Fr.Ron Gaesser: Projects in the Dominican Republic

Sigma Chi Christian Fraternity mission work

2012-01-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

Several young men from the University of Rochester's Sigma Chi fraternity came to Don Juan the first week in January to paint the homes of very poor Dominican families. These families do not have the money to buy paint to paint their houses on their own.To maintain one's house painted and decorated is an important sense of pride for Dominican families.

Alicia Manteiga, our then volunteer from the Peace Corp, together with Fr. Brian Cool, faculty adviser of the fraternity, headed up the work detail.

Playground dedication

2012-01-18T09:45:00.001-08:00

The Thursday before Christmas we held a dedication of the new playground behind our school in Don Juan.
The playground was the gift of an anonymous donor from St. Mark's parish in Greece, New York.We also received support for the playground construction from our national government senator, Charlie Mariotti.

The playground is named in honor of St.Francis of Assisi.
This school now has over 480 students, the majority of whom are disadvantaged children.

The best way to celebrate Christmas

2012-01-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

The best celebration of Christmas I had this year was on the weekend before Christmas.
Some families from Santo Domingo came to put on a complete and generous meal for all the people in a very poor campo, Los Lanos.
Some 77 persons took part who have known a great deal of hunger this year, as well as three there dying from cholera.

Thanksgiving in the DR

2012-01-06T14:21:00.000-08:00

Around Thanksgiving time people often ask me if I celebrate it in the Dominican Republic and the answer is YES.
This year was especially gratifying as I had three Americans with me at that time.

My guests were Patrick Ferree and his adopted son Yeison, who is from the DR, and our Peace Corp Volunteer Alicia Manteiga, recently recovered from a bad case of Dengue.
I cooked the turkey with dressing and the rest of the fixings with the help of Chicita. We had an American imported turkey and Patrick brought the cranberry sauce and the dry stuffing mix from the US. All in all it was a very satisfying meal and day.

Painting the New Chapel in Pilancon

2011-10-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

Pastor Ted Freeman and George Bodine, friends that grew up together in Auburn, NY, arrived on Columbus Day (by the way he's buried in Santo Domingo, we have DNA, no one else does) for a week of work in the parish of Don Juan.
Most of their valuable time was spent painting the new chapel in Pilancon.The people of Pilancon are very proud of their new facility. In the previous post you can see what the previous chapel looked like.

Interior of the chapel
Pastor Ted grew up as a member of the first black catholic family in Auburn. He considers himself now to be Catholic and Baptist. He is a product of total Catholic education.

Remember what Jesus said to his disciples when they complained about someone who was not a member of their company but curing in Jesus’ name? ‘Let them be if they are not against us.’

Pastor Ted is a go-getter and has fallen in love with the people of Pilancon. He has great ideas for projects there as well as other campos of the parish.
Mass attendance in the new facility has tripled. Let's hope that trend continues!

New Chapel in Pilancon

2011-08-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

The current chapel in Pilancon

My anniversary gift to myself was completing the structure of the new chapel in Pilancon.
We still lack doors and windows, which will cost about $1000.

Front view of the new chapel in Pilancon
Then with the grace of God, we will have the funds to purchase pews, an altar, a lectern, a and celebrant's chair, which will like cost about another $1500.
Bit by bit we will get there.

Inside view of the new chapel
Prices here continue to climb with the outrageous cost of transportation. Diesel fuel, which is the cheapest fuel here, now costs more than $5.10 per gallon.

Our first Community Bank

2011-08-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Our first Banco Comunitario is off the ground with its Directive Board elected and its first three loans made!
A Community Bank is a form of micro credit but differs in this important way, it insists on participants having savings accounts and saving each week. Loans are based on a formula that is a multiple of what they have saved.

Directive Board Members

First Loan: Rosalia Rodriquez was loaned $211 to buy supplies to make sweets and snacks as street vender.

Second Loan: Margarita Castro was loaned $264 to buy supplies and more cooking utensils to make snacks and personal articles to sell to schoolchildren on the break.

Third Loan: Emperatriz Carrasco was loaned $400 to buy a small generator to keep working as a beautician when there is no electricity, which is about half the time.

Fr. Luciano Perez Rivera

2011-07-31T15:13:00.000-07:00

Fr. Luciano Perez Rivera was ordained a priest on July 23rd.Fr. Luciano Perez Rivera is native of San Juan Bautista parish in Don Juan and is from the community of Bosque Abajo. Bosque Abajo is one of our campos, which is a what we call a very small rural village. The ordination of Fr. Luciano Perez Rivera is our third ordination to the priesthood in the last five years.

The happiness of a new priestFr. Luciano Perez Rivera is member of the Carmelite Order and a good friend of mine.
Please remember him in your prayers as he will you.

Fr. Ron's 50th Anniversary Celebration in Don Juan

2011-05-22T18:46:00.000-07:00

Alter prepared with flowers

Cardinal preaching during the mass

Deacon proclaiming the gospel

Offertory preparations
My remarks at the end of mass

The Cardinal and I with my beautiful cake

Holy Thursday morning mass

2011-05-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

People gathering for mass at the campo, Batuey Frias after rising at 4 am to do a penitential march for three hours
Betania reading the Scripture during mass
Washing of the feet during the mass of Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday morning mass at the cathedral of Santo Domingo during which priests renew their vows of their priesthood.
I went to the services because this year I am celebrating my 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

Missionaries from Sacred Heart Parish in Auburn

2011-04-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

On March 20th four parishioners from Sacred Heart Parish in Auburn arrived for five days of activity with our school in Don Juan.

Arrival of group from Sacred Heart Parish
They took photos of all of our 400 and some students. Sacred Heart raises money to support our school by having parishioners “adopt” students. The parishioners are given a picture of their student for whom they then send money each month to support the education and nutrition.

Pat taking photos of the children

While visiting the group helped the students to make cards to thank their supporters, worked with some of the children on their computer skills, and introduced them to some of the books brought for the school library.

Lynda assisting some children in one classroom

Sarah working with one class in the school

Visiting the chapel Sacred Heart helped build
We are very grateful for their ongoing wonderful, generous support.

