Bringing hope to Haiti - Nativity Parish in Burke

Banica is located just 5 minutes from the border with Haiti.  Haiti is a nation that suffers extreme poverty as a few facts can indicate:  (1) it is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere; (2) it is the third hungriest nation, behind Somalia and Afghanistan; (3) 85% of her people survive on less than $1 US per day.  

Fr. Martin (pastor of Nativity parish in Burke) heard God's call to rally his people in support of Haiti.  This past Friday, September 5, a ceremony took place in El Corte, a Haitian town just about 30 minutes from Banica.  Fr. Martin was to be joined by Mr. Jim McDaniels in the blessing of a community of 150 newly built homes and several other facilities, made possible by the tremendous generosity of Nativity parishioners and Food for the Poor.  

Unfortunately travel conditions in the US cancelled their flight and they were unable to attend.  I was asked by a representative from Food for the Poor to stand in for Fr. Martin.

Two photos show a gentleman addressing the 100+ persons assembled in the new community center offering words of thanks to representatives of Food for the Poor.  

Two photos capture the scene after the gathering, near the sign which proudly welcomes people to "Nativity Village III."  

Two photos show some of the homes and the chicken-raising facility.  

All of this construction took place in the course of about 3 months and it now literally makes this portion of the beautiful Haitian hillside gleam - with hope.  

Thanks be to God, to Fr. Martin, Nativity parishioners, and Food for the Poor!

Fr. Jack O'Hara and Peter Dirr

Fr. Murphy and I welcomed Fr. Jack O'Hara and Mr. Peter Dirr for a brief visit.  Both are very much loved and appreciated here in Banica.  Fr. O'Hara has previously served here as parochial vicar and continues to support the work of the mission in important ways.  Mr. Peter Dirr (who serves on the Board of Directors of Medical Missionaries) supports the mission very generously as well and this visit included a meeting with Bishop Grullon to discuss future projects.  

The photo shows Fr. O'Hara, Peter, myself, and Homero Matos (a pillar of the community here in Banica) after dinner in a family's backyard enramada. 

Our Lady of Angels Youth Group

Our Lady of Angels Youth Group came in June to serve for two weeks this summer and they were a wonderful group!  The chapel which they began to build is fittingly called "Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles."  

[Another youth group continued work on this chapel, and at this point it is in need of just a few finishing touches before it is ready for regular use.]

The chapel is now the welcome mat for the Banica/Pedro Santana Mission in the Dominican Republic.  When visitors arrive and then make the 5 hour trek from the airport to Banica the very first chapel that they will see on their way here is the chapel of "Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles" in Palital.  

The chapel features a beautiful set of Stations of the Cross which the OLA youth painted.  

Special thanks are due to Shannon Flanagan (OLA's youth minister) and Luke Schulte (her fiance), who applied their artistic talent to the creation of a 40-foot mural of the life of St. Francis of Assisi.  This mural next to the parish church here in Banica will now be a source of inspiration for the 20,000+ pilgrims who come here for the annual fiesta of St. Francis of Assisi in October.    

Thank you, Luke and Shannon!  May God bless you as you prepare to become one in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony!

E P D

Those three letters appear on the tombstones here in Banica and it means "En Paz Descanse."  (In peace may he/she rest.)

Today was the funeral for Rosa Emma Carbajal, whose nickname is "Mason."  She was 98 years old, very devoted to the Blessed Mother, and was receiving sacraments regularly (including anointing of the sick the day before she died).  She died on the Solemnity of the Assumption - probably not a coincidence.  

Photos above show the procession from her home, then to the church, and then finally to the cemetery.  En paz descanse.  

Two men, two weddings, one great Catholic School

School starts this Monday, August 18 - this is the 4th year of operation for the parish school here "El Colegio Parroquial San Francisco Javier."  

The two men standing tall on the wall of the school basketball court are the principal (Hecfredes Gomez) and the vice principal (Gueris Rodriguez).  

Hecfredes was married in the Church last year and has a newborn son (Daniel).  Gueris is engaged to be married in the Church this December.  

Please pray for these two great Catholic men to lead the way for 175 students to have an excellent school year this year!

Matthew Shufflebarger - Catholic engineer volunteer

Matthew Shufflebarger is a rising senior at the University of Virginia where he studies engineering, and he spent two months here this summer serving in Banica.  

Matt has connections to two parishes in the Diocese of Arlington -  Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge, and St. Louis Parish in Alexandria.  Both parishes have reason to be very proud of Matt.  

He applied his engineering talent and heartfelt dedication to various projects, including the re-design of the water system in the Parish Center, a nicely made wooden pantry cabinet for the Kirby family, and a Blessed Mother grotto.  

Photos above show the grotto and then his last weekend relaxing at the local waterfall with the Kirby Family.

I speak for many in expressing the hope that Matt will have the opportunity to return again here in the future.  He really made a difference.  Please pray for him as he returns for his final year at UVA.  

A Dominican Franciscan Vocation

That's not a typo!  Eighteen year-old Maria Luz has just entered the community of the Franciscan Catechetical Sisters.  Maria Luz is from the eastern part of the Diocese called Azua.  She has discerned a call to serve as a religious sister and last weekend formally entered the Franciscan congregation that happens to serve in Fr. Murphy's parish (San Jose in Pedro Santana).  

As part of an effort to promote vocations the Sisters elected to have the ceremony take place here in our area.  It happened that Fr. Murphy was out of town and so I had the great privilege to celebrate this Holy Mass and preside over the simple ceremony for Maria Luz.  

Photos show Maria Luz formally signing papers regarding her commitment to enter into formation, a photo with me, and then a photo with Sisters in her community.  

In person and in photos she appears to be about 14 years old but I was assured that she is indeed 18 years old :)

Please pray for Maria Luz so that the Holy Spirit will be her Master in this beautiful process of discernment.