CONGRATULATIONS, BISHOP PERSICO

The Misión de Amistad family in Mérida, Yucatán, México rejoiced with the entire Diocese of Erie upon the appointment of Msgr. Lawrence T. Persico as tenth Bishop of Erie. Msgr.  Persico was ordained and installed as Bishop on October 1, 2012 at St. Peter's Cathedral in Erie, PA.  We ask God's blessings on him as he shepherds all  of us with faith being the guiding principle. In his own words when he was announced Bishop-elect, "I come with only one agenda, and that is to share with you my faith in Jesus Christ."

We hope that, in the near future, Bishop Persico's  schedule will allow him to visit Misión de Amistad and enjoy Yucatecan hospitality while getting to know the Mission programs that the Erie Diocese has supported for the last 41 years.

¡Bienvenido, Obispo Persico!

New Beginnings at the New Life Shelter (Hogar Nueva Vida)

The new school year started on August  27, 2012 in Mérida, Yucatán where the Erie Diocese of Pennsylvania has nurtured a mission outreach  program for the last 41 years called Misión de Amistad.  The Mission’s shelter for girls, Hogar Nueva Vida, will not only begin a new school year but also welcomes a new director, Patricia Pipkin. Tricia comes from Colorado, where she taught elementary school children in ESL, dual-language and all-English programs, and also is a former volunteer of the Mission of Friendship.  She will replace Marilyn Randolph who started the shelter 16 years ago.

From left to right, back row:  Dolores,  Rosario, Cristi and Fatima. Front row:  Abi and Tricia.
  Missing:  Mary, Mildred, Finita.

Tricia is excited about joining the former team members as, together,  they look to the future and explore new possibilities for growth and learning at the Nueva Vida!

Classes have started in earnest from day one. Homework time is a very important part of the girls’ schedule.  The girls and their tutors faithfully focus on homework and other academic support two hours per day.  There are also  enrichment classes which include:  values, art and music, computer, “magic Wednesdays” (crafts), and sports and games. 

Community building has been the main focus for the girls and staff for the first couple of weeks.   A  community mosaic with each member of the shelter was created. This and other activities have helped the girls  appreciate the uniqueness of each individual and also the need to work together as a group.

The Nueva Vida girls enjoying a  “mango” break
 between chores and homework time.

Footnote to “A Legacy of Love”

        

Silvia Gonzalez, Director of "Los Amiguitos" speaking with
Addan Rafael Flores Vivas, local artisan who accepted the commission.

On March 17, 2012 our Mission blog shared with our readers the joy and excitement of the 25^th anniversary celebration of the Mission’s Day Care Center, “Los Amiguitos”.  For that event, a statue of St. Vincent Pallotti was commissioned to mark the event and also to be a visible sign of gratitude to the Pallotines of the Immaculate Conception Province of New Jersey who have been the primary benefactors of the Center.  However, the artisan who was commissioned  did not honor his promise of having the statue ready for the date of the celebration. Since the pedestal was in place, a statue was needed.  So we looked to local artisans in the village of Dzitya known for their work with stone and wood.  We could not have been happier with the results and regretted that we did not consider local artisans in the first place.

From right to left, Addan Rafael Flores Vivas, his son Addan de Jesús Flores Martín who actually worked on the statue and José Luis Cauich Tuz, the brother in law to Addan de Jesús who helped set the 100 kilo stone statue on its pedestal.






 

 



Don Fermin Cetz Can, who has completed a number of construction projects for the Mission including the most recent work, preparing the pedestal for the statue of St. Vincent Pallotti.

Vincent Pallotti was born in Italy in 1795 and died in 1850. During his lifetime he was a champion for the poor and also founded the Society of the Catholic Apostolate.He was canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1963. His followers are the Pallotines and to this day, they have an international presence. They follow St. Vincent's motto, "The love of Christ impels us." (Caritas Christi urget nos).

Present day children and staff of
 "Los Amiguitos"
 pausing in their daily activities to have their picture taken with Saint Vincent Pallotti.