We are looking for support to complete this new chapel in Peluncon. The parishioners in the DR have gotten the chapel to this point through their own efforts.
Chapel in process

Golden Anniversaries

2011-04-02T10:06:00.001-07:00

On March 18th the Cardinal of Santo Domingo, DR, His Eminence Nicolas de Jesus Cardinal Lopez Rodriquez, celebrated his golden anniversary as a priest.

His Eminence Nicolas de Jesus Cardinal Lopez RodriquezProgram for the celebration for His Eminence Nicolas de Jesus Cardinal Lopez Rodriquez

This year is also my golden anniversary as a priest. I will be celebrating it in the Dominican Republic on May 21st, and the Cardinal has graciously consented to preside at the mass of celebration in Don Juan.
I will be also celebrating my anniversary at the St. Catherine of Siena parish on June 12th. I was pastor at St. Catherine of Siena from 1987 until my retirement in 2003.

New classrooms in Monte Plata

2011-04-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

These two new classrooms in the daycare center in Monte Plata were built with donations from Saint Catherine of Siena in Ithaca, NY.

New classroom
The new nursery

Finished latrines

2011-02-07T15:04:00.000-08:00

Two Dominicans, Eddie and Osvaldo, completed the latrines begun by the students from the University of Rochester.

Also, my cousin Jim Gascon, new district governor of Rotary Syracuse area, is now raising funds to build more outhouses for families in Don Juan, DR who currently have no sanitary facilities at all.

Missionary projects

2011-01-19T10:52:00.000-08:00

On the 3rd of January Fr. Brian Cool and seven students from the University of Rochester arrived in the DR. In the photo of the group arriving, Fr. Brian is the second from the left; I have known him since he was two years old.

The students are members of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. While in the DR, the group built seven outhouses for poor families in Don Juan, and also visited their project from January 2010, the facility in L'Elmo, DR.

Many poor families have neither indoor bathroom facilities nor outhouses. The great outdoors is their only resource. The crew set about to dig deep holes for the outhouses and then to make the cement platform for the floor with a cement toilet of sorts. I think the photos explain themselves.

visit to L'Elmo

Also at the same time Ed Hinchey, Jim Gascon and Charlie were down in Don Juan to work on the future purification of the water from our well for use in the school and convent. While visiting the group repaired all the toilets and sinks in the school and made plans for the development of the project. Work on the water project will continue in March.

2010-12-22T19:59:00.000-08:00

Speaking to graduate students in Puerto Rico

2010-12-22T19:49:00.000-08:00

On December 8th I was in Puerto Rico visiting friends. Winna, a professor at the University of Puerto Rico, San Juan in the graduate school of nutrition invited me to give a talk to her graduate students about our projects in the Dominican. I spoke about the important role that nutrition plays in our programs.

me speaking
Winna is responsible for getting me involved in the DR. While a graduate student at Cornell she went on a field trip to the DR. When Winna returned she asked me, then pastor of St. Catherine's, Ithaca, NY, if we could not do something to help the people there who are so poor; and so began my relationship with the DR.

graduate students listening

The Daycare Center at El Portal de Belen

2010-11-25T10:24:00.000-08:00

The good work that the sisters do at the Daycare Center, El Portal de Belen, from which the foundations takes its name, is beyond belief. When we first became involved in the Dominican Republic some 12 years ago we started with the very first group of 50 children in Portal de Belen daycare center.

In this post I would like to introduce you to four of the children we are currently serving at El Portal de Belen.

Gordani (in the middle with his mouth open)Gordani’s father died and his mother is a prostitute who takes no care of him. He lives with an aunt. As you may know, they all love their picture taken.

IvaniaA couple of weeks ago Sr. Iris presented me with a darling little girl, Ivania, whose father, a drug dealer, was shot and killed by the police. The little one told Sr. Teresa that the police shot her father like a dog. The mother took up the family business of selling drugs, and was just released from jail. Ivania’s mother also has AIDS, as does one of her four children.

Christian (middle)Christian's father died of AIDS but his mother did not find this out until after his death. Christian’s mother works to support him. If this does not melt one's hearts, nothing will.

EnyerEnyer’s mother died days after his birth. His Father has been in prison and has not been responsible. Enyer lives with an aunt who has tuberculosis and whose husband does not have work.

Mahatma Gandhi said “For so many hungry children in the world , the face of God appears as a loaf of bread.”

Launching Project Community Banks in Don Juan in the DR, a form of micro-credit.

2010-10-25T09:31:00.001-07:00

Committee de banks
In an article in the NY Times this past December the author wrote that there is evidence that one of the most effective tools to fight global poverty may be a savings account.
The world's poor almost never have easy access to banking, so cash that sits around gets spent, often not to the best advantage. I would add that this has been my experience here too.
Catholic Relief Services has come to the same conclusion with new programs to promote savings.
One of the ugly secrets of global poverty is that a good deal of suffering is caused by bad spending decisions.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is studying how best to promote financial services for the poor.
We have now formed a committee and hired, for one day a week, Jose Gonzales as the director of this project. The committee, Jose, and myself are now assessing the likelihood of developing community banks in Don Juan.
We are now engaged in making a quick survey of the community to see the viability of said project and the needs in Don Juan. After the survey, if there is a viable market here we will begin organizing those interested, assessing their abilities, training them, and helping them to start small enterprises. We intend to continue to offer support to community bank members in their endeavors along the way.
An integral part of the project will be the development of savings accounts. The loans made afterward will involve monies accumulated through the savings of the people themselves, as well as from outside resources.
The process is to organize, develop capabilities, and implement.
That is a very quite summary of what we hope will be a long lasting and prosperous journey for all who may become involved.

Summer travels

2010-09-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

This summer has, as usual, seen me crisscross the USA and Latin America. During June I was in the USA and Argentina, July was spent in both the USA and Dominican Republic, and during August I spent time in the USA and Chile.
Now I am back in The Dominican Republic, I returned on the 3rd of September.

