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ST. ANN’S PARISH BEGINS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MARYKNOLL SISTERS IN MALACATAN, GUATEMALA . 

Skip to the latest updates and photos.

Click here to see the Project Executive Summary.

In response to Bishop Saltarelli’s request that each parish in the diocese establish a spiritual, educational and needs alleviation relationship with the San Marcos diocese, St. Ann’s parish has decided to establish a partnership with the Maryknoll sisters in Malacatan, an area lying outside the city of San Marcos, Guatemala. As a first step, St. Ann’s will furnish the Sisters with a jeep to better enable them to reach all the people to whom they minister. Their needs are many and will be detailed in coming weeks in a “Maryknoll at Malacatan” corner in the weekly bulletin. To help meet those needs, we will provide a special blue envelope in your bi-monthly envelope packet, which may be put in the collection at any time. Please enclose any prayer requests you have for the sisters in your envelope, which will be forwarded to the sisters in Guatemala. One of the current projects is WORK WITH CHILDREN: IN MID-February, 2004, Sister Mi Young started to work with children of parents who have HIV/Aids – most of these children also have HIV/Aids. She would like to set up a library for the children to include: A bookcase, two small tables, books, tape recorder and tapes. This project will cost approximately $1,000.  We’d like to Thank the family that donated the funds required to establish the Children’s Library.  If there are any questions or comments about our partnership with the Maryknoll Sisters, please contact Bob Tracy @ 539-3240.

Historical Summary of Communications - Updated as information arrives.

FROM MALACATAN May 20, 2012

FROM MALACATAN April 22, 2012

We are picking up again our relationship with the Maryknoll Sisters working in the diocese of San Marcos and re-establishing
our support and communication with them.  Sister Judy Noone’s work in Malacatan is multi faceted but focused on the education of girls and illiterate women in ways that benefit the entire community. In a country where even a public school education costs money (for uniforms, shoes, books and book bags) the education of girls is a very low priority and the whole community suffers. Efforts which address domestic
violence and addictions support the dignity of women, through education and enhanced self esteem. Then, initiating them into some projects as chroniclers of their struggles and entrepreneurs in partnership with their men, they can lift their families economically.

Sister Judy, is from Alexandria, Virginia and is an educator, anthropologist, community developer and writer. Inspired by the women martyrs in El Salvador in 1980, she wrote a book using their life stories “THE SAME FATE AS THE POOR”. Since 1985, she has ministered in Guatemala, learning the local language of the Quiche people and helping them to celebrate their Mayan heritage and working especially with the very poor
women and their hungry families.

In the neighboring community of Catarina and the hills surrounding Malacatan, Sisters Jane Buellesbach and Mary Lou Daoust, both physicians , have an ongoing project of training Health Promoters which we will begin helping to support.. Some St. Ann’s parishioners will remember meeting Sr. Mary Lou about 8 years ago when she visited here and explained about their project .They have trained over 175 laypeople in the last 25 years to give medical care in the remote villages at a level above first aid with the sister/doctors consulting when needed. These
trained volunteers treat and educate about diabetes, asthma, tuberculosis, high blood pressure and other illnesses, and give nutrition and exercise information as well. There are twenty basic drugs recommended by the World Health Organization which they buy very cheaply and can legally sell at a very small profit and therefore replace their drug stock and advance very gradually their own family’s economic situation. They are also capable of suturing wounds, a skill often needed in this agrarian and sometimes violent country. Money to this project will help
buy needed wheelchairs, expensive drugs for tuberculosis, training and more efficient stoves to help limit crippling lung disease from the constant breathing of wood smoke used for cooking.

Sister Jane is a Milwaukee native and interned as a young Maryknoll sister at St. Vincent’s Hospital in NYC. She has served in Guatemala since 1972. She tells us “the poor have been my road to God. In the multiple faces of Guatemala, in the joy and sorrow, I have found God.” Sister Mary Lou is from Detroit and was an M.D. before entering the Maryknoll Sisters and has served in Guatemala since 1981. Together the sisters lived through the worst of Guatemala’s horrific, long civil war in the eighties. Their prayerful, encouraging presence, enduring “ the same fate as the poor” (their simple house has no inside toilet or hot water), is helping to lift lives of struggle to lives of dignity and sustainability .They take the Gospel imperative to “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself “ to a very graceful and tangible reality.

FROM MALACATAN August 14, 2011

Dear all you good folks at Saint Ann´s, First of all, we (Mary Duffy, Mi Young Sung and Judy Noone) are very sorry that at least two messages for your bulletin are still floating around out there. As of yesterday Cathy Earl received my email and answered that we are connected and so here's an update on Women's Pastoral Ministries in San Marcos, Guatemala. For the past two years our dear friend, sister and colleague, Rae Ann O'Neill, was off and on in treatment here in Guatemala and at Maryknoll, New York for a melanoma. We and all were surprised and saddened by her very sudden death on June 10 of this year. Mary and Mi Young arrived at Maryknoll late at night the night of June 9 and so were with her when she passed away at noon on the 10th and were able to accompany Rae's family and friends and sisters for the mass and burial there.

Here in Guatemala I, Judy Noone, the day after Rae died, went to a meeting of the 60 animators who work in their communities along the coast and was privileged to hear their touching testimonies to Rae's years of living and working with them. As is custom, the community of Catarina where she lived, prayed the nine days and then again the forty days after her death. Our bishop Alvaro Ramazzini celebrated a mass in Catarina with many friends present. We have been in this diocesan work for 16 years. Ten years ago we decided two of us (Judy Noone and Teruko Ito) would to stay in the highlands while Rae and two other sisters opened a house along the coast. Rae, Mary and Mi Young had made plans earlier this year to celebrate their 10 years of dedicated and hard work with women in the 12 parishes along the coast and move on: Mi Young to service at Maryknoll while she works towards citizenship and Mary with several invitations to choose from. I and my Guatemalan co-workers in the highlands have told the animators of the coast that we will participate in activities with them for as long as they want us, that they will not be “abandoned”. We know they are perfectly capable of carrying on and equipped with leadership skills and libraries of themes, but until they are totally convinced of that, we will be with them. As always, we are most grateful for your generous support. We would not be able to mobilize as far and as often if it weren´t for your help. Be assured of our prayers and those of the women with whom we work. If email allows, we will be in touch again SOON. Sorry for the mysterious gap. Much love, Mary, Mi Young and Judy

FROM MALACATAN - April 3rd, 2010

SISTER TERUKO IS IN JAPAN :  Thank you for your message and prayers. I feel a lot of positive energy coming our way. Yesterday the agency raised the Nuclear threat level to the one of Three Mile Island accident. Now workers are trying to re-connect electric wiring back and trying to see if the power can be restored to keep cooling the nuclear materials. Some of the regular TV programs are back. and National sports will be back, avoiding night games. It is beautiful to see how the people are sharing the resources. People through Okinawa to Hokkaido are talking about changing our lifestyle, so that we learn to live more in harmony with Mother Nature. Such a hard way to come to that point. As for me, as many others away from the area we are feeling very powerless. But we are learning how to be background supporters so that the front supporters can operate. I have many friends up north.....a lot are running to Tokyo. So Tokyo is feeling so much more pinch. Thank you. Teruko.

FROM MALACATAN - February 20, 2011 Through the kindness of the parishioners of St. Ann's, we were able to send $2200 to Maryknoll the sisters in the diocese of San Marcos. Currently there are three sisters there (Sister Mary Duffy, Sister Mi Young. mad Sister Judy0 serving the poor, especially women and children. They are in two locations Sister Rae Ann is recuperating in Maryknoll, NY and Sister Teruko is in Japan, with her ailing parents.. The sisters have a lot of territory to cover, and the contributions from St. Ann's are a great help to them in carrying out their work. Their continuous thanks come to us via email.

From Malacatan - February 13, 2011

Mary fell New Year's eve in our patio as we shot off some very small and innocent fireworks. After an x-ray here and trip to check with the specialist in the city, she will have to be very careful of her upper arm fracture for the next several weeks as she contemplates her future which she has been contemplating even before the fall. Mi Young is now doing excellent work with the youth and is quite happy doing it. Teruko continues in Japan for the time being. So I with our two Guatemalan women Elvia and Eluvia here in San Marcos are about the only full time workers in our diocesan pastoral with women. Elvia is in charge of a big project of education for girls and women in Tajumulco, a mountain town, with the help of CRS. Eluvia and Elvia both were involved in the same project for 8 years in another town of San José which was a huge success and led to initiating the same project in the other town. Because of the volatile situation in Tajumulco and often volatile character of the people, and the incredibly broken terrain which makes travel very difficult and at times dangerous, we (with CRS) decided to hire a young man who drives a motorcycle to facilitate visiting the different villages participating. Eluvia, then, is without a salary though she is essential to the work of the pastoral here in the altiplano and valley (17 parishes) as my only side-kick, or I as hers.

From Malacatan - January 9, 2011

Hi, Bob and Andy, I was on the road when I opened your email and then was super distracted with too many little things. I went to Salvador for the 30th anniversary of the death of our sisters there, hard to believe that 30 years have gone by! I don´t know if you know that Rae Ann is back at Maryknoll with medical complications. We are waiting to know what treatment she will have. Teruko continues in Japan with her parents but thankfully has lots of invitations to do retreats and is involved with a group theologians in Tokyo and so is not totally home bound. She came in September for a lightening visit just at the time we were having those terrible storms and the mountains were falling down. We decided that when she comes again to avoid the rainy season so she might be coming in April for a "futuring" workshop we will have with our sisters from Panama and el Salvador. We always go down to the coast to have Xmas dinner together and on the way I always stop in to visit with Dona Beatriz and Auralia and the kids and to leave a basket of goodies. I will give them a hug from you and the other generous folks from St. Ann´s.
At another moment I will write up some thoughts about how best to use your generosity this next year.