50 Years of Dedication: Congratulations, Bishop Trautman!

The staff and all the people served by the Mission of Friendship rejoice with Bishop Trautman on the occasion of his 50^th anniversary of priesthood and wish him numerous blessings, good health, abundant graces and continued joy in his vocation as God’s servant.

We thank him for his many years of support and interest in building a strong relationship of friendship and cooperation between our two dioceses.

Congratulations Bishop Trautman!

A Legacy of Love: Los Amiguitos Daycare Celebrates 25 Years of Compassion and Friendship

Lucero, left, stands with Fr. Peter
following the 25th anniversary
celebration.

“Oh Daycare, how can I forget you since you form a part of the pillar of my life. It would be impossible to erase your memory because beyond being in my mind, you are in my heart.” 
 

With those words, Lucero Aki Dzib, concluded the letter of gratitude she wrote to Fr. Peter Sticco, SAC on the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of “Los Amiguitos,” the Daycare Center that has been operated by the Mission of Friendship through funds provided by the Pallottine Community of the Immaculate Conception Province of New Jersey. 

Lucero spent her first five years there from 1993 through1998.  She met Fr. Peter for the first time when he came to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Daycare in 1997.  In her letter, she recalled the many wonderful memories of her time there and was grateful for its instrumental nature in forming her as the person she is today.

A special thanksgiving mass marks the anniversary event. 
Pictured are Fr. Alfredo Cirerol Ojeda (left), and Fr. Peter Sticco .

Although the inaugural date of Los Amiguitos is February 23rd, the anniversary celebration took place in Mérida, Yucatán, on February 18^th at the Day-care Center.   A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Rev. Alfredo Cirerol Ojeda, Diocesan Advisor and long-time friend of the Misión de Amistad. Rev. Peter Sticco, Provincial of the Pallottines, was present for the memorable event, as well as Pat Marshall, Director of the Office of International Missions (Erie, Pennsylvania).  Representing the Diocese of Erie by their presence at the celebration was Pam Mead, sponsor in the Amigos Program, and Myrrah Pardini, sponsor and recurring volunteer for the last four years.   With so many present, the Eucharist was truly a reflection of the joy, happy memories, and gratitude of such a blessed day.

After the celebration of the Mass, some of the young Day-care Center graduates presented a play commemorating the life of St. Vincent Pallotti, the founder of the Pallotine Order.  Silvia Gonzalez Garcia, administrator of the Daycare for the entire 25 years of its existence, directed and produced a fine performance with the young actors.  In the lead role as St. Vincent Pallotti was Josue Mauricio Cen Alcocer, son of one of the very first three children who attended the Day-care Center on the first day it opened.



Director Pat Marshall director and Fr. Peter perform a
special crowning of the anniversary king and queen. 


As the celebration fell in the middle of the famous Merida carnival season, there was the traditional crowning of the king and queen followed by various lively dances.  In order to highlight the importance of this occasion, further royalty was included by a special anniversary crowning, officiated by Fr. Peter and Pat Marshall.

Local mariachis added an air of celebration and charm
to the special anniversary festivities.



It was truly an honor and a joy to be able to recognize the faithful generosity of the Pallotines as well as the dedication and the commitment of Silvia and the staff, both educators and caretakers of the Day-care Center for all these years.  As a token of our appreciation, Father Peter and Silvia both received plaques that thanked each of them for embodying the Pallotine motto of “the love of Christ urges us on.”  

The festivities would not have been complete without the traditional birthday cake.  All of the children of the Daycare and their teachers - along with Father Peter- gathered up on the stage to sing the birthday song and pose for photos.   The entrance of the mariachis perfectly commemorated the moment, with their well-known and much-loved songs an ideal ending to a wonderful celebration. 



Fr. Peter and the cast of the play of "St. Vincent Pallotti."



Congratulations and thank you to Father Peter Sticco and the Pallotines of Immaculate Conception Province (New Jersey), as well as to all of the staff of the Mission of Friendship. Here is to the next 25 years of love and friendship!