So far this week I have been involved in two funerals, and celebrated the arrival of Sr. Maria, the reason I was in Argentina.
Arrival of Sr. MariaShe is from the parish in Don Juan and recently made her first vows as a sister. Sr. Maria is home for a visit to renew her relations with her family and friends after an absence of three years in Argentina for her postulancy and novitiate.
Sr. Maria and I
During my visit to Chile I visited my close friend, Sr. Veronica, and I baptized her niece, Xaviera.
Family of Sr. Veronica and baptism of Xaviera
I also spent two day skiing in the Andes, Lo Nevado. Our Northern Hemisphere summer is their Southern Hemisphere winter.
Mountains in Chile
While in Santiago I again visited the tomb of Saint Alberto Hurtado, a Jesuit priest who died of cancer at the age of 50 on August 18th 1952.
Alter and tomb of Saint Alberto HurtadoI especially relate to Saint Alberto Hurtado because of his work with the orphans and abandoned children of Chile. He was declared a saint in 2005. His work lives on in the center he established in Santiago, for such children, women and men of the street, as well as many other projects for those abandoned and in need. It is always an inspiration to visit his tomb, especially this time because it was his feast day.
Statue of Saint Alberto Hurtado

Visit from Sacred Heart parishioners

2010-08-12T10:21:00.001-07:00

Fifteen parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish in Auburn, NY visited from Wednesday, July 28th through the following Tuesday, August 3rd. While here in the DR, the group worked on and painted three new chapels.
Wednesday, the day of arrival, we visited a free trade zone and the company of Mustard that makes fishing hooks and sells them throughout the world.
Their facility in the DR is their distribution center. In my opinion, this is one of the better free trade zones.
Front view of the chapel at Los Lanos before repair work
You can see the results of their work on Thursday in the newly rebuilt chapel in Los Lanos. The visitors also put on a meal for the people of Los Lanos.

parishioners in Los Lanos and paint crew
Friday was painting in L'Elmo and doing crafts with the children there in the morning and crafts with the children in our school in Don Juan.
The craft project of the day was making bracelets for the children that say in Spanish, “Jesus loves you”, “Jesus te ama”.
The old chapel in L'Elmo
The Community Center in L'Elmo was the work and gift of the Sigma Chi Fraternity of the University of Rochester.
Community Center in L'Elmo
On Saturday the group moved onto the new Chapel in Peluda. Sr.Chris' Franciscan Congregation, the parishes of Sacred Heart in Auburn, and Saint Ann in Owasco had given the money to build the Chapel in Peluda as well as funding for the rebuilding of the Chapel in Los Lanos.
Chapel in Peluda
By now you will have noticed that we used the same color scheme in these three projects, economy of paint.

The El Portal de Belén Foundation meeting

2010-07-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

June 25th P. Gregorio Santana (no relation to Maria) arrived in the USA to be present for the foundation meeting on the 6th of July. P. Gregorio is a young Dominican priest whom I am preparing for the future of the foundation when I no longer will be present. Sometime in the distant future, I hope, but death comes to all of us at one time or another.

Needless to say, P. Gregorio is a great baseball buff so we went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Pictures of him and the DR display and Juan Marichal, first DR baseball player initiated in the Hall of Fame are also posted now.

The 6th of July I met earlier with the four-member committee that is working on redesigning our water system at the school and convent in Don Juan. The water in our well is drinkable but when it reaches the faucets it is polluted. We are trying to solve that problem with the hope that in the future we can develop a project to sell drinkable water cheaply to the people in the village of Don Juan. Right now a five-gallon jug of water costs 45 pesos or $1.23. We hope to reduce that cost by more than half. Included are pictures of the four men on this committee. We have set November 9th as the target date to accomplish the first phase of making the water drinkable on demand, as well as available on demand. With electricity off half the time, most often during the day, we must set up our own power supply, a goal for which a plan is in process. First picture is of Ed Hinchey, my cousin, Jim Gascon who has been raising the money for this project.
The second picture is Dave Kobernuss and Jim Ryders.
Also we have included a picture of most of the members of the foundation's board. In the photo of the foundation are Sally True, Tony Eisenhut, Stephen Younger, P. Gregorio, Juan Arroyo and Mike Schafer, not pictured are Peter Koch, Cathryn Obern and Greg Galvin.

Sr. Maria Minerva Santana

2010-07-15T10:33:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, on my way home from Argentina, my camera was stolen in JFK Airport. Recently I received a few pictures of now Sr. Maria Minerva Santana, the young woman from my parish in DR who made her first vows as a nun on the 12 of June, and the reason I went to Argentina.
This is a picture of Sr. Mariar and Sr. Areleida, who also made her first vows this year.

Our parish of 12,000 is proud to be doing so well vocation wise, better than most dioceses.

Travels

2010-06-21T21:14:00.001-07:00

Saturday June the 12th I was in Argentina to receive the first vows as a nun of Maria Minerva Santana Castro. She and her family are members of the parish of San Juan Bautista in the Dominican Republic. All went well and it was a very fine celebration and mass.
Unfortunately, during my return flight to the US someone stole my camera as I was in JFK Airport waiting for my connecting flight to Rochester, so I have no pictures yet of the event.
I have emailed one of the nuns who was at the ceremony and asked that she send me some pictures. When I receive them I will post them.
On Saturday the 19th of June I baptized my grand niece, Gabrielle Elizabeth Gaesser, in Church of the Assumption in Fairport, NY. Gabrielle is the newest member of the Gaesser clan. My brother and his wife, as you can see, are both ill and in wheelchairs. Amy is for the fourth time fighting for her life against breast and now bone cancer, and my brother Allan is trying to recover from multiple surgeries and a two-month stay in the hospital. Your prayers for both much appreciated.