FROM MALACATAN - December 12, 2010

Hi, Bob and Andy, We are doing very well. Thanks for your message. The parishioners of St. Ann's are sooo good to us. (note: we sent the sisters $3000 to help in their work) We started celebrating Mary's 80th birthday last Wednesday. Amazing. (NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EMAIL SR. MARY DUFFY A BELATED 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' HER EMAIL IS: maryduffy11@hotmail.com) Thanks for remembering us each year. We had a meeting of our Directiva for the women's work - only four of the five showed up. We planned the calendar for next year...2011. How time flies. I am happy that the rains have stopped - but no rain means no growth of the crops. But no landslides or fallen bridges - thanks be to God. Take care, let us pray for one another. Un abrazo, Rae Ann

FROM MALACATAN - December 5, 2010

Hi, Bob and Andy, We are doing very well. Thanks for your message. The parishioners of St. Ann's are sooo good to us. (note: we sent the sisters $3000 to help in their work) We started celebrating Mary's 80th birthday last Wednesday. Amazing. (NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EMAIL SR. MARY DUFFY A BELATED 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' HER EMAIL IS: maryduffy11@hotmail.com) Thanks for remembering us each year. We had a meeting of our Directiva for the women's work - only four of the five showed up. We planned the calendar for next year...2011. How time flies. I am happy that the rains have stopped - but no rain means no growth of the crops. But no landslides or fallen bridges - thanks be to God. Take care, let us pray for one another. Un abrazo, Rae Ann

FROM MALACATAN - November 14, 2010

Sisters Rae Ann, Mi Young, Mary Ann Duffy, and Judy continue their work among the poor of San Marcos, aided greatly by the continuing donations from the parishioners of St. Ann’s. Every dollar that is contributed goes directly to the sisters to aid them in their work. Because of the extreme poverty of the people, the money contributed here, can provide significantly more in San Marcos. The sisters continually send their thanks to us. As you know, there is a blue envelope in the bi-monthly envelope packet and additional envelopes by the doors of the church. Along with the sisters, I would like to especially thank everyone for their generosity.

FROM MALACATAN - October 24, 2010

The work goes along. The Diocese has changed priorities with a new 6 year plan. We are now grouped under ”integral development” on the chart. That is fine with us. We enjoyed being a separate diocesan priority and now we are into all the varied ministries, subversive in the name of participation for all. We will be able to share what we have learned about development with a broader group on the diocesan level. For example we have noticed that when a technology changes, you gain something and you lose something. In the small communities of San Marcos rituals that were inclusive and creative disappear when people took the step of installing a water system. On the feast of St. John the Baptist every family used to put flowers and candles around their wells or at the spring thanking God for the gift of water. Now with tubing bringing the water to each house, the celebration of water is forgotten. We were delighted when the women of Los Ramos decided to celebrate Earth Day in the coffee field of one of the women. It was her birthday. She and her family cleared a space, erected some benches and the 30 of us gathered around Our Lady of Guadalupe encircled with fruits, leaves, flowers, candles and incense. We prayed for Maria, her family and her land, She shared how her grandmother used to lead the prayer in the field before planting the corn in May. Everyone did it. When coffee came in it all changed. She was so glad that the Women’s Pastoral group is inviting us all to be creative in acknowledging our debt to God in nature. We hand on to our grandchildren the expression of gratitude to God for coffee too and we celebrate Earth Day with the UN. It is another opportunity to be creative. Thanks for keeping in touch. Peace Sr. Mary Ann Duffy.

FROM MALACATAN - October 3, 2010

We first came to know Doña Beatriz when we took a friend, a social worker, to an aldea of San Pablo, San Marcos, more than ten years ago. We walked into her wooden dirt floored very poor and very tidy home and were horrified to find two week old twin skinny wrinkled babies that reminded us of pictures from Biafra some years ago. Doña Beatriz’s daughter-in-law died giving birth. She showed us a tiny tin of milk , still half full, that she had been giving the babies for the two weeks of their short life. Her son, the father, collected and sold firewood for a “living” but went away with another woman shortly thereafter.
The twins have two older sisters who also were under the care of Doña Beatriz. Some friends of friends who we had helped to drive around during their 10 day stay expressed their gratitude to us with a check with which funds we were able to keep the babies alive with milk and two trips to the emergency room the first two years of their life. Last March 2010 they celebrated their 11th birthday and are doing very well in school. Also with Beatriz are children of her daughters, in and out. This is one of many we and others have helped through the sisters.

FROM MALACATAN - (Maryknoll, NY and Korea) Septemeer 26, 2010

Hi, Bob and Andy, I sure appreciate the prayers of the St. Ann's community for my healing. I have a wound that resulted from the incision to check that the cancer had not journeyed to the lymph nodes. Thank God, the melanoma was removed before it spread elsewhere. Two days after I arrived at Maryknoll, a blood clot appeared in my lung - another 5 days in the hospital. I am feeling better and looking better - they tell me. Thanks again for your concern and your prayers.

Mi Young was notified that her 94 year old father was in the hospital. She is now en route to Korea to see him - hopefully she will arrive on time. It is a long journey - today (3/1) she is on her way to Guatemala City, Tuesday to San Diego and Wednesday she flies to Korea. We are really topsy turvy.

Hope you are both well. hasta luego! rao Rae Ann

FROM MALACATAN July 3, 2010
Last week we were able to send $2000. to the Maryknoll sisters in San Marcos. So far this year (including donations in December) we have been able to send the sisters $7000. They have expressed their great gratitude, since it has enabled them to do significant work among the poor in San Marcos. They are able to meet emergency needs, as well as education for self-sufficiency, and to work with the people to better utilize the land for their long term benefit. A portion of the money is used to provide basic education for the children. So many lives have been made a little better by your contributions and the continued efforts of the sisters. Blue envelopes are by the exit doors of the church for those wishing to help.
 

FROM MALACATAN  May 30, 2010

Dear Bob and Andy, We were delighted when the women of Los Ramos decided to celebrate Earth Day in the coffee field of one of the women.  It was her birthday.  She and her family cleared a space, erected some benches and the 30 of us gathered around Our Lady of Guadalupe encircled with fruits, leaves, flowers, candles and incense.  We prayed for Maria, her family and her land, She shared how her grandmother used to lead the prayer in the field before planting the corn in May.  Everyone did it.  When coffee came in it all changed.  She was so glad that the Women’s Pastoral group is inviting us all to be creative in acknowledging our debt to God in nature.  We hand on to our grandchildren the expression of gratitude to God for coffee too and we celebrate Earth Day with the UN.  It is another opportunity to be creative.

Thanks for keeping in touch.  Peace, 

FROM MALACATAN: May 16, 2010

Happy Springtime. And thank you for being a sponsor of our work.

I am looking forward to Rae Ann and Mi Young returning. I am here alone with the dog and two cats. We can’t decide on the menu, fish or bugs. The work goes along. The Diocese has changed priorities with a new 6 year plan. We are now grouped under ”integral development” on the chart. That is fine with us. We enjoyed being a separate diocesan priority and now we are into all the varied ministries, subversive in the name of participation for all. We will be able to share what we have learned about development with a broader group on the diocesan level. For example we have noticed that when a technology changes, you gain something and you lose something. In the small communities of San Marcos rituals that were inclusive and creative disappear when people took the step of installing a water system. On the feast of St. John the Baptist every family used to put flowers and candles around their wells or at the spring thanking God for the gift of water. Now with tubing bringing the water to each house, the celebration of water is forgotten.
Thanks for keeping in touch. Peace, Mary Ann Duffy

FROM MALACATAN UPDATING ON AUJRELIA May 9, 2010

I saw Aujrelia about 2 weeks ago, looks awful. She does whatever she can to make a few pennies: helping to plant chilies, collecting firewood for sale, washing others' clothes. A few years ago we helped her to buy pots, etc, to make tamales to sell but that came to a halt for some reason, not sure why. I suspect though that everyone in that community is pretty poor and would not buy tamales or make them except for a big occasion like Christmas eve. We translate each January for a huge group of doctors who come from COTA (Children of the Americas) and they know lots of networks of docs so they are checking to see who close by can check her out as a favor. We try to keep her three bigger girls in school and her little girl and baby boy in good health and drop in on them as often as possible though they live more than an hour away down in hot country. I am cc-ing this to Teruko who continues to be near her parents though pretty busy with invitations to give retreats, etc, especially to women recovering in AA. All the best to you, and the people of St. Ann's. much love, Judy

FROM MALACATAN SR. RAE ANN O'NEILL UPDATE (April 9)
Hi, Bob, I am just trying to catch up - and perhaps I have already thanked you for the 1,500 you sent in January - but it deserves a second thank you. It is better to err on the side of too much
than not enough. I am recovering - I guess the more serious thing was the lung embolism and thanks be to God that the doctor caught it. I had just arrived from Guatemala on Jan. 20 and had the uncomfortable pain on the right side. I would say, I am a lucky one. I am not exactly sure how long I have to stay here - but the standard is a 6-month treatment taking blood thinner. And Mi Young's father died on March 8th. Luckily she arrived in Korea to be with him when he died. So Mary Duffy is holding the fort. Thanks for the generosity of St. Ann's parishioners in aiding our work and presence in Catarina, Bob.
Gratefully, Rae Ann. (We were able to send both Sr. Rae Ann and Sr. Judy $1000 this month.)

