Formed toForm Honduran Leaders

Summary 

After 13 amazingly beautiful and intense years in Honduras living among, sharing in the lives of, and helping shape and be impacted deeply by the people of Honduras.....

I need formation to better help heal, form and guide those who God has entrusted to us as the Missioners of Christ. (www.missioners.org)

God willing, starting on October 6, 2014 I will be taking 2 semesters of formation classes in Spirituality at the Angelicum in Rome and returning to Honduras in June. 

I have discovered during my time in Honduras that the deep wounds and scars that the people of this country carry often paralyze and hinder them from living the extraordinary call He has prepared for them.  

They are hungry for God and for freedom; they need direction and someone to continue to accompany them.  I continue to feel called to give the rest of my life to be a part of helping them be freed to become all that God intends them to be as a vital part of renewing the face of the earth.

 
(This is a video made of the mission and its work alongside the Franciscan Friars about 7 years ago) (www.franciscanfriars)

Vision

My classes in Spirituality, as well as a chance to renew my spirit after many years of serving, will allow me to come back revived in my love for Jesus, Mary and His Church, assured in His love for me and with a renewed fire for souls.  I hope to have the chance to meet others who have a common vision for the nations and are also preparing to help form the young in whatever capacity they are called.   With this help, I hope to have a formal formation and leadership development program designed to begin to work on implementation after my return to Honduras.  I also hope to continue in the process of my preparation of being a Spiritual Mentor and Director. 


(Pan de Vida Eucharistic Retreat small group wth some of the mothers from our Single Mothers Program)

Why Rome?

The potential opportunity to study in Rome is a chance for me to go HOME.  I have always dreamed of the possibility of rooting my Catholic Faith more deeply in an environment where the constant teaching authority of the Church and its protection continue. I have also desired to have the chance to pray and be formed through the constant witness of the Church Fathers and martyrs who have given their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  From the beginnings of the Church, they have inspired and challenged us to give our lives in the same way giving ourselves away to the ONE whom I desire to love without limits and without counting the cost.


(Pope Francis continues to inspire us to bridge the gap and distance between us and the poor not afraid to recognize our own need and poverty)

Vision to Reality 

Finally God seems to have opened the door…

After years of prayer in the midst of need, Bob and Diane Young, the president of Missioners of Christ from the states and his wife, have come to take over leadership of the community while I take this needed time of refresing and study.  They are a true gift and will move the community and its structure to the next step in what God is asking of us.

Within only two weeks, I was able to do everything necessary to be accepted at the Pontifical University, the Angelicum www.pust.it, receive the needed recommendations, and find an amazing place to live, The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas (moving from the long waiting list to having a reserved space).   www.laycentre.org

I had a chance to meet with the Nuncio Apostolico of Honduras who has helped me tremendously in  the process of obtaining a Italian Student Visa very quickly (please pray...I have my appointment with the embassy this Thursday).

We are currently in meetings and preparation for me to turn over all of my responsibilities to leaders who are amazingly capable to continue the work of the mission.

God has opened up miraculous doors in me meeting people almost daily who are in Italy now who will be help with my transition and needs there.

LASTLY.... I need to raise the needed support to make the Spirituality Program a reality.


(Photo taken at my Consecration celebration: All for Jesus!)


When I Come Back... 

I am going so that I can come back and give.....

We have the opportunity to open another formation house in another Diocese invited by theLocal Bishop

We hope to help the Bishop of Comayagua formalize a leadership formation program for youth and young adults in the Diocese

With the Young’s and other Honduran leaders we will prioritize the deepening of the formation and healing that takes place in our main formation center in Comayagua

We hope to give our Honduran leaders who have walked with us for years the tools they need to break ground in making a profound difference in their own country (several are on the verge of graduating from university with the vision for some new grassroots work in beginning projects such as a small orphanage, a  Catholic bilingual school specifically for the poor, a medical outreach program for the people of the mountains who do not have access to adequate medical care, and a center for retreats and healing in the mountains to give the people a protected place to encounter Christ in their need. 
 
We are also praying about returning with Fr. Herald Brock and Franciscan Mission Outreach https://www.facebook.com/franciscanmissionoutreach to East Africa for some ongoing outreaches initially in the countries of Liberia and Ghana.  May God continue to show is where He can best use us for His glory!

All remains in God’s hands but He is surely is putting the details in place one at a time.


(The following are some photos of our work in the Diocese of La Ceiba, in the mountain aldeas of Comayagua, previous outreaches and missions to the continent of Africa, our work with the Missionaries of Charity in communities in the city, and our work with short term teams that come from the states to serve throughout the year)