Mother's Day in the DR

2010-06-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

The last Sunday of May is always Mother's Day in the Dominican Republic. Mothers are the backbone of the family in the DR, so Mother's Day is a really big event. This, however, does not address the resulting difficulties of single parenthood. Unfortunately there are 1,400,000 single moms out of a total population of nine million people. I have no ready answers here. Our school in Don Juan has a fiesta on the preceding Friday to honor the moms of our school children. One photo is of the gathering and the other of children doing a folk dance.
The last Saturday of May we celebrated the closing of the Year of the Priesthood in the DR with a large mass in the Palace of Sports in Santo Domingo. All the nation's bishops, the Cardinal, and many priests, myself included, came together for this event which also involved nine ordinations from different dioceses of the DR.

Brother Lucianno and a new chapel in Los Lanos

2010-04-30T14:58:00.001-07:00

April 17th saw a member of our parish, Brother Lucianno Rivera Perez, make his final vows as a Carmelite, he will be ordained a priest in the next few months. This will make three ordinations from our humble parish in five years.

St. Theresa of Jesus in Santiago
People often ask me what I do during my time here. I like to point out it sometimes takes a lot to get a little done. To explain what I mean: The above ceremony was first scheduled at 10am on the 17th. This meant that in order to arrive at the church, St. Theresa of Jesus in the city of Santiago, we would have to wake at 6am and depart at 7am on the three-hour drive from Don Juan. Word came that the time had been changed to 8am, meaning rising at 4am to get there on time, which we did.
We arrived at the church on Latin time and it was completely empty. Yes, the ceremony was at 10am.

Last week some of the sisters and I went to pay our respects to a deceased member of the parish in the community of La Haina, which is outside Santo Domingo.
On route we were discussing how to get to the home in question, it turned out that none of us knew the address! Thankfully, we were able to find our way after a few cell phone calls.
If you are an A type person, which I tend to be, life can get to you if you let. My advice is to relax and let the sunshine in.

We recently began construction of a new chapel in Los Lanos. The image below is of the wreckage from the previous chapel.
Los Lanos is an extremely poor, distant, and hard to get to community.

Construction of the new chapel is possible due to the help of Sacred Heart parish in Auburn, New York.

The people of Los Lanos are so grateful to now have a decent home to worship in. We lack money for windows, doors, and pews, which will cost about $2000.

Outdoor mass during reconstruction of chapel in Los Lanos.

Holy Thursday and St Catherine of Siena Parish Youth Group

2010-04-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

After indulging myself in my annual pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Snows in Vail, Colorado I am back on line in the Dominican Republic.

The DR has suffered a very intense drought since the earthquake in Haiti on January 12 until this week, leaving many areas that were formerly green, a parched dull brown. Many communities have been left without water. As a result, the rains this past week were very welcomed by all.

Holy Thursday saw the first use of the new center in L'Elmo, a gift principally of the Sigma Chi Fraternity of the University of Rochester. Click here or scroll back to a previous post to see this wonderful group of young men working on the site. They raised most of the money for the construction of the center. We still lack windows and the doors, the estimated cost of which would be $1100.

Pictures of the washing of the feet and mass, Holy Thursday as well as the old chapel.

Some members of the youth group of St Catherine of Siena Parish were here during Easter Week to paint the center.

before painting

after painting

youth group members with children

I baptized some of the youth group members when they were infants, some 16 years ago.

It was a great experience for them as well as quite nostalgic for me as their former pastor.

Sigma Chi Christian Fraternity mission work

2010-01-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

Arrival of Sigma Chi Christian Fraternity members
On January 2nd nine young men, including undergraduates and alumni of the University of Rochester, at Rochester, NY, arrived in the DR to work on a project they sponsor in the Village of L'Elmo. The young men are members of the Sigma Chi Christian Fraternity; they traveled with their faculty advisor, Fr. Brian Cool.

Fr. Brian Cool, faculty advisor
New building site, prior to the beginning of construction
The group raised money for their expenses as well as $7000 for the construction of the chapel and community center of L'Elmo, a building that measures 7 meters by 10 meters.

They dug and constructed the foundation and all four walls of the building in eight days.

When they left us after ten days of good work, they left behind sufficient money to put the roof on and enclose the building after their departure. We are thankful for their generosity and sweat equity.

We now need about $2000 to buy windows and doors and finish the building.

I am in the United States as of January 15th for a few weeks. I wish to thank all for their prayers and concern for me after the quake in Haiti.
I am so sorry for the awful suffering and anguish of our neighbors, and I am grateful that the DR so far has been spared.

Que Dios siempre le bendiga
P.Ron Gaesser

Christmas presents for the children in Don Juan

2009-12-18T12:16:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from Hato Nuevo!

2009-12-18T11:29:00.000-08:00

Angel greets the shepherds
Mary, Joseph and the Infant Jesus
Mary and Joseph set out to Bethlehem.
Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the Kings
~Padre Ron

Feliz Navidad from Portal de Belen

2009-12-18T10:51:00.001-08:00

Christmas scene at Portal de Belen
Hi Everyone,
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo from Portal de Belen.
The photos below are from the Portal de Belen Christmas Pageant and Dia de los ninos.

Jesus' birthday cake during the Day the of Children celebration
Day of the Children with Sr. Teresa as a clown

Iris instructs parents on Christmas

~Padre Ron

Signs of success

2009-11-29T11:39:00.000-08:00

People frequently ask me to describe the benefits of supporting the Portal de Belen daycare center, as well as the other projects of the foundation; the school in Don Juan and the daycare center and school in Hato Nuevo. Through the following photos and text, I hope to share just one example among many of the positive outcomes from your support of my work in the DR.

Last Sunday I met with some of the first children who entered the Portal de Belen program back in 1998. When they began the program in 1998 they were just 3 and 4 years old. I wish I had pictures of them then to compare with these young adolescents now. In the pictures that I took last Sunday they are now 15,14, and 13 yrs old. Not all of our first student could attend our gathering as some were participating in a program at the High School that took place at the same time.

14 and 15 year olds
As a side note, it is important to remember that one of the criteria for entering Portal is that the child must be from the poorest of the poor families in Monte Plata. My driver, Eddie, has children that are not eligible for the program as Eddie earns too much. When he is able to find work full time, his income is $400 a month.

What struck me was how bright, normal, healthy, engaging and engaged these young people now are. Nowhere in their current selves can be seen the marks of their poverty as children.

