Mission of Friendship Remembers Sister Mary Margaret Kraus, OSB

Sister Mary Margaret spends an afternoon with children
 from Los Amiguitos Daycare Center during a visit in the
early 1990s.

The Mission of Friendship of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, wishes to express its deepest sympathy to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania at the loss of their beloved Sister Mary Margaret Kraus, OSB.  Sister Mary Margaret, who passed away peacefully on May 15th, 2011 in the company of her loved ones at Mount St. Benedict Monastery (Erie, PA), will continue to be remembered for the joyful and compassionate nature that defined her life as a Benedictine sister  wherever she served.
A pillar of the Erie Benedictines for over the course of seven decades, Sister Mary Margaret held a number of important positions throughout her life in the community. Her hallmark achievement was a 14-year position as Monastery prioress, in which she gently guided the community through the challenging transition brought about by Vatican II.  During that time, she also assisted in the planning and development of a new Benedictine Motherhouse.   When her term ended as Prioress, she became the director of the community’s Camp Glinodo. It was work that was tailored to fit her great love of nature and of gardening. Prior to her death, Sister ministered to the women inmates at two local prisons.
 
Despite her numerous responsibilities in Erie, Sister Mary Margaret fulfilled a life long dream of being a missionary by spending some time at the Erie Diocesan Mission of Friendship in Mérida, Yucatán, México in the 1990’s. She is best remembered at the Mission for her kindness, gentleness and compassion.

Gladys Vasquez-Peña, Coordinator of the Amigos Program for the Mission of Friendship, remembers how faithful Sister was to the children she sponsored, even arranging to be present for the XV birthday celebration of one of her sponsored girls, an important milestone for young girls in Mexico.

As Director of the Los Amiguitos Day Care Center, Silvia Gonzalez Garcia remembers Sister Mary Margaret's compassion and playfulness. "When she had a free moment, she would come to the Day Care Center and play with the children. Even though she didn't speak Spanish, it didn't matter.  The children knew she loved them and they responded to that love and concern.  She was a remarkable woman."
 
Cari Serafin and Marilyn Randolph, coordinators of the Mission recall numerous times when the Mission community would gather for morning prayer and reflection and Mary Margaret’s name would come up as a model  of holiness. For those who knew her, she was truly a modern saint, in the company of those who knew how to bring virtue to life, especially deep faith, unconditional love, compassion for those who suffer and gentle peace. 

At this difficult time, the Mission of Friendship extends its profound sympathy to all of the Benedictine community while continuing to remember Sister Mary Margaret, her gentle compassion, her deep appreciation of each person she knew and her readiness to celebrate life to the fullest at each moment.

May she rest in peace.

Children's Day Brings Joy for Mission of Friendship Youth



Gifts for each child, including a blouse, barrettes
and pencils help them finish the rest of the school
year with something new.

The child must know that she is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like her.

- Pablo Casals (1876-1973)


As spring rapidly turns into summer and the school days begin to shorten, children throughout all of Mérida become anxious for that day of the year when everything becomes a whirlwind of childhood fun and joy flourishes throughout the neighborhoods.  As the city prepares weeks in advance, children eagerly await the food, games, prizes and special gifts that mark the time when the country honors its youngest citizens with relaxation and play.

Día del Niño, or Children's Day, seeks to honor children all over the world for being who they are: young, creative people who revitalize and reshape the world with each new generation.  While celebrated globally, April 30th marks the official day of annual festivities throughout Mérida and the rest of Mexico.

Created in 1952 as a result of suggestions from the United Nations, UN officials proposed that an annual youth day would promote global awareness of children's universal rights regardless of nationality, economic status, cultural customs or other unique characteristics.  Variations of Children's Day are celebrated around the world, with Latin American countries such as Mexico giving special attention to young citizens and their families.  Celebrations are often city-wide, including fairs, in-school activities and government-sponsored events.

Girls from Hogar Nueva Vida enjoy an afternoon
at the pool in light of Día del Niño celebrations.

As one may expect, Mérida continues to celebrate Día del Niño with all of the excitement and enthusiasm of week-long carnivals, street fairs and festivals throughout the city.  Here at the Mission of Friendship, both the Amiguitos Daycare and Hogar Nueva Vida  each worked to provide a day of fun and relaxation for all of its children, with celebration including swimming, games and special holiday treats.  Each child also received small gifts, ranging from shirts and candy to brightly- colored No. 2 pencils in preparation for the rest of the school year.

Special thanks goes to all of the benefactors of the Los Amiguitos Daycare and Hogar Nueva Vida for continuing to provide quality care, love and education to those children and youth in need throughout all of Southern Mérida. On behalf of all of our children, we greatly thank them for all they do and would like to wish everyone a happy Día del Niño 2011! 

 - Pablo Casals (1876-1973)