March 14, 2010 FROM MALACATAN - SISTER MARY LOU WORKS WITH MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE SUPPORT.  WE DO NOT SEND HER MONEY DIRECTLY.  THIS IS TO PROFILE SOME OF THE SISTERS WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE OF SAN MARCOS.   Sister Mary Lou Daoust, a physician, has been living among and training rural health promoters in Guatemala for more than twenty years.  Born in Detroit, Michigan, Sister Mary Lou entered the Maryknoll Sisters in 1978 after receiving her M.D. from Wayne State University School of Medicine and doing her residency in the University of Miami Hospitals. Working with Hispanics in Miami influenced her consideration of mission in Latin America later. After her first profession in June, 1980, she asked to be assigned to Guatemala because the country was at war. “I felt my skills as a physician could be best used there.” Her mission-sending was scheduled for December 3, 1980. However, word came that Maryknoll Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel and lay missioner Jean Donovan's tortured bodies were found that morning and the mission sending ceremony was cancelled. Sister Mary Lou knew all four of the women and her trip was postponed. “I think their deaths deepened my commitment to go and to be in mission in a situation of tremendous institutional violence."  TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

March 14, 2010 FROM MALACATAN - (Maryknoll, NY and Korea)
Hi, Bob and Andy, I sure appreciate the prayers of the St. Ann's community for my healing. I have a wound that resulted from the incision to check that the cancer had not journeyed to the lymph nodes. Thank God, the melanoma was removed before it spread elsewhere. Two days after I arrived at Maryknoll, a blood clot appeared in my lung - another 5 days in the hospital. I am feeling better and looking better - they tell me. Thanks again for your concern and your prayers. Mi Young was notified that her 94 year old father was in the hospital. She is now en route to Korea to see him - hopefully she will arrive on time. It is a long journey - today (3/1) she is on her way to Guatemala City, Tuesday to San Diego and Wednesday she flies to Korea. We are really topsy turvy. Hope you are both well. hasta luego! rao Rae Ann
 

March 7, 2010 FROM MALACATAN

Prayers needed for Sister Rae Ann O'Neill
Sister Rae Ann is currently at Maryknoll in New York recovering from surgery. Her email is below.
Dear Bob, Greetings. Thanks so much for the latest donation to both the women's work in the coast and in San Marcos. We were notified of the arrival of this money. Thank you a hundred fold. We are soooooooo grateful for your remembering us and our work. We will be in touch.
I have been at Maryknoll since Jan. 20 - with some medical problems. The good news is that the malignant melanoma that was removed from my foot had not spread to my lymph nodes. I did develop a rather serious infection after one of the operations as well as a blood clot in my lungs a day after my arrival from Guatemala. Mary and Mi Young are carrying on the work in Guatemala.
God bless, Rae Ann O'Neill
If you wish to send a card, the address is: Sister Rae Ann O'Neill Maryknoll Sisters, P. O Box 311 Maryknoll NY, 10545-0311
 

February 21, 2010 FROM SAN MARCOS  Profiling the Sisters  Sister Mary Ann Duffy

Sister Mary Ann is a teacher and a faciliator in Latin America. Sister Mary Ann Duffy of Philadelphia entered the Maryknoll Sisters in 1948. Whe earned her B.Ed. from Maryknoll Teachers College in NY and then her Master’s degree in Spanish Literature from Tmple University, where she served in an Assistantship as a Spanish teacher. Sister Mary Ann also studied in the Pastoral Institute at Loyola College, Chicago. Sister Mary Ann has served extensively in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Mexico. She has been a teacher in the Yucatan, Mexico, and has done pastoral work with indigenous groups in Mexico and Guatemala. In Chipas, Mexico, she served as the supervisor of an experimental basic education program for the Tzeltal Indians and supported a program for rural community development. Sister Mary Ann is now working as part of a women’s pastoral team for the San Marcos Diocese in Guatemala, with a personal focus on environmental issues.

February 7, 2010  - FROM MALACATAN
 

Sister Rae Ann's wide experience in Africa, the United Nations and in Mexico, has prepared her well for the important work she is now doing. Sister Rae Ann hails from Hightstown, New Jersey, and joined the Maryknoll Sisters in 1960. She spent her mission years as a teacher in Tanzania, East Africa; as an administrative secretary for the Holy See Mission at the United Nations; and as a pastoral worker with basic Christian communities in a poor area of Mexico City.  In 1990, Sister Rae Ann began her mission in Guatemala as a pastoral worker, especially with women. Since 1995, she has dedicated her ministry to the development of the women's work in San Marcos, Guatemala.  Sister Rae Ann photos can be seen in many of the historical photos below.

January 24, 2010 - FROM MALACATAN

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to send $3,000 to the Maryknoll Sisters in San Marcos. $1,500 to Sister Rae Ann and Mi Young and $1,500 to Sister Judy in the hills. The money will be used to meet the special needs of people and for literacy training.

January 3rd FROM MALACATAN LITERACY GRADUATES

43 participants(23 from San Jose Suchiate, 11 from La Curve and 9 from La Chayen) have studied for 3 years. They finished their primary school process this year and took the government exam. They all passed and got Certification of primary school from the government. 14 out of 43 graduates will continue to study in junior high school next year. There is school which has classes on Saturdays for adult. We will continue to support them and to have more literacy programs in different communities. Thank you so much for your support. Mi Youn. Different photos Hill be published each week. They are available in color on the parish website. www.stannsbethany.org

December 6th, 2009 - From Malacatan - Literacy Pictures of graduates below this Class information.

ALPHABETIZATION CLASSES, 2009

1. San Jose Suchiate, Malacatan – 30 graduates 2 groups
2. La Curva, Malacatan – 11 graduates 1 group
3. 15 de Enero, Malacatán – 12 graduates 1 group
4. La Igualdad, San Pablo – 17 graduatess 1 group
5. Chayen, San Rafael – 23 graduates 2 groups 

Total graduates 93 people 

  AMOUNT RECEIVED; $3,000

Teacher´s salary              $3,290 (7 persons x $47 x 10 months)
Teaching material-text book   $850 (100 persons x 6 books)
-notebook, pencil etc.         $50 (100 persons)
Workshop for the teachers     $250 (7 persons)
Graduation                    $300 (93 persons) 

Total                         $4,740 

43 participants(23 from San Jose Suchiate, 11 from La Curve and 9 from La Chayen) have studied for 3 years. They finished their primary school process this year and took the government exam. They all passed and got Certification of primary school from the government. 

14 out of 43 graduates will continue to study in junior high school next year. There is school which has classes on Saturdays for adult. We will continue to support them and to have more literacy programs in different communities.

Thank you so much for your support.

November 8th, 2009 - FROM MALACATAN - Miyoung

Final vows with Bishop, Jane Dear Bob, Yes, I made my final vows on Sep. 5th. It was beautiful celebration. About 600 people, Maryknoll sisters, fathers, local priests and religious, parishioners and specially women whom I work with came from all over the villages in San Marcos. And Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini  and Dennis Leder, SJ, my spiritual director celebrated the mass. Everyone rejoiced the day God had made. Thank St. Ann’s for their support and prayers. in Gratitude, Miyoung.

October 25th, 2009 - FROM MALACATAN

Special Project - O’Nil Stove

In other years Guatemala has suffered from floods and landslides due to abundant rains.  This year on the contrary the eastern part of the country has had a disastrous drought.  The loss of the corn and bean crops has left thousands of subsistence farmers facing hunger.  All signs point to similar circumstances threatening the entire country as climate change continues world wide.  There is increased interest in all questions environmental, especially in preserving the forests which influence the rhythms of climate.  We have been encouraging reforestation for several years with little success.  This year we hope to promote the use of a stove that economizes on fire wood.  That way the women will be coming at the problem from the other end.  They will cut the use of fire wood in half by using a stove designed for that very purpose.   We will coordinate with a nongovernmental organization called Help International.  They have developed the stove.  We will gather the women’s groups and subsidize the buying of the stove.  The cost of the O’Nil stove, as it is called, no relation to Sister Rae Ann O’Neill, is $90.  We feel we can ask the women for half and hope we can count on you for the other half.  We will be offering the project to sections of parishes who have taken the Ecology Course, so it is not just a stove but an effort to influence the planet in a cooperative way. 

 Projection:  3 Centers on the Coast: Malacatan

                                50 stoves             

                                Catarina 20

                                La Reforma    30

                Approximate total:       100 stoves…Q9,000. 

50 % of total cost:= $4,500.

 It is our hope that the women will be able to handle their half of the cost as the coffee crop is beginning to come in now and they take part.  Average wage for 100 pounds of coffee is Q40.  You can check out the Help International on their website. NOTE: WE RECENTLY PROVIDED $1900, SO WE NEED TO PROVIDE ANOTHER $2600.  EDITOR'S CCOMMENT 

October 3rd - Malacatan - Mi Young's final vows celebration.

September 22nd, 2009  - Malacatan - We are in the final preparations of Mi Young's final vows here in Catarina.  It will really be nice.  Will send you some photos.  I will be going to Maryknoll Sept. 11. Hope to see you sometime. Un abrazo.  Rae Ann

July 22nd 2009  - Malacatan - Tamales in the making.

FROM MALACATAN: August 9th - Sisters Rae Ann O’Neill, Mary Duffy, Mi Young, Judy Noone and Teruko continue their work among the poor of Malacatan, grateful for the help from the parishioners of St. Ann;s.  Your continued support has enabled them to meet immediate needs of the people in dire need, and provide for long term growth of the people.  With your help they have opened a store for home made goods, a food cooperative, educated lay leaders for the religious and social needs of the people.  They have taught the people better use of their land and resources, and given people a hope for the future they generally lacked.  The sisters continually send their thanks to the parishioners of St. Ann’s for giving them the ability to do things they had dreamed of in the past.  This will run through Labor Day.

July 22nd 2009  - Malacatan - Putting Masa in leaves before cooking.

July 14th, 2009 - From Malacatan.  Here are photos of Mary as she joined in helping our neighbors prepare food.

July 5th, 2009 - These photos are of Karen and her groups in La Curva (The Curve).  She has two groups.  La Curva is a village of Malacatan.  It is a right turn off the main road.  You cross a bridge just before reaching the village.  During the rainy season it sometimes is impossible to cross the bridge but now, there are no problems reaching there.  The day I visited, Karen (in the red blouse) gave them a test of the material.  They are quite serious about it all.  They use the classroom of the local school. So we did not need to buy tables and benches as we did for other groups.  Rae Ann.