13 year olds
This is one of the principal goals of early childhood programming at Portal de Belen. Children are first enrolled between 18 months to 2 years old, a new group of 30 each year, and remain in the program for three years. We provide the children with healthy, balanced nutrition at an early age, and believe that this will help them to develop with healthy bodies, minds and attitudes, and to become contributing young adults.

Youth Group
This also the belief of the foundation.
What I can see today is how successful this program has been since I first met these children 11 yrs ago. These images of healthy, well-adjusted teenagers demonstrate the success of our philosophy.

Additionally, the sisters at El Portal de Belen meet regularly with the parents to train them in parenting and caring for their children, including the topic of hygiene. Keep in mind that in the DR water can be difficult to come by, for the poor especially.

some members of the folk choir
Most of these young people continue to be involved in their parish as members of the young group, as well as some missionaries to other young people their age, and a few sing in the folk choir of San Antonio de Padua, at their parish in Monte Plata.

misionarios
I congratulate the sisters at Portal de Belen for all they have accomplished so far, and I thank all of you who help support all the projects of the foundation!

Below are four progress photos of the construction of the new classrooms at Portal. The new classrooms will become the new home of programs for the mentally challenged and for preschool children.

The school, Santa Maria Josefa Rossello, opened in Don Juan in the fall of 2005 and the project in Hato Nuevo began in the spring of 2007. As the program at Portal de Belen started eleven years ago, we are able to record and share data on the history of programming there. As time progresses, I hope to share with you many more success stories from all three of our locations!

Que Dios siempre le bendiga
~P.Ron Gaesser

Announcing my new Website!

2009-11-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

With the expert skill of Michael Piliero we now have a new Website!
I celebrated his wedding to his beautiful bride in exchange for the website.

I will continue to update this blog, and when I have time to learn how to use flickr, I will also be adding photos and videos to the website.

www.frrongaessersprojects.org. Give it a look.

Blessing of the new classrooms

2009-11-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned before, this fall saw the opening of the first four grades of the grammar school in Hato Nuevo, which serve 120 additional children. October 28th I blessed the new classrooms whose finishing touches were furnished by some of the wealthy ladies of the DR.

Assembly of children and ladies for the blessings
The foundation obtained the money to build the structure, finish the basement and first floor as well as the bathrooms on the second floor, and to put a roof over the open center of the building to prevent future inundations of the classrooms from torrential downpours.

Children performing during the blessings

Children ready to sing during the blessings

In other thoughts, I could not help but notice on my return to the DR at the end of October how empty the airports were. It reminded me of air traffic after 9/11.

Much love to all who care and help me with my now over 800 "grandkids" and growing.
~P.Ron

New school year enrollment

2009-10-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to share with you our enrollment numbers from August, the opening of the school year.

The day care center in Monte Plata has over 125 little ones, from infants in the nursery, to classes for mentally challenged and autistic children, as well as children needing help to get up to speed to enter grammar school.

Preschool class at Portal de Belen

Challenged children at Portal de Belen

At the school at Don Juan we were able to add the 7th grade because of the two new classrooms that were just built. That school now serves children from preschool through 7th grade, for a total of 406 children. Next year an eighth grade will be added to the school.

New classroom at Don Juan

New second floor classroom at Don Juan

In Hato Nuevo this school year, the number of children we serve has grown by leaps and bounds! The daycare has 90 little ones, 90 children attend the after school program for those not in school or who have problems learning, and grades one through four study at the grammar school. This significant growth demonstrates that the sisters in Hato Nuevo have gained the confidence of the people there.

Third grade students at Hato Nuevo

Fourth grade students at Hato Nuevo

Que Dios siempre le bendiga
~P.Ron Gaesser

Faith

2009-10-07T07:45:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 1st was the feast of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, who is the patron saint of the little chapel in L'Elmo. A Carmalite nun who never left the convent, Teresa is the patron of missions because of her intense prayers for the missions. She died at the age of 24, after 18 months of suffering from tuberculosis. What has always fascinated me is that on her deathbed she spent hours wrestling with her doubts about faith in God.
As a result, the recent revelations over the doubts of faith of Mother Teresa of Calcutta don't surprise me.

At times, I wrestle with my own faith. Although working with God's favorites, the poor, constantly reinforces and strengthens my faith.

Children at mass

The Catholic chaplain at the University of Rochester, NY, Fr.Brian Cool (whom I have known since he was 2 years old), is working to raise funds and book students to come and build a new chapel for the people of L'Elmo, hopefully this January.

The chapel at present
Preparing for mass inside the chapel

Two members of the little community of L'Elmo, despite their poverty, generously have donated the land for the new chapel.

Several views of the donated land which will be the site of the new chapel

God continues to surprise me with the generosity of others.

~P.Ron, Don Juan DR.

Remembering two special people

2009-09-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

Since July, two of my very good friends here in the DR have passed away.

Both were very warm and welcoming when I first arrived here, and continued to be so throughout our relationships.
The first was Dona Rosario, a woman of some 80 years. Dona died of cancer after a lifetime of service to her community and church in Monte. She also functioned as the chaplain to the inmates at the Provincial Prison in Monte Plata. All who were fortunate enough to know her loved her. She raised at least six children and one niece, who all matured into professionals, besides running various businesses with her husband, also deceased, of some 50 years. A great inspiration to all with her faith, Dona dedicated herself to countless charitable activities, both in her church and local community.

The other was the permanent deacon in Monte Plata, Andres Martinez. He was a simple, beautiful person, a dedicated husband, and a wonderful father to his ten children. Andres lived his life very committed to his faith community, and was a successful businessman as well.

Two wonderful persons, both unique and irreplaceable.
I have been coming to the DR for some ten years and feel their loss personally.

~P. Ron

Books about Dominican identity

2009-09-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

There are two books worth reading if you want to understand well the Dominican identity and personality.

The first is Black Behind the Ears by Geinetta E.B. Candelario. This book gives an in depth understanding of the Dominican sense of themselves. Candelario is a professor of Sociology and Latin American Studies at Smith College. Parts of the book are a bit dense and college-oriented, but skip those parts if you care to and read only the more direct explanations. It's worth the read.

