My Last Three Weeks in Mexico

In three weeks I will be returning to my Motherhouse in Beaverton, OR. I will be taken to the airport by Professor Esther Rivera Vega and her daughter, Hada. Hada and her husband live in Zacatecas so the teacher and I will drive 2 hrs to Zacatecas and meet them or they will come here. The airport is in Aguascalientes which is about an hour and a half away from either one of us. The teacher does not drive and that is the reason we need her daughter. It will be fun to see Hada, her husband and their daughter again. My flight leaves Aguascalientes on July 14th at 8:25 a.m. for Mexico City. I fly from there to Phoenix and on to Portland—arriving at 10:48 p.m.

Our three days of conferences in preparation for the feast of Corpus Christi have been well attended. I have been very pleased. I love teaching. Tuesday and Wednesday the talks were at 6:00 p.m. I asked different people to share their thoughts with the crowd. Oh, they were very nervous. I prepared the talk and had them practice the talk in front of me. One parishioner was assigned to share her thoughts on “The Mass as a Meal”. Another explained all the ministers who serve in the church to have the Mass be a proper celebration. Yet another parishioner explained the utensils, vestments and postures used at Mass. This lady was supposed to have her husband help her but at the last minute he left for some work in Guadalajara and left her alone. She was real nervous, but yet did the best job of all. She handed each person in the audience little pieces of paper with the name of an object. Our seminarian (he is still in high school) lifted an object…chalice, purificator, etc. and the person in the audience identified the object and read the explanation on the back of the piece of paper. It was great!

I reflected on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes as written in the Gospel of Matthew 14:13-21. I played the guitar and taught them Communion songs. I explained the liturgical year and the need to change the songs as appropriate for each season. One lady who makes and sells bread read a poem about the wheat which is used for bread making. She brought a huge loaf of bread to serve a piece to each person.

Before the closing Mass everyone processed around the block carrying the Monstrance ("Custodio") and stopping at 7 different altars located around the church block. Each altar was decorated by the different volunteers with a different color: red for the Sacred Heart (Society of the Sacred Heart), green for learning and growing (catechists), yellow for keeping the vigil light (Adorers), blue (Society of Mary), rose color(care for young and unborn), purple (care for the sick & suffering), and white (the main altar in church). There have been over 50 people in attendance each day. I have learned from them. Their generosity is without end.
Different people have gone to ask for donations of flowers from the different wholesale places and have been amazed that they have been given flowers for free. I tell them that they are not asking for themselves but for the church. We even asked the municipal president’s office to make copies of songs, etc. for us and they have given generously. Otherwise I must pay one peso (10 US cents) per copy.

Recently I was called to go visit an elderly woman…over 100 years old! An Extraordinary Eucharistic minister of Communion accompanied me to take her Communion. The woman was curled up in bed. Her little bones were held together with her frail skin. The ministered sang a song…something about ‘here comes Jesus to visit you’. It was a sweet and tender song. The woman’s daughters were standing around the bed crying softly. I stroked the lady’s hair and sat on her bed. I remembered when Fr. Thomas Farley came to visit my Mom at Maryville. He sang “Bendito, Bendito” and so I sang that song, too. It made me cry a little … as I miss my Mom still. The minister gave her Communion and her daughters gave her a little water with a straw. It was a most holy moment of grace. I will remember that moment for a long time.

Our pastor, Fr. Jesus Guerrero, offered Mass for me, for my intentions and needs. I was very pleased. I appreciated everyone’s prayers. Daily three of us pray Lauds. Daily we have Mass either at 8 a.m. or 8 p.m. depending on Father’s schedule. He is sure a very busy man. God bless him. He is 74 but has the energy (sometimes nervous energy) of a twenty year old. He works tirelessly. He has been a priest for many years! He tries his very best. I need to explain to them that I celebrate my birthday over the entire month...from June 23 until July 23!

Would you believe I have used up two hand-held fans. I am always fanning myself. It has been hot since forever here…up to 107 degrees or more. One day I was teaching at a ranch and I realized that I was dripping profusely. A stream of perspiration was cascading from my head unto my shoulders. It is hot but like one lady reminded me…”Sister, not as hot as it will be in hell if we won’t keep trying to learn who Jesus is so we can follow Him!” OK. I guess that helps! God allows, every once in a great while, a 2 minute sprinkle. It only makes it more humid and hot. But,… ! God is good all the time. All the time God is good. I commented to a rancher that the little sprinkle of rain water will help wash his dusty pick-up. He said, “Oh, no, Sister! The truck will get chilled!” Ha! There is dust and more dust everywhere. I wash my shoes…soles and all at least once a week. There are rocks where there is no dirt. The entire state of Zacatecas must be sitting on a volcano bed as there is so much rock.

Please accept my deepest gratitude for all your thoughts and prayers that you have offered and sent to me. I truly appreciate it all. I appreciate your friendship. I appreciate you.
What now? Who knows! God will have to guide the Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. It would be advantageous to have a house here in Mexico so that we can learn the people’s culture, faith and language so that we are better able to welcome our thousands of brothers and sisters from this country.