June 14th, 2009 - From Malacatan.  Beneraria is teaching the first phase of literacy in the following two photos.  Her group is smaller.  This is Mi Young's favorite.  She has great affection for them. Rae Ann.

May 31, 2009 - From Malacatan.  These photos are from San Jose Suchiate which is situated at the border with Mexico at the River Suchiate.  During Hurricane Stan much of the land was carried away by the high tide of waters created by the storm.  Most of the people here are from the highlands, Tacana.  The classes have been successful and the students are very faithful to attend.  Mario is one of the leaders of the community and he asked Mi Young if she would like to establish literacy classes in the community.

May 17, 2009 - From Malacatan. 

The first place is "La Igualdad" (Equality) where Olinda teaches.  She has two classes.  As you can see many of the women have babies on their backs.  It makes the learning and teaching more difficult but isn't it wonderful that they want to learn.
 
The trip to Igualdad was an interesting one.  We went by car until Tocache where we parked the car.  They are constructing a part of the road, so we walked this part about 15 minutes uphill.  Where the road work ended we boarded a mini bus that took us the rest of the way. It is a road of stone and very rough riding - so the trip is very slow.  We were welcomed by Olinda and found only a few students.  Some were in the Church, others a chicken project etc.  It is a very friendly pueblo.  I think there are many projects from abroad and the people are used to foreigners.
 

April 5, 2009 - From Malacatan

Here is Mary Duffy with our youngest and late arrived Maryknoll Sister, Analyn from the Philippines.  Analyn is now working in the Quiche.  Mary continues her invaluable work in Ecology.  We started the year with two new groups.

February 1st, 2009  FROM MALACATAN  (HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT)

The parishioners of St. Ann’s have been contributing approximately $10,000 a year to the Maryknoll sisters working in Malacatan. Much of this Money is spent on direct assistance for health care, food and other basic immediate needs of the people they serve. A portion of it is spent for the long term welfare of the people. This portion is spent on education of the children and adults; gaining a better understanding of the uses of their environment to provide for their long term food needs; and start-up businesses, such as a store and food pantry to enable them to be more self-sustaining. As part of this effort, Sr. Mi Young is undertaking an educational program beginning with alphabetization techniques all the way through living them personal skills to become better self supporting and to provide them with a personal sense of self worth and self esteem. Below is a picture of the first group led by Amanda:

November 23, 2008 FROM MALACATAN: Sisters Judy and Teruko visited St. Ann's on Monday November 17th and spent time with parishioners after the 8:30 mass. They talked about their work with the women of Malacatan, and brought special thanks from the women for all the help that St. Ann's has provided. The sisters talked about the success of the store (funded by St. Ann's) that markets local goods, and has become self sustaining. They also talked about the results of the educational programs we have assisted with and the happiness they experience in seeing the women gain self esteem and stand a little taller and interact more with others around them. The sisters live at an altitude of 8000 ft. and experience all seasons in one day. It's cold in the early morning, delightful, almost spring like in the late morning, hot like summer in the afternoon, and then cold again at night. While they were here, we celebrated sister Judy's birthday (17th of November) with the sisters from LaEsperanza in Georgetown. The sisters will visit other parishes, some of the high schools and grade schools throughout the diocese. There is a special place in their hearts for St. Ann's

November 2, 2008  FROM SR. MI YOUNG IN SAN MARCOS (continued)
LITERACY PROJECT FOR WOMEN OF THE COASTAL AREA OF SAN MARCOS, GUATEMALA - 2009

Three Maryknoll Sisters Mary Ann Duffy, Rae Ann O´Neill and Mi Young Sung are working for women’s pastoral program as a team. And Mi Young Sung is directly involved with Literacy program. They are working with about 20 women’s groups in different communities. In each group there are 15 to 30 women and more than 70% of them don’t read and write. Sister Mi Young Sung goes out to the communities with teachers and explains the needs of the literacy to the whole community. She helps the teachers to develop their teaching skills through a workshop and weekly meetings, provides materials and has workshops with women and coordinates the teachers’ work by visiting each class once a week. Sister Mary Ann Duffy and Rae Ann O’Neill encourage women to begin literacy classes. The objective of the Maryknoll Sisters’ work has been the promotion and integral formation of women, based on their reality and culture in order to enable them to participate in the religious, social, economic, political, and cultural worlds of their communities and their country. It is the hope of the coordination to facilitate the tools necessary for the participation of women at all levels of society in an effort to awaken communities to the challenges and the needs of future generations.

October 26, 2008 FROM SR. MI YOUNG IN SAN MARCOS (continued)

LITERACY PROJECT FOR WOMEN OF THE COASTAL AREA OF SAN MARCOS, GUATEMALA

Three Maryknoll Sisters Mary Ann Duffy, Rae Ann O´Neill and Mi Young Sung are working for women’s pastoral program as a team. And Mi Young Sung is directly involved with Literacy program. They are working with about 20 women’s groups in different communities. In each group there are 15 to 30 women and more than 70% of them don’t read and write. Sister Mi Young Sung goes out to the communities with teachers and explains the needs of the literacy to the whole community. She helps the teachers to develop their teaching skills through a workshop and weekly meetings, provides materials and has workshops with women and coordinates the teachers’ work by visiting each class once a week. Sister Mary Ann Duffy and Rae Ann O’Neill encourage women to begin literacy classes. The objective of the Maryknoll Sisters’ work has been the promotion and integral formation of women, based on their reality and culture in order to enable them to participate in the religious, social, economic, political, and cultural worlds of their communities and their country. It is the hope of the coordination to facilitate the tools necessary for the participation of women at all levels of society in an effort to awaken communities to the challenges and the needs of future generations.
 

October 19, 2008 FROM SR. MI YOUNG IN SAN MARCOS  (continued)

LITERACY PROJECT FOR WOMEN OF THE COASTAL AREA OF SAN MARCOS, GUATEMALA 

When women try to advance in their personal formation and try to do their duty for the family, the church and society, they face illiteracy as a big obstacle. Women live with the limitation of not knowing how to read and write. In spite of difficulties, the high percentage of the illiteracy, the lack of resources and opportunities for economic and spiritual development, it appears the time is ripe for a project of literacy in the costal area of Guatemala.

October 12th, 2008 From Malacatan - FROM SR. MI YOUNG IN SAN MARCOS - LITERACY PROJECT FOR WOMEN OF THE COASTAL - AREA OF SAN MARCOS, GUATEMALA  - 2009

September 28, 2008 From Malacatan  -  The store continues to be a gathering place after Mass on Sunday and a great benefit for the people of the area. I emailed Sr. Rae Ann that in addition to all the staples they have stacked, that they need to stock some Twinkies as well. We’ll see. So far, the two stores we have helped established through our donations are doing well and giving the people a stronger sense of self worth and self determination. Bob Tracy

September 14, 2008 From Malacatan  -- Hi, Bob, here are two more photos of the new store. These pics were taken the day I gave them the one thou (from St. Ann’s) to get started. They began selling the last Sunday in July. They are standing in front of the little storeroom where they sell their basic foodstuffs on Sunday mornings after the mass. The one photo of Eluvia Alvarez was the one who received the donation. That day they formed their Directiva - president, secretary, treasurer and other vocales. The pastor is helping them - especially when they buy, he has promised to provide the transportation. If you want further details, let me know. Rae Ann.

September 7, 2008 From Malacatan  --  Hi, Bob, The store had its opening on July 27th. They opened for the first time to sell the basic food stuffs such as beans, rice, oil, sugar. The pastor, Father Geldy, is helping them. They will use the money they make on the sales to buy more. They are enthusiastic and very appreciative of the donation St. Ann's sent. I will take two weeks to visit my sister in law, Betty, in New Jersey, and my brother, John in Dallas the 2nd and 3rd week in August. Hope all is well with you. Un abrazo, Rae Ann

August 17, 2008 FROM MALACATAN
The parishioners of St. Ann’s and the Maryknoll Sisters in Malacatan, San Marcos, Guatemala.

Over four years ago, the parish of St. Ann’s established its partnership with two groups of Maryknoll sisters, who were assisting the needy poor, especially women and children, in Malacatan, San Marcos, Guatemala. Over the past four years St. Ann’s has contributed almost $50,000 (an average of almost $1000 per month) to the sisters’ work, and in addition, provided them with $10,000 to assist in the purchase a new jeep to reach the people in the hills on virtually non-existent roads. Every dollar contributed has gone directly to the sisters to assist the people in Malacatan.
The money has been used to provide needed surgeries for poor children; to replace a collapsed kitchen; to assist a family get on their feet, after their husband/ father was killed attempting to cross Mexico into the US to find work to obtain some money for his family. The mother and her children were established in a simple food preparation business that has enabled them to become self-sufficient. Funds have also been used to further the education of lay leaders, who teach religion and administer parishes between the visits of one of the few priests there. We have provided funding for a store for the sale of locally hand made artifacts, and other items, again with the hope of providing some ability for people to become self-sufficient. A library has been established for children, especially those who are born HIV positive. And of course there are the little needs that the sisters are now able to do, which helps the people in short term crises, including helping people rebuild their homes and re-establish crops that were destroyed by Hurricane Stan. We have funded the education of approximately fifty children in grades one through high school, who would otherwise not receive an education. It only requires $250 per child to cover all expenses. We will continue this work each Fall. The relationship with the sisters has been a multi-dimensional one. They have visited the parish and met some of the people here. The sisters pray for the needs of the parish, as correspondingly, members of the parish pray for the needs of the sisters, and the people they assist. One of the classes at Most Blessed Sacrament school organized into teams named for each of the people we were supporting in their education. They sent them messages of support, and prayed for their success. Additionally, the town of Bethany Beach has donated the unused July 4th T-shirts, for the children of San Marcos. St. Ann’s continues to support the sisters through the blue envelopes placed both in the bi-monthly envelope packets and by the doors to the church and through other private donations. As a result of the generosity of the people of St. Ann’s, the sisters have been able to meet needs that had gone unmet in the past. The latest project, a grocery store, opened the first of August in a room in one of the parishes to enable the people of Malacatan to buy affordable groceries in a project that should be self sustaining. Pictures and progress of the store will be provided in September bulletins.
 