The other book I will recommend today is The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Oscar Diaz.
This book is quite a bit spicy and racy in its sexuality at times. One comment is that it requires a highly flammable warning. But again, worth the read. The book has won the Pulitzer Prize and been translated into 24 languages. I have been reading it in English and Spanish at the same time. The Spanish translation comes no where near the original English text in its power of language and graphic descriptions, but helps me get a handle on Dominican slang.
Without reading it first, I gave the Spanish edition to the Mother Superior when she was here. Should be an education and a half for this Argentinean sister. Glad it is not as descriptive in Spanish as it is in English!

~P.Ron

Fr. Ron

2009-09-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

On Dec. 23, 1935, Mildred and Walter Gaesser gave birth to their second of five boys (me) in Rochester, NY. In 1949 I entered St. Andrew’s Seminary completing four years of high school and two of college, followed by the remaining years of college at St. Bernard’s where I obtained a masters in theology.

After ordination on June 3, 1961, my first assignment was at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rochester, NY where I remained for six years. In 1967 my next assignment took me to Auburn, New York where I spent 14 years in various assignments, which included a pastorate at St. Joseph’s Cayuga, NY from 1972 – 1981 and college chaplain to Auburn Community College and Eisenhower College in Seneca Falls. By 1970 I also acquired a masters in counseling and psychology from Syracuse University. It was a wonderful and invigorating time of my life – best of all worlds – pastor, college chaplain and instructor in psychology at Finger Lakes Community College.

The next six years were spent at St. Columba in Caledonia, NY. Then in 1987 I was named pastor of St. Catherine of Siena in Ithaca and All Saints in Lansing, NY. In 2003 I retired from St. Catherine’s at the age of 67 and began that summer to live and work in the parishes of Monte Plata, Dominican Republic where I now hang my hat. I now call the Dominican Republic my home and my plan is to die and be buried here. (But not for a few more years.)

In January, 2002 I had major prostate cancer surgery. Unfortunately the cancer had already metastasized to the lymph node system, but with constant medication, the cancer remains contained. Hopefully research will come up with a cure for my aggressive cancer.

I entered the diocesan seminary with the idea of being a missionary, but I am a late bloomer in this career. I love what I am doing now and hope that with more than 700 grandchildren in three projects in the DR, that they are my insurance policy for a long life, caring for God’s wonderful and most beautiful children as well as ministering to several thousand people in 17 communities in the parish of San Juan Bautista in Don Juan, DR. One pastor and one assistant priest reside in Monte Plata, and along with me in Don Juan, together we care for more than 42,000 people and 43 communities.

~P.Ron

A celebration at Don Juan

2009-09-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

On September 18th Sr. Rosario, superior of the nuns in Don Juan, arrived for a ten-day visit from Argentina.

La Madre Rosario

The principal reason for her visit was to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the presence of the Daughters of Misericordia of Argentina in mission here in Don Juan, Dominican Republic.
There was a four-day celebration that culminated with mass by the Auxiliary Bishop of Santo Domingo, Mons. Pablo Cedano.

Bishop welcomes soon to be sister Maria Josefa

Some of the young people put on a play depicting the life and vocation of St. Maria Josefa Rossello, foundress of their congregation.

Sisters and actresses
Young actresses

All in all it was a wonderful, well-attended celebration of the generosity and commitment of these women and their work with the poor and needy, especially with the children these past ten years.
Sr. Maximina, who initiated the mission here in Don Juan, also came for the celebration. She is well remembered and loved by the people.

Sr. Maximina
Maxie is one of my favorite people. She is six months older than me.
Her heart and spirit is that of a young adventurer in the spirit and love of the Lord. Maxie is a person always open to life. Her generosity and concern for others is second nature to her, and she is always available for the needs of others. Words fail me to express adequately her simple and natural beauty as a person of deep faith and as a loving human being.

~P. Ron

Summer in review

2009-08-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Well I 'm back at it again after a full summer.
I traveled to the USA on June 4th. I was kept busy participating in two weddings, one in California and one in Ithaca, baptisms, graduations, and visiting family and friends. I also attended the funeral of my successor at St. Catherine‘s in Ithaca. I returned to the DR on the 20th of July.

Haley Meagher, a recent graduate from Mercy High School in Rochester, NY, came for the week of July 26th to teach English to parishioners and young adults of the parish in Don Juan.
Her students loved her and she they. It was a first time experience for Haley and was very successful all around, with both students and teacher having great fun and learning a lot. She is eager to repeat the experience.

Sr. Chris Teichel and seven women parishioners from Sacred Heart parish in Auburn, NY arrived on the 29th of July for a week long visit.

The group spent time painting the two new classrooms in the school, with some help from some of the local students.

They also visited the projects the parish has done in the last three summers, including the chapel they are building in the community of Peluda, which is about 70% completed. We had mass there Saturday the 29th.

Mass was held at the chapel in Los Lanos Thursday, near where the previous year parishioners of Sacred Heart had painted some of the houses.

The parishioners of Sacred Heart have each selected a child that they are now supporting for their schooling. On Friday the group met and took pictures of the school children, as many wanted updated pictures of their “adopted” children.

After the photography session was complete, it was time for a party for the children.

Friday night was an evening of folk music and dancing in the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary in Ceuta, a barrio in the outskirts of Santo Domingo.

The women’s group left on Tuesday, August 4th. Once again, this was a very successful and enjoyable trip for all concerned.
Sacred Heart parishioners contribute more than $23,000 a year for the support of the school in Don Juan which this coming school year will have about 400 children, most of whom are poor and disadvantaged.
~Padre Ron

Visitors from Cornell University

2009-06-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

On May 25th Mike Schafer, Cornell University Hockey Coach, Mike’s son Luke, friends, Mark and Mason Bishop, masons, Scott Howard, Tony Eisenhut, his daughter Lindsey and her friend Nicole, Cornell students from the hockey team, Joe Scali, Shane Hynes ,Taylor Davenport, Brendan Nash, Dan Di leo and John Nitti, Cornell football, arrived in Don Juan. The group of 14 arrived from Ithaca, NY to do some projects connected with the School, Santa Maria Josefa Rossello.

