Twinning with Puerto Escondido

In the Mission Office newsletter, there was an article about our trip in January 2018.  Click here to read about us on page 4.

Why are we working with the diocese of Puerto Escondido? Oaxaca state has a high number of people who live in poverty, have little or no access to health care, and cannot read or write. The diocese of PE was formed in 2004 and has few financial resources to draw from. Travel is very difficult once you are off the main road and enter into the mountains. Most priests serve multiple municipalities and 20-40 villages. We met the bishop and he asked us to become involved.

What do we do when we visit? · Spend time with the people in worship, enjoying meals with them, and learning about their culture · Together, we ascertain needs · We visit many diverse parishes · We visit the seminarians.  They have produced a video on why they want to be priests.  Link to video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimOG9UPjjQ · We enjoy their plentiful beaches

What do we do when we return? · We SKYPE with their core group approximately every 6 weeks · We raise money to help them purchase what they need · We raise awareness about the needs

What is our current project?  · Several remote parishes have a need to increase their music ministry in their parishes · The parish in Candelaria needs trained musicians and instruments for them. · The parish in Nopala needs microphones and the equipment to go with that. · Candelaria also wants white boards, LCD projector and laptop for their religious education program. · St. Patrick, Troy, raises money annually through their Vacation Bible School which has allowed us to purchase an LCD projector and laptop. · The Versailles Community Bible School in 2016 donated the money raised to purchase an LCD projector. · The youth group in St. Patrick, Troy is beginning to work with the youth in Our Lady of Soledad to help them in their music ministry.

Make a Joyful Noise is an endeavor to collect used music instruments to distribute among children in Mexico (and maybe beyond) who want to learn to play.  See this flyer for more information.

When is our next trip planned? We are planning to go in January 2019 or when a bishop is appointed.  January is our usual time of travel but it limits who can go.  The cost of the trip is usually around $1000 with airfare. There is some subsidy money available. The most frequent question is: is it safe? In the 9 trips we have made so far we have never experienced any threatening behavior. The core team in PE is very considerate of our welfare. We monitor the changes in travel imposed by the US government.

Who do I contact for more details? · In Versailles and surrounding areas, please contact Jane Pierron at 937 526 4945 or jane@bfvcatholic.org. · In the Troy area, please contact Marty Phillips at 937 307 3568 or martyphillips1203@gmail.com.  If you can financially support this effort, please contact the office at 937-526-4945 or drop an envelope into the collection basket marked "Mexico".

Thoughts about the meaning of Twinning by Father David Vincent What is twinning? Where is Puerto Escondido?

Progress on building a cathedral The cathedral has a roof on it now.  It was put on in 2016 due to the generous donation of the president of Mexico's largest cellular provider.

In our visit in January 2019, we found that the Cathedral now has a concrete floor.  They are celebrating Eucharist there on Sundays and weekdays.