August 3, 2008 More on the Sisters

Sister Rae Ann O’Neill (chatting with local women)
 

Location: Guatemala, Central America
There Since: 1990
From: Highstown,New Jersey
"They keep us grounded in the relity of San Marcos." Sister Rae Ann hails from Highstown, New Jersey, and joined the Maryknoll Sisters in 1960. She spent her mission years as a teacher in Tanzania, East Africa; as an administrative secretary for the Holy See Mission at the United Nations; and as pastoral worker with basic Christian communities in a poor area of Mexico City. In 1990 Rae Ann began her mission in Guatemala as a pastoral worker, especially with women. Since 1995, she has dedicated her time to the development of the women’s work in San Marcos.
 

July 20, 2008 - More on the Sisters
Judith Noone was born November 17, 1947 in New York but moved shortly thereafter to Alexandria, Virginia where she grew up, attending Saint Mary’s Parroquial and Saint Mary’s Academy High School. After studies in Literature at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland she joined the Maryknoll Sisters and was assigned to Bolivia in 1970. During her years in Bolivia she lived and traveled along the rivers of the Beni Province, visiting rural communities, then to the North of Santa Cruz she lived for 3 years in a remote jungle community helping the new settlers forge a new life after having lost everything in floods. She returned for a year of formation (where she first met Teruko Ito) in 1974 and earned an MA in theology at Maryknoll Seminary. She returned to Bolivia in 1975 to begin the “Rural Pastoral Project” to train ministers of all kinds in the vast area to the North of Santa Cruz. Given the increasing number of Quechua speaking highland people migrating to the lowlands she studied Quechua for several months in Cochabamba.
In 1980 she was asked to work in the Communications Department at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY, arriving just a few months before Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke of Maryknoll and Dorothy Kazel OSU and Jean Donovan were brutally murdered in El Salvador in December 1980. For the next 4 years she dedicated most of her time to researching and writing The Same Fate As The Poor, a book on the lives of Ita Ford, Maura Clarke and Carol Piette, a Maryknoll Sister companion to Ita who died in a flash flood in August of that same year. To be continued next week
 

July 6, 2008 - More on the Sisters - Teruko Ito
Was born into a Buddhist family in Kyoto, Japan on March 25, 1945 a few months before the end of World War II. Under the guidance of her maternal grand-mother she was baptized into the Christian faith at the age of 4 together with her younger brother. Shortly before the baptism, her mother also became Catholic, while her father remained a Buddhist. She grew up in Kyoto where Maryknoll Missioners presence was strong in parishes though she studied in a mission school (from age 12 to 18) run by School Sisters of Notre Dame. After obtaining a BA in Education with a minor in Math from Maryknoll College in Manila, Philippines, she joined the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation in Manila. The first assignment in 1969 was to Tanzania in East Africa, where she taught Mathematics for 4 years. Then she proceeded to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, New York for on-going formation. There she studied at Maryknoll Seminary and received an MA in Theology. After working at the Congregational Center for a few years, she returned to Japan in 1978 where she made her Final Profession and engaged in the pioneering work sponsored by a Maryknoll Missioner with Alcoholics in Skid Row areas in Tokyo and in Osaka for ten years.
In 1988 she was called back to work as Formation Directress of the Congregation in New York and for five years engaged in the process of becoming a multicultural community, the future of the Maryknoll Sisters. After completing the formation work she studied in an Advanced MA Program in Pastoral Counseling at Fordham University. In 1995 she joined the Pastoral Team for Women in the Diocese of San Marcos, Guatemala. For almost ten years she has been engaged in on-going formation with and for women, especially indigenous women in Western Highlands of Guatemala. She began this year to design workshops on alcoholism, one of the primary causes of family violence, and offers family counseling and assistance. At the same time she is part of an alternative health center run by the School Sisters of St. Francis, where she provides integral body care including Reiki and Massage.
 

June 28, 2008 - Sr. Mi Young Sung Visiting a family in Malacatán

Location: Guatemala, Central America
There Since: 2003
From: Seoul, Korea
Sister Mi Young Sung is from Seoul, Korea. She joined the Maryknoll Sisters in August 5, 2000 and received her formation in Chicago. She is a trained social worker with a certificate in pastoral counseling. Malacatan is her first mission experience as a Maryknoll Sisters. She is also an artist, eager to share herself with the women of Guatemala and animate their creativity. She has began a literacy campaign for women.

Reported June 22, 2008   --- SISTER Mary ANN DUFFY
discussing ecology project with local woman

Location: Guatemala, Central America
There Since: 2003

From: Philadelphia, PA.  Sister Mary Ann Duffy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has been a Maryknoll Sister for 55 years. Mary has been a teacher in Yucatan, Mexico and done pastoral work with indigenous groups in Mexico and in Guatemala. For a time she was in Nicaragua and spent some three years at the United Nations representing the Maryknoll Sisters. She returned to Guatemala to work with women in 2003. She hopes to influence women.
 

The Sisters: Bernice, Rae Ann, Mary and Mi Young

June 1st, 2008   From Catarina.  Hi, Bob, Thanks to the parishioners of St. Ann’s for the contributions this year. The first one is to help
Hortensia in her radio program and the second contribution, among other things, we are using to help the deaf mute young man, Abelino, get to classes in Reu as well as travel expenses for Quendy who is attending high school in Malacatan. Today, Ethel and
I had our monthly meeting in Nuevo Progreso. We have been going there for the past eight years, since 2000. So we have a good connection there. The group has had its ups and downs of course. But with the young Pastor who has a radio program to fill, he
has challenged the women to be responsible for a program. They are using the different courses and materials that we have shared with them. By the way, we now live in Catarina (since Feb. 23) about a 20 minute drive from Malacatan. I will inquire at our
Treasury if we have to change the name from Malacatan. It is still the Women's work in the Coast.
 

March 16, 2008 FROM MALACATAN - THE SISTERS HAVE MOVED UP THE ROAD A WAYS TO BEGIN WORKING WITH A NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE SAN MARCOS DIOCESE.

Bob, The three of us (Rae Ann, Mi Young and Mary Duffy) are settling into our new house in the town of Catarina. It is more rural than Malacatan. People are friendlier too. It is a new beginning.
Catarina is 20 minutes down the road from Malacatan. The other 2 Maryknoll Sister Doctors live in a village nearby. It is the same Diocesan work with women. It is a convenient time for a change really. After nearly 10 years in Malacatan we could see the change in the women, lots of energy, creativity and independence. So we will focus on some parishes down the line, which are less organized. We will have the Malacatan experience to improve on. We don't have internet in the office yet. Thank God for Internet Cafes.
Sr. Mary Ann Duffy
Hi, Bob, Thanks for keeping in touch. Although we moved from Malacatan to Catarina February 23, we continue to adjust ourselves to our new surroundings. We don´t have internet in the house yet but hope to have it before the end of the year. Mary will be up your way in May. She will see you one way or another. Happy Easter. Blessings! Rae Ann
 

March 1, 2008 FROM MALACATAN  The SistersTwo young girls, in festive dress, add color to the harvest festival in San Pablo.  This annual event is equivalent to Thanksgiving in the U.S.  The people come with their pick-ups adorned with the harvest of the land, from coffee to corn to rabbits to chickens, all breathtaking.

February 24, 2008 FROM MALACATAN  The Sisters

Dear Bob, Andy, and parishioners of St. Ann’s. Wishing a blessed New Year. Hope all is well. I want to take the time to say thank you on behalf of all of us here in Malacatán. Attached is a photo of our team. I am giving the check for the scholarships 2008 today to Sr. Jeanne - $2,800. Taking a long look at the collaboration between the parishioners of St. Ann's and the Women's work here in Malacatan, we have reason to be very grateful for your generosity. Over the course of the year, you have given us a total of $10,400. The last donation of 2,000 came in November. More than half of that was for the scholarships - for 2007 and for 2008, $5,600. The rest we have used for the special projects of 2007: the production of the CD and the reproduction of the CD, cassette, songbooks, workbook on Gender, and the calendar. There also was money for the workshop in April and the special meetings that we have had with the women coordinators, and some used for gasoline to get us to our destinations. Thanks so much for facilitating our mission here in San Marcos. Rae Ann, Mary Ann and Mi Young

February 17, 2008 Continuing profiles of the students for whom we are providing scholarships.

Kendi Maldonado Mejía who will be entering 4th year high school. We have been helping her family over the past several years. The father abandoned them - leaving eight children for Reina (pictured with Kendi) to bring up on her own. Thanks for giving Kendi the opportunity to continue her studies so that she can help support the family.

February 10,2008 FROM MALACATAN
Continuing profiles of the students for whom we are providing scholarships.

Abraham Hermelindo Velásquez Pérez with his mother, Medarda. The family has had some problems and the financial situation has been touch and go. Two of the seven children have stopped going to school, but Abraham is doing well and likes to study. Without a scholarship it is doubtful he would be able to continue.
 

February 3, 2008 FROM MALACATAN - Continuing profiles of the students for whom we are providing scholarships.