The group kept busy with many projects during their week of work. They helped to lay the foundation for a nurse's office, built protective walls around the well and cistern openings (the future pump house for the new water system to be put in this fall), and prepared the field for new, coming park for the school children, who will soon number over 400.
The present area for the children outside the school is a wholly inadequate space. The boys at the school, most in single parent households, are very aggressive. The additional, large space is most needed.

They all did great work, interacted with the children of the school and town, and even got to know the local scene in the evening. Much good work was completed and many good memories were made. It was a very successful week for all involved!
Showering dominican style - outside in the rain

~P.Ron

Center of Development of Skills Graduation

2009-05-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 15th the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Doctor Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez, was here in Don Juan for the graduation of more than 400 students from our Center of Development of Skills. The sisters here, with the support of our foundation, bought the property where the center is located, and the nuns direct programming at the center. The building itself was designed, constructed and equipped by the government.Programming at the center includes classes on computer use, cooking, sewing and beautician skills.
The center is one more example of where your contributions to the Portal de Belen Foundation are at work helping the poor better their livelihood.
Doctor Margarita is the first, First Lady of a republic to whom I have ever been able to give a welcoming kiss (may there be more).
She is a very warm, gracious Lady indeed.

My life is never dull here.
~P.Ron

Putting a personal face on the world financial crisis

2009-05-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

Like many, my personal income has decreased recently, while my expenses have increased. Tourism, which is the number one industry here in the Dominican Republic, has decreased by 25%. Off-season rates are now en vogue during what is actually the height of the tourist season. I spent two days after Holy Week in a principal resort in Punta Cana. There seemed to be more employees working than guests staying at the resort.

The third largest source of income here is money sent home from family members abroad (principally the USA). Even this source of financial support for local families is down more than 20%.

Previously we were able to cash a check and have it covered in 15 days, the time required is now 50 days. This delay is making projects here difficult to proceed with and to manage, and thereby causing increased unemployment.

A young man, whose nickname is Darling, came to visit me two weeks ago and told me that he was sick and had anemia. At 18 years old, Darling is still growing. He has always been thin, but now Darling seems malnourished more than he is just thin. The only source of income for his family right now is an apartment they rent out. I asked Darling if he had gone a clinic to be examined. He said no, so I gave him the money he needed to do so. Darling was right. Because of malnutrition, anemia is so common here that an 18 year old knows the symptoms and can correctly diagnose himself.

My life here is never dull, could use a vacation from it, at times.
~P. Ron

Sister Maria Arileida

2009-05-05T09:31:00.001-07:00

A young woman from the parish here in Don Juan, Arileida Basarte, made her first profession as a nun in the Congregation of the Daughters of our Lady of Misericordia. Sister Maria Arileida made her first profession in the city of Rosario, Argentina. I was invited to attend and celebrate this wonderful event with her, and celebrate we did, with gusto!
~P. Ron

Questioning Sr. Maria Arileida's readiness

Reading her profession

Celebrating with friends!

Children's Olympic games

2009-04-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

The children at the El Portal de Belen Daycare Center participated in a day of Olympic games on the last Wednesday in March.

The children played games and completed challenges according to their age and capabilities.

Missionaries from St. Alphonsus Parish

2009-03-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

We were pleased to host some visitors recently. Eleven people, 5 adults and 6 high schoolers, traveled from St. Alphonsus Parish in Auburn, New York to work as missionaries to the Project in Hato Nuevo from March 11th to the 21st.

This is a photo of our guests' arrival at the local airport on March 11.They spent part of their visit painting new classrooms in the elementary school.
Group organizer Kim Gunnip doing some painting.
The new classrooms the group worked on will be completed in time for the next school year.

The group also spent a good deal of time getting to know the children, their families and the poverty of the people of Hato Nuevo.
Sunday night we went to a parish in Ceuta to participate in an evening of local folk music and dance.

One afternoon Sr. Kathleen and a group of Hato Nuevo school children entertained the missionaries with songs.

The group departed on March 21. We so enjoyed hosting our guests during their stay with us. Their hard work in the school and the time they spent sharing stories, songs, and smiles with the children and local families were much appreciated. Their faith, time shared, and hard work will have a lasting impact on our efforts to help the children and families of Hato Nuevo!

Hearing confession

2009-03-24T21:37:00.001-07:00

This is the front cover of the booklet for the March liturgies and Pastoral Plan Focus. It went out to thousands of Catholics in the DR. It was taken when I was hearing a young priest's confession during this past November priests’ retreat. On the Friday of the retreat week we heard each other’s confessions. To the question some might ask…Yes, I did.

Awards received

2009-03-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

The school in Don Juan was recognized in 2008 as one of the best schools in all of Latin America and Caribbean with also an honorary doctorate to Sr.Veronica Nunez

Hato Nuevo, Daycare Center and Schools

2009-03-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

The sisters working in Hato Nuevo , but Sr.Petronia now has returned to the Congo

Completion of the second floor for future elementary school

School in Don Juan

2009-03-01T11:31:00.001-08:00

Latest addition to the school,building 7th and 8th grade classrooms

El Portal de Belen Daycare Center in Monte Plata,DR

2009-03-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

Children's Christmas Party Dec. 2008

Fr.Ron's involvement

2009-03-01T11:15:00.000-08:00

In 2002 as I was preparing to retire from the active ministry of the Diocese of Rochester,NY, I set up a non-profit ,tax-deductible foundation which as its incorporation papers state-This foundation was formed for the purpose of raising funds and providing contributions, grants and other funding to support the care, well-being and Catholic development of needy children in the Dominican Republic which includes nutritional as well as educational development.

I named the foundation, El Portal de Belen Foundation after the daycare center of said name in Monta Plata in the DR where now the foundation exercises an advisory capacity.

