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
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