What's happening in Guatamala?

The pictures and comments below are from Fr. Damian's Facebook site. :

See the village in the valley? That is where

the Ixim group is staying these days.

At the water project in Huehuetenango that we installed years ago. It now produces 14,000 gallons of pure water a month.

Archbishop Lucas and others on the trip are in the procession at San Miguel Acatan Guatemala

The Ixim Trip to Guatemala

As part of the Ixim trip to our sister diocese of Huehuetenango, each of our travelers will bring one bag for themselves and a second filled with medical supplies.

 Fr. Damian said, "One of things we teach during the preparation for the trip is the difference between charity and solidarity. The goal of our mission trip is a relationship between Catholic brothers and sisters across cultural and economic divides. The relationship precedes any act of charity. If we want our actions to truly benefit our brothers and sisters, then we first have to walk with them and know them. I really like what Pope Francis teaches in his encyclical, The Joy of the Gospel. He calls what we are doing on our mission trip 'accompaniment.'"

As part of that accompaniment, the group will stay with families in the region and live like they do.

As mentioned in last weekend's bulletin, Missionaries will supply fluoride and varnish to the teeth of children, to prevent tooth decay

Among those on the trip are parishioners Judee Chmura, Ben Fleming, Rick Fleming, Trish Franck, Dr. Mark Goodwin, Debra Kawa, Tracy Ortgies, Katie Pfeiffer and Fr Damian. The group includes two doctors, a nurse practitioner, and four RNs. In addition there are several retirees, a teacher, three college students, a seminarian and Fr. John Montag S.J.

On the trip they shall visit St Columbkille's sister school Santa Eulalia. There they shall deliver items donated by our school children.

It should be quite a celebration.

There will be a second collection at Masses this weekend to support the works project they are doing.

Visiting with Santa Eulalia

Santa Eulalia in the Huehuetenango diocese of Guatemala is the sister school of St. Columbkille Catholic School.

Through Ixim, Mrs. Dethlefs was able to visit Santa Eulalia.

 When she was there, the students gathered together ...

 ... did some presentations ...

 ... and gave some gifts.

She enjoyed her trip.

Monday there was a chance to reciprocate the trip as Padre Maco and Jandy visited from Guatemala as part of the Ixim leadership team. It is the Ixim team which organizes the "sister" relationships between schools in the Huehuetenango diocese in Guatemala and the Omaha Archdiocese. They were in town for a series of meetings between the dioceses to see how each can learn from the other and improve their relationship.

 Our students gathered together.

 Each grade had a presentation ...

 ... and gifts were given.

We also received a packet of letters

 from Santa Eulalia students.

Padre Maco and Jandy were able to visit our classrooms.

It was delightful to have them here. Mr. Makey and Jandy discussed how they may be able to skype to keep in better touch. We look forward to many future visits -- in both countries.