VISITORS. MANY STAYED FOR A DAY OR TWO, SUCH AS RICK AND SHIRELY JONES AND THEIR SON,.,DANIEL,.RICK'S MOTHER, DORA, AND TOM STRICKLER. RICK AND SHIRLEY, FROM SAN ANTONIO, TX. ARE HOPING TO SPEND A YEAR OR TWO AS VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE ROSE SALAZAR, DAUGHTER OF LEROY AND MICHELLE SALAZAR, SPENT HER SUMMER VACATION HERE, HELPING OUT AT THE Casa de Niños. THIS HAS BEEN ROSIE'S FIFTH VISIT. SHE IS NOW A THIRD, YEAR STUDENT AT ST. MARY'S OF THE WOODS COLLEGE IN SOUTH BEND, IND. THE CHILDREN ARE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME AND LOVE GIVEN TO THEM BY THE VOLUNTEERS AND VISITORS.

THE PASSING OF PEDRO

ONE OF OUR LITTLE FORGOTTEN ONES PASSED ON TO THE LORD RECENTLY, IN HIS 86th YEAR. OUR HOME FOR THE ELDERLY NURSING HOME HAS A CAPACITY OF 20, BUT WE ARE FORCED TO EXTEND IT FREQUENTLY. PEDRO HAD NO ONE AND HE WAS FORCED TO LIVE ON THE STREETS AND ENJOYED A STEADY DIET OF WINE BEFORE HE ARRIVED HERE FOR SHELTER. HE DIED IN HIS SLEEP, A PEACE-FUL DEATH. WE NOW HAVE HAD 39 DEATHS OF THE ELDERLY SINCE WE OPENED OUR DOORS TEN YEARS AGO. YOUR HELP HAS MADE THIS OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE IN GIVING THESE "REJECTED ONES" A DIGNIFIED DEATH.

Our prayers & thanks to all of you in our mission work at Santa Maria.

Fr. John Henly, Sr. Mary Teresa & Sisters, Children, Elderly, Staff $ Fr. Clifford A. Norman.