The foundation also supports the Sisters of the congregation , Hijas de Nuestra Senora de Misericordia working in the parish of Don Juan in the DR with $500 a month to buy food , gas electric etc..

The Pde B Foundation secured a grant of $90,000 to complete school for children with learning disabilities there.

At present there are 340 children soon to grow to 550 in two yrs as each year they are adding a grade to go to the full complement of 8 besides the preschool ages 3-5 and kindergarden.

The school as well as the Daycare center in Monte Plata and the Daycare and after school program in Hato Nuevo provide breakfast, milk and bread ,lunch , rice , protein vegetables and snack in the afternoon ,milk bread or cake.

Hato Nuevo is our newest project which consists of a daycare center and after school program ( children not in school or have problems learning) for very poor Dominican. as well as undocumented Haitian children.

Next fall the sisters there will open an elementary school for these children.They are Claretians sisters, one from Mexico, one from Venezuela and one from Argentina.

The cost of milk is 44 pesos a liter , about $1.30.

for people with average daily income of a dollar a day per person milk is not that common in the average family in th DR.

The PdeB is helped the sisters in Don Juan buy property for an adult training center in Don Juan, now completed and operating.

Donated $10,000 to P.Lorenzo Vargas to buy property for a daycare center and school for poor children in the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary ,Ceuta , barrio outside of Santo Domingo.

The sisters in Don Juan run and carry out the ministry in the parish of San Juan Bautista, 12,000 people and 17 communities.

These wonderful dedicated women are from Argentina It is a testament to the quality of their work and who they are as women dedicated to God that there is now two young women in Argentina from the parish studying to become sisters, two in four years,percentage wise better than most dioceses in the United States.

Two priest from the parish have recently been ordained from this parish.

57% of the people in the DR are without jobs or adequate income to support themselves and their children.They are literally scratching out a meager livelihood. 16-25% can’t read or write. Why education and nutrition is so important.

Average family needs more $400 a month to live (2 parents and 4 children) but earn on average $143 amonth, a dollar per day per person.

The bulk of human kind is made up of poor persons-those whose lives are seriously threatened at all levels.You and I , we of the affluent societies are the exception not the norm.

Origin of projects

2009-03-01T10:58:00.000-08:00

Since 1998,
the welfare of more than 600 children in the Dominican Republican has rested on the charitable instincts of three moderate sized Catholic parishes in upstate New York and Colorado.
The link between these people has been Reverend Ronald Gaesser, a Roman Catholic priest drawn to serve these children and their families in his retirement. Father Gaesser is a remarkable man, but he is only a man, and so worries about these children after he is gone.
The children are students at one day care facilities in Monte Plata ,El Portal de Belen and school for children , Sr.Maria Josefa Rossello
With learning difficulties, one of the poorest provinces of the Dominican Republic is in Don Juan .
As well as a new daycare center and after school program in Hato Nuevo.An area rife with drugs and prostitution because of their extreme poverty.
Drawn from families locked in direst poverty, or from dysfunctional or simply nonfunctional families, these children are provided with daycare, early education, nutrition, and medical assistance in a clinic, while their parents work or attend job training. For nearly all, the school meal sustains them throughout their difficult day.
The Sisters Teresa,Iris ,and Nilda founded daycare center, El Portal de Balen with $595 and borrowed space. Father Gaesser, then serving as a parish priest in Ithaca, NY, connected the daycare with his parishioners; their support enabled them to build and operate a permanent facility for 128 children. Father Gaesser has since added two more parishes in the Auburn and one in Colorado to this support network. These donations support operation of the new Don Juan School for 340 children with disabilities, as well as a convent for the teaching staff of three sisters. One more similar school is planned to open this coming fall in the facility in Hato Nuevo.
The El Portal de Belen Foundation was formed in Ithaca to direct these donations to this effort.
The generosity of these upstate New Yorkers and Colorado has fully funded the operating and capital expenses for the past nine years, and enabled the aggregation of a $300,000 endowment. Nearly all of the administrative expenses of the Foundation are donated, allowing virtually all of these donations to directly support the children in these daycare centers and schools. Now, the Foundation seeks to expand their endowment to $1 million to provide a permanent source of operating and capital funds, and to ensure the future of this remarkable effort to provide the poorest of the poor with hope, and a future.

Fr.Ron Gaesser: Projects in the Dominican Republic

Sigma Chi Christian Fraternity mission work

Playground dedication

The best way to celebrate Christmas

Thanksgiving in the DR

Painting the New Chapel in Pilancon

New Chapel in Pilancon

Our first Community Bank

Fr. Luciano Perez Rivera

Fr. Ron's 50th Anniversary Celebration in Don Juan

Holy Thursday morning mass

Missionaries from Sacred Heart Parish in Auburn

Golden Anniversaries

New classrooms in Monte Plata

Finished latrines

Missionary projects

Speaking to graduate students in Puerto Rico

The Daycare Center at El Portal de Belen

Launching Project Community Banks in Don Juan in the DR, a form of micro-credit.

Summer travels

Visit from Sacred Heart parishioners

The El Portal de Belén Foundation meeting

Sr. Maria Minerva Santana

Travels

Mother's Day in the DR

Brother Lucianno and a new chapel in Los Lanos

Holy Thursday and St Catherine of Siena Parish Youth Group

Sigma Chi Christian Fraternity mission work

Christmas presents for the children in Don Juan

Merry Christmas from Hato Nuevo!

Feliz Navidad from Portal de Belen

Signs of success

Announcing my new Website!

Blessing of the new classrooms

New school year enrollment

Faith

Remembering two special people

Books about Dominican identity

Fr. Ron

A celebration at Don Juan

Summer in review

Visitors from Cornell University

Center of Development of Skills Graduation

Putting a personal face on the world financial crisis

Sister Maria Arileida

Children's Olympic games

Suggested reading:

Missionaries from St. Alphonsus Parish

Hearing confession

Awards received

Hato Nuevo, Daycare Center and Schools

School in Don Juan

El Portal de Belen Daycare Center in Monte Plata,DR

Fr.Ron's involvement

Origin of projects