Abraham Hermelindo Velásquez Pérez who will be entering high school. Abraham is doing well and likes to study.
(more next week)

January 20, 2008 FROM MALACATAN Hortensia García THE RADIO STATION

Three years ago a group of parishioners animated by the pastor of the parish of Saint Lucy, Malacatan, started a community radio station. They have been struggling along learning as they go, using their natural skills to communicate and to teach. The radio is a powerful means of uniting people in this coastal area where rain and bad roads make communication difficult. We have encouraged Hortensia García, one of the radio team, also a member of the Diocesan Women’s Pastoral organization, to use her skills to enable more women to follow the different programs of formation that the women’s groups receive. Last year Hortencia gave literacy classes for a small remuneration. Instead we want to help her produce a program emphasizing women’s issues for the radio. At the same time it would strengthen the network of women’s groups over the area and even into nearby Mexico. We need $1200. to facilitate Hortencia’s work as well as paying travel expenses for herself and a companion to prepare and rehearse the presentations for a women’s half hour dialogue each week.  Hortensia is a single mother trying to provide for her five children. Besides putting food on the table, she is also doing her best to send two of the boys to school. Let me know what you think. Happy New Year, Rae Ann. NOTE: WE SENT SR. RAE ANN THE NEEDED FUNDS THANKS TO YOUR GENEROSITY.

December 23, 2007 FROM MALACATAN AN UPDATE ON BERONY

For my sponsors: May you all receive a warm greeting, hoping to God that you are in good health and enjoying the blessings of our Creator. Before anything else, I want to apologize for not having written you sooner. Up to the present I have been very busy with the school work.

I take this opportunity to relate to you that I have been traveling to various towns of my province (San Marcos) for the purpose of taking part in Guatemalan folkloric dancing. I play a leading part and for that reason I feel obliged to go on the trip, and, of course, it is part of my studies. Also, I have gone to the altiplano of San Marcos for the purpose of observing the quality of the kind of education that the children receive, since this is going to be a part of y profession. In addition, I have the chance to give little talks about the realities of our country, such as: the lack of social values, the problem of extreme poverty, hunger, lack of solidarity, the absence of a government that is effective in combating all that adversely affects the country. I also help out in the Human Rights Office, in gratitude for the assistance you all give to me. There I perform duties such as making photocopies, helping the workmates, attending forums organized by the office, and many other things. These are some of the things I do outside my home. But there I do housekeeping duties since my parents do work in the fields in order to have the wherewithal to survive.. It requires so much effort to be able to earn a living. I'm truly grateful for the assistance that you all provide me seeing that your help is giving me the opportunity to have a better future. I take leave of you, hoping that God will protect you all and bless you. My greetings, kisses and hugs,
Sincerely, Berony Janeth Soto Macario

January 27, 2008 FROM MALACATAN
Continuing profiles of the students for whom we are providing scholarships.

Armando López Mauricio who is in 4th year of high school. He is a serious young man. With him is his mother, Francisca, and a cousin, Luis Fernando Marroquín, who hopes to study 3rd year high school at Santa Lucia. They both live in a Colonia La Ceiba which is a secluded town on the outskirts of the neighboring town of San Pablo. So, besides the cost of schooling, they have the added cost of daily travel. Besides Armando, there are three other children also studying.

January 13, 2008  FROM MALACATAN Continuing profiles of the students for whom we are providing scholarships José Manuel Orozco Fuentes

José Manuel Orozco Fuentes, 9 years old, going into 4th grade with his younger brother, Fernando, who is 7 years, entering 1st grade. Also in the photo are the Mother, Miriam, and one of three daughters, Matilde. They are all studying. The husband cannot work because his hands are paralyzed. She sells vegetables in the market.
 

December 16, 2007  FROM MALACATAN Beginning profiles of the students for whom we are providing scholarships.

Romeo Marroquín - Guadalupe Romeo Marroquín is 9 years old with his mother. He is entering 4th grade. His mother is a single parent. They have to rent a place to live. She sells in the market. Guadalupe says his favorite subject is Math. He has been studying the computer since first grade.

November 25, 2007   FROM MALACATAN
Greetings, Bob, Hope you are fine. We received word of the successful deposit of your last donation of one thou to our work. Thanks so much. We published 100 copies of our Workbook No.1 on Gender - and sold it at the Diocesan Assembly this week. We are so proud to have done that. There will be Workbook No. 2 on Sexuality and No. 3 Women in History.
Thanks so much for letting me know that St. Ann's wants to sponsor the scholarships again this year at Colegio Santa Lucia. The are students who would not be able to study without your help. I will be meeting three of the students this wednesday to interview them and send you photos and a little write up on each one. I understand that you are willing to send the same amount as last year. That is 2,800. I just want to check with you - if you are in agreement with that amount. Thanks so much for your support on many levels. Con cariño, Rae Ann
NOTE: over the past couple of months, we have sent the sisters $4000, there is currently $1800 available. We will send that to Sr. Rae Ann, and forward the remainder as it becomes available. Tuition is payable in installments, especially since we are providing scholarships for a large number of students.
 

November 18th   AN UPDATE ON BERONY
For my sponsors: May you all receive a warm greeting, hoping to God that you are in good health and enjoying the blessings of our Creator. Before anything else, I want to apologize for not having written you sooner. Up to the present I have been very busy with the school work.
I take this opportunity to relate to you that I have been traveling to various towns of my province (San Marcos) for the purpose of taking part in Guatemalan folkloric dancing. I play a leading part and for that reason I feel obliged to go on the trip, and, of course, it is part of my studies. Also, I have gone to the altiplano of San Marcos for the purpose of observing the quality of the kind of education that the children receive, since this is going to be a part of my profession. In addition, I have the chance to give little talks about the realities of our country, such as: the lack of social values, the problem of extreme poverty, hunger, lack of solidarity, the absence of a government that is effective in combating all that adversely affects the country. I also help out in the Human Rights Office, in gratitude for the assistance you all give to me. There I perform duties such as making photocopies, helping the workmates, attending forums organized by the office, and many other things. These are some of the things I do outside my home. But there I do housekeeping duties since my parents do work in the fields in order to have the wherewithal to survive.. It requires so much effort to be able to earn a living. I'm truly grateful for the assistance that you all provide me seeing that your help is giving me the opportunity to have a better future. I take leave of you, hoping that God will protect you all and bless you. My greetings, kisses and hugs,
Sincerely, Berony Janeth Soto Macario

November 4, 2007  SPECIAL GUEST COMING TO VISIT MONDAY NOVEMBER 12TH AFTER 8:30 MASS
IN DELANEY HALL
Re. Ademar Barilli, CS
Born in 1956 in the State of Rio Grande Do Sur, Brazil, Ademar Barilli was one of eight children of an Italian family. He holds baccalaureate degrees in Philosophy. Psychology and Sociology from the Catholic University of Paraná and a Master’s degree from the Institute of Theology in Sao Paulo. He was ordained a Scalabrini Father in 1988. While a seminarian, he had been actively involved in base communities and university student politics, and he did extensive work with youth. Upon ordination, he was sent to Guadalajara, Mexico for a year to study Spanish and then spent four years ministering to farm workers in the imperial Valley of California. Thereafter, he served for a year as Director of the Scalabrini Fathers’ Casa del Migrante in Tecun Uman in the Department of San Marcos, Guatemala. There he has served for twelve years, supervising the construction of the present facility and establishing an office of human rights for migrants. San Marcos Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini included the Casa del Migrante (a hostel for Latin Americans headed to and from the US) among the programs he has designated as especially deserving support by the Diocese of Wilmington. When time permits, Fr. Ademar is an avid gardener and plays the guitar. He maintains contact with his cultural roots by drinking Mate and cooking the food of his Brazilian childhood. He is reputed to speak Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, Italian (including the Venetian dialect)and is deeply involved in the work of the pastoral de Movilidad Humana of the Diocese of San Marcos.   If you would like to know more about The Scalabrinian Missionaries please click here: http://www.scalabrini.org/eng/english.htm

FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN
FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE WILL PROFILE THE
SISTERS WHO ARE SERVING IN MALACATAN

Judith Noone
Judith Noone was born November 17, 1947 in New York but moved shortly thereafter to Alexandria, Virginia where she grew up, attending Saint Mary’s Parroquial and Saint Mary’s Academy High School. After studies in Literature at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland she joined the Maryknoll Sisters and was assigned to Bolivia in 1970. During her years in Bolivia she lived and traveled along the rivers of the Beni Province, visiting rural communities, then to the North of Santa Cruz she lived for 3 years in a remote jungle community helping the new settlers forge a new life after having lost everything in floods. She returned for a year of formation (where she first met Teruko Ito) in 1974 and earned an MA in theology at Maryknoll Seminary. She returned to Bolivia in 1975 to begin the “Rural Pastoral Project” to train ministers of all kinds in the vast area to the North of Santa Cruz. Given the increasing number of Quechua speaking highland people migrating to the lowlands she studied Quechua for several months in Cochabamba.  In 1980 she was asked to work in the Communications Department at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY, arriving just a few months before Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke of Maryknoll and Dorothy Kazel OSU and Jean Donovan were brutally murdered in El Salvador in December 1980. For the next 4 years she dedicated most of her time to researching and writing The Same Fate As The Poor, a book on the lives of Ita Ford, Maura Clarke and Carol Piette, a Maryknoll Sister companion to Ita who died in a flash flood in August of that same year. In 1985 she received the invitation from the sisters in Guatemala to begin a new mission in the war torn department of El Quiché where she lived for 7 years doing whatever could be done among the traumatized Quiché speaking people whose language she learned. Among the projects she launched with the people were goat and rabbit raising, vegetable gardens, reforestation projects, literacy, catechetical training, basic formation on human rights, community organization, etc. etc. From 1992 to 1994 she studied anthropology at American University and earned an MA there. Returning to Guatemala she and Teruko Ito and Rae Ann O’Neill began the Diocesan Pastoral Commission for Women’s Ministries in the Diocese of San Marcos and is still there as she hopes to be for many more years
 

Teruko Ito
Was born into a Buddhist family in Kyoto, Japan on March 25, 1945 a few months before the end of World War II. Under the guidance of her maternal grand-mother she was baptized into the Christian faith at the age of 4 together with her younger brother. Shortly before the baptism, her mother also became Catholic, while her father remained a Buddhist. She grew up in Kyoto where Maryknoll Missioners presence was strong in parishes though she studied in a mission school (from age 12 to 18) run by School Sisters of Notre Dame. After obtaining a BA in Education with a minor in Math from Maryknoll College in Manila, Philippines, she joined the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation in Manila. The first assignment in 1969 was to Tanzania in East Africa, where she taught Mathematics for 4 years. Then she proceeded to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, New York for on-going formation. There she studied at Maryknoll Seminary and received an MA in Theology. After working at the Congregational Center for a few years, she returned to Japan in 1978 where she made her Final Profession and engaged in the pioneering work sponsored by a Maryknoll Missioner with Alcoholics in Skid Row areas in Tokyo and in Osaka for ten years. 

In 1988 she was called back to work as Formation Directress of the Congregation in New York and for five years engaged in the process of becoming a multicultural community, the future of the Maryknoll Sisters. After completing the formation work she studied in an Advanced MA Program in Pastoral Counseling at Fordham University. In 1995 she joined the Pastoral Team for Women in the Diocese of San Marcos, Guatemala. For almost ten years she has been engaged in on-going formation with and for women, especially indigenous women in Western Highlands of Guatemala. She began this year to design workshops on alcoholism, one of the primary causes of family violence, and offers family counseling and assistance. At the same time she is part of an alternative health center run by the School Sisters of St. Francis, where she provides integral body care including Reiki and Massage.

Sr. Mi Young Sung
Visiting a family in Malacatán
In 1988 she was called back to work as Formation Directress of the Congregation in New York and for five years engaged in the process of becoming a multicultural community, the future of the Maryknoll Sisters. After completing the formation work she studied in an Advanced MA Program in Pastoral Counseling at Fordham University. In 1995 she joined the Pastoral Team for Women in the Diocese of San Marcos, Guatemala. For almost ten years she has been engaged in on-going formation with and for women, especially indigenous women in Western Highlands of Guatemala. She began this year to design workshops on alcoholism, one of the primary causes of family violence, and offers family counseling and assistance. At the same time she is part of an alternative health center run by the School Sisters of St. Francis, where she provides integral body care including Reiki and Massage.
Location: Guatemala, Central America
There Since: 2003
From: Seoul, Korea
Sister Mi Young Sung is from Seoul, Korea. She joined the Maryknoll Sisters in August 5, 2000 and received her formation in Chicago. She is a trained social worker with a certificate in pastoral counseling. Malacatan is her first mission experience as a Maryknoll Sisters. She is also an artist, eager to share herself with the women of Guatemala and animate their creativity. She has began a literacy campaign for women.

SISTER Mary ANN DUFFY discussing ecology project with local woman.  Location: Guatemala, Central America, There Since: 2003, From: Philadelphia, PA
Sister Mary Ann Duffy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has been a Maryknoll Sister for 55 years. Mary has been a teacher in Yucatan, Mexico and done pastoral work with indigenous groups in Mexico and in Guatemala. For a time she was in Nicaragua and spent some three years at the United Nations representing the Maryknoll Sisters. She returned to Guatemala to work with women in 2003. She hopes to influence women
 

Sister Rae Ann O’Neill
(chatting with local women)
Location: Guatemala, Central America

There Since: 1990  From: Highstown,New Jersey
"They keep us grounded in the relity of San Marcos."  Sister Rae Ann hails from Hightstown, New Jersey, and
joined the Maryknoll Sisters in 1960. She spent her mission years as a teacher in Tanzania, East Africa; as
an administrative secretary for the Holy See Mission at the United Nations; and as pastoral worker with basic
Christian communities in a poor area of Mexico City. In 1990 Rae Ann began her mission in Guatemala as a
pastoral worker, especially with women. Since 1995, she has dedicated her time to the development of the
women’s work in San Marcos.

August 26, 2007 - FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN (CONTINUING TO LOOK BACK ON OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SISTERS)
Storms, the land, and the wisdom of a six year old - Dear Bob, There was a three day conference - during our stay in the city – with agrarian and other technical people preparing our colleagues (and ourselves) to be able to accompany the people for what will surely be an early and heavy rainy season. Given the ravages of tropical storm Stan last October, the mountain sides are ready to come down even more with a bit of rain. I will never ever be able to feel what it is like to so identify oneself with the piece of land they live upon – we being such a mobile society. But they can not leave their land, as poor as it is. A grandmother, Crecenta, from Boxoncan was telling us how it was during the storm. Impenetrable blinding fog, relentless rain for days, the sounds of landslides all around, but that they couldn’t see. It was her grandson, 6 years old, who riveted the family with his wisdom when he said, “Grandmother, you and grandfather inherited this land from your parents, and they from theirs. And I will inherit it form you, but it doesn’t belong to anyone but to God, and God will take care of it and of us” We are very grateful to you, parishioners of St. Ann’s, for your generous support. Much love, Abrazos, Judy and Teruko
 

August 19th, 2007 - FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN
Hi, Bob, Andy and parishioners of St. Ann, Thanks for all the news. We had our second Encuentro of the year yesterday in Malacatan and we were able to present the new music CD which I picked up an hour before the activity. It is great and I will send you the four copies you want. Will send you some fotos and a little article about the encuentro... Will be in touch soon. Rae Ann Note: we provided support for the making of the CD. When copies arrive, one will be placed in the parish library, and one will be forwarded to the Hispanic ministry in the diocese.
 

August 12th, 2007 - FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN
Like-to-like is how people are enriched. When Malacatan connects to
Totonicapan and Totonicapan connects to Nicaragua, something powerful happens, women around the world are more and more aware of each other and the work they are doing to change history. Something similar happened with Eluvia , from San Marcos who went to Costa Rica to learn of women's popular education methods. The women of San Marcos are on the move. If you are interested in knowing the organizers of the Encounter, you can find them on the web - www.rednosotrasenelmundo.org Sr. Mary Ann Duffy, NOTE: Many of these opportunities for the women of Malacatan to progress beyond their environmental poverty are provided by the Maryknoll sisters with the help of the parishioners and visitors to St. Ann’s who have provided means to the sisters to help in their work.

July 29th, 2007  -  FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN
Just a bit of news from Malacatan.  Malacatan is not one of the highlights of a cultural tour of Guatemala. We are 5 hours from the capitol. 80,000 inhabitants more or less, farmers and small shop owners. The most impressive crop is the numbers of children in the many primary schools. We are 15 minutes from the Mexican border, so we are aware of the stream of central Americans going north looking for work. Hortencia Garcia is one of the women in the ¨Women's Pastoral group. You can tell her Mayan background by her size and her dynamism. She lived in Mexico during the war years but returned to Guatemala with her five
children. Her husband stayed there and has not been in contact with them for a few years now.
The parish began a community radio station on a shoe string.  It is called
"The Good News." It has been on the air for 4 years now and has grown in technical ability and creativity.  Hortensia is one of the founding group.  She began her training with a local organization of radio commentators in Totonicapan and was chosen by that group to go to Nicaragua to represent them at a gathering of women involved in radio work.  It was a great opportunity to meet other women working to help women reach their full potential. "Women Connecting" was the title of the meeting, the First Latinamerican Encounter  on Gender, New Communication for Social Change.  Sr. Mary Ann Duffy.

July 22nd, 2007  FROM MALACATAN
We were able, this past week, to send $1000 to both Sr. Rae Ann and Sr. Judy to help with their work in
Malacatan. As has been the case throughout, all of the money that is contributed goes directly to the sisters for the work among the people in Malacatan.  We hope to see Sr. Judy and Teruko at the end of July, if all goes well. Hopefully they will have enough time to be able to visit with interested parishioners.

July 15, 2007

Picture of Berony on the left with her brother and two nephews left by her sister who went to the USA, and her mom.
I am a young woman, 16 years of age who wants to continue in her studies, seeing that I have already completed the third grade of basic schooling. This was through the efforts of my parents who, thanks be to God, have been able to give me financial aid. However, what has happened is that they are now older. My dad is now 74 and my mom is 53, and they capable of working so as to help me so that I can go on to graduation. They now have the responsibility of raising my little nephews because my sister has abandoned them. They are still young. For this reason they tell me that it is really getting more and more difficult to scrape together enough money since they have no job skills. I also have a little brother who completed the sixth grade this year and needs to go on to high school. So it is that my parents are telling me that they can't help me any longer since they have to help my little brother. That leaves me a third grader and, since I am a minor, I cannot work because no one has confidence in me. I really have the desire to keep on studying to be able to help my parents and my little brother who is the youngest. But without a skill I'm useless. I thank you here for your support and understanding, with the hope that your response may be positive. God bless you... Respectfully, Berony Janeth Soto Macario. As you know, we have been able to provide for Berony’s education

July 7 2007 Girls Education

Thanks a million (for the recent $1000 we sent). It is a huge help towards the education of several extremely poor little girls and young women. When we decided to help them we had no idea where the money would come from but God seems to bring wonderful people into our lives to meet the needs we come across constantly. Our Huge Thanks to you and the good people of Saint Ann's. Three of the girls we help are daughters of Auralia, the one who lost her husband in the desert and returned. Judy

June 24, 2007 Friends from Japan Shopping

Now that CAFTA is a reality, analysts throughout Latin America seem to be saying that the best defense is to initiate, insofar as possible, local sources of income, which is what our store certainly hopes to be, to buffer ourselves against the dependencies which will be imposed. Just yesterday, one of the groups whose products we carry in our store, a group of roughly 50 Mayan women weavers from Cotzal, El Quiche, Guate, called to say how grateful they are for our orders and support and asked that we please - we and my sister who markets Guate artisan things in the USA out of Denver - give them work especially in these months of September through December. These are the months when their corn supplies are dwindling and they have to go to Chiapas, Mexico or to the coffee plantations in Guate to make some cash to be able to buy what they need to survive for the rest of the year. We of course told them to bring or send things in for which we will pay them half and the other half on consignment. My sister is also ordering more things from them. This particular group and the other more than 20 groups who we support by having their art in our store, are all living tenuously as usual though perhaps more so when CAFTA really kicks in. We intend to do all we can to keep their goods flowing. Judy and Teruko
Note: through your donations, we were able to provide $5000, so that the store would be able to function.

June 9th, 2007 Hi, Bob, Here is some background on the other young boy that St. Ann's has
recently helped: 

Freiman Cabrera . . . had to have a new valve replaced in his head for a special condition which he has had since a small child. Before, Freiman had very little energy. Now, after the operation, he not only is feeling better but is now in school and very eager to learn. The photos show Freiman in school with
the teacher helping him. He is a very sweet young boy. I had the chance to visit him in April and he is doing so well. He is being tested for glasses so that he can read faster. His parents are so grateful for the assistance St. Ann's sent to help defray the cost of the operation. The family who had to borrow the money and were paying 10% interrest monthly, were happy to pay off their debts. The care of Freiman is ongoing, of course. We shall be attentive to any special needs of Freiman. There are many cases similar to Freiman - that is, folks who have difficult health problems with little cash to take care of them. With the money received from St. Anns, we try to choose the most needy. Thanks again for all you do for the folks here in Guatemala. Rae Ann O'Neill

May 27, 2007 FROM MALACATAN.  THE BEGINNINGS APRIL 2004

THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL LOOK BACK ON OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SISTERS
We are overwhelmed by your generosity and quick response to our needs here in Guatemala. Thanks so much for the check ($10,000) which you sent for us to buy a new car for our work with the women. The last two days we traveled to the most distant communities – it takes over two hours to get there and we are all shaken up from the many bumps and rocks and holes in the road. Believe it or not these roads are one hundred per cent better than they were last year. There is hope that they are going to pave them – hopefully this year. The rains are just starting now – so that is always a problem for the road builders. Our work with the women encourages us to give them formation that will help them be self-sufficient. Regarding the car. We are going ahead with buying a new car – a Mitsubishi Montero Io. It will be available the end of July. So we are in the process of doing all the necessary transactions – ownership, trade in of the Landcruiser, etc. We are so grateful for your donation to make this purchase. Take care. Sister Rae Ann

May 20, 2007 FROM MALACATAN

It is mango season again. Our neighbors on both sides have enormous mango trees. We benefit as they drop into the yard, the mangos that is. We eat
mangos and drink mango juice. We celebrate birthdays with mango cobbler, mango cake, and mango pudding. Mangos are like soft apples only sweeter. A darling young women came up to me after our workshop saying she was sorry she did not join in more but she is deaf and could not be sure of the theme. I could tell she had learned to speak because of that slight echo in her voice. I had no idea. I will try harder next time to enunciate. The workshop is on Money Management. We brought the lady next door with us to share her experience of managing a store. She is the owner of a Mini Super.. She was great. There were many questions. Lots of laughs too.  Mary Duffy

May 13, 2007 FROM MALACATAN
This year we did not support any theology students because they all finished their two years and did not opt to go on for the 3rd year which was more group field work (apparently, we really never got a crystal clear picture of it) and not too practical for them who have families and other commitments in their communities. We did want them to be able to keep studying at some level and so two of them are signed up for a course in political participation, getting ready for presidential and congressional elections the end of this year. That consists of two day workshops once a month which is handle able! We are launching into a diocesan wide program to encourage those who aren’t registered to do so and to vote. Many – especially women – don’t have their citizenship papers and therefore don’t really exist. We will have a workshop this Friday - all of the diocesan personnel – with the United Nations Development Program – getting ready for other workshops that we will have in the communities. …. More after that happens when it becomes clearer. Sr. Judy

April 15th, 2007 FROM MALACATAN
The parishioners of St. Ann’s and the Maryknoll Sisters in Malacatan, San Marcos, Guatemala
Almost three years ago, the parish of St. Ann’s established its partnership with two groups of Maryknoll sisters, who were assisting the needy poor, especially women and children, in Malacatan, San Marcos, Guatemala. Over the past three years St. Ann’s has contributed almost $34,000 (an average of over $950.00 per month) to the sisters’ work, and in addition, provided them with funds to purchase a new jeep to reach the people in the hills on virtually non-existent roads. Every dollar contributed has gone directly to the sisters to assist the people in Malacatan. The money has been used to provide needed surgeries for poor children; to replace a collapsed kitchen; to assist a family get on their feet, after their husband/ father was killed attempting to cross Mexico into the US to find work to obtain some money for his family. The mother and her children were established in a simple food preparation business that has enabled them to become self-sufficient. Funds have also been used to further the education of lay leaders, who teach religion and administer parishes between the visits of one of the few priests there. We have provided funding for a store for the sale of locally hand made artifacts, and other items, again with the hope of providing some ability for people to become self-sufficient. A library has been established for children, especially those who are born HIV positive. And of course there are the little needs that the sisters are now able to do which helps the people in short term crises, including helping people rebuild their homes and re-establish crops that were destroyed by Hurricane Stan. Currently we are funding the education of fifteen children in grades one through high school, who would otherwise not receive an education. The relationship with the sisters has been a multi-dimensional one. They have visited the parish and met some of the people here. The sisters pray for the needs of the parish, as correspondingly, members of the parish pray for the needs of the sisters, and the people they assist. One of the classes at Most Blessed Sacrament school organized into teams named for each of the people we were supporting in their education. They sent them messages of support, and prayed for their success. Additionally, the town of Bethany Beach has donated the unused July 4th T-shirts, for the children of San Marcos. St. Ann’s continues to support the sisters through the blue envelopes placed both in the bi-monthly envelope packets and by the doors to the church and through other private donations. As a result of the generosity of the people of St. Ann’s, the sisters have been able to meet needs that had gone unmet in the past.

April 8, 2007 FROM MALACATAN
The parishioners of St. Ann’s and the Maryknoll Sisters in Malacatan, San Marcos, Guatemala
Almost three years ago, the parish of St. Ann’s established its partnership with two groups of Maryknoll sisters, who were assisting the needy poor, especially women and children, in Malacatan, San Marcos, Guatemala. Over the past three years St. Ann’s has contributed almost $34,000 (an average of over $950.00 per month) to the sisters’ work, and in addition, provided them with funds to purchase a new jeep to reach the people in the hills on virtually non-existent roads. Every dollar contributed has gone directly to the sisters to assist the people in Malacatan.

The money has been used to provide needed surgeries for poor children; to replace a collapsed kitchen; to assist a family get on their feet, after their husband/ father was killed attempting to cross Mexico into the US to find work to obtain some money for his family. The mother and her children were established in a simple food preparation business that has enabled them to become self-sufficient. Funds have also been used to further the education of lay leaders, who teach religion and administer parishes between the visits of one of the few priests there. We have provided funding for a store for the sale of locally hand made artifacts, and other items, again with the hope of providing some ability for people to become self-sufficient. A library has been established for children, especially those who are born HIV positive. And of course there are the little needs that the sisters are now able to do which helps the people in short term crises, including helping people rebuild their homes and re-establish crops that were destroyed by Hurricane Stan. Currently we are funding the education of fifteen children in grades one through high school, who would otherwise not receive an education. The relationship with the sisters has been a multi-dimensional one. They have visited the parish and met some of the people here. The sisters pray for the needs of the parish, as correspondingly, members of the parish pray for the needs of the sisters, and the people they assist. One of the classes at Most Blessed Sacrament school organized into teams named for each of the people we were supporting in their education. They sent them messages of support, and prayed for their success. Additionally, the town of Bethany Beach has donated the unused July 4th T-shirts, for the children of San Marcos. St. Ann’s continues to support the sisters through the blue envelopes placed both in the bi-monthly envelope packets and by the doors to the church and through other private donations. As a result of the generosity of the people of St. Ann’s, the sisters have been able to meet needs that had gone unmet in the past.
 

April 1, 2007

Leivi Laura Pérez Chilel - Leivi is one of the fifteen students that St. Ann’s is helping with a scholarship. She is in second year of high school and one of three children. Leivi's father died three years ago and her mother sells tortillas (breakfast, lunch, supper). This income is insufficient to cover all the needs of her small family. The family lives in between two rivers and when Stan came roaring through in October 2005, the family had to leave their home and rent a house to be out of danger of the waters. They have returned to their home so that they don't have the added expense of rent. Leivi has four more years to complete her studies. She will choose as her career Computer and Secretary. Rae Ann

March 18,2007 - FROM MALACATAN Hi, Bob, Here is some info on Saint Lucy School. Rae Ann
olegio Santa Lucia (where we are sending students)

On the 4th of January 1956 Santa Lucia School opened its doors for the first time to offer the opportunity of an education to girls and boys here in Malacatan. Last year they celebrated their 50th anniversary. It is a private Catholic institution run by the Franciscan Sisters of the Assumption, a Guatemalan religious congregation. The classes begin with Pre-Grade School, Grade School and High School. The last three years the students choose a career such as Commercial Secretary, Book-Keeper with orientation in Computer or a high school degree in Computer. Students can study in the morning or the afternoon. The morning classes begin at 7
o'clock and the day ends at 7 at night when the afternoon session finishes. The graduates are prepared to seek work in the many businesses here in Malacatán - banks, commercial or industrial establishments. The school began an expansion project last year- enlarging the school to accommodate the student population. The vision of the school is to "inculcate in the young women and men a love and respect for God and human dignity. With a sound understanding of the human values needed in our modern world today, they will be prepared to put them in practice. With a conviction of an integral formation, they will be able to change negative attitudes, develop their potential and prepare themselves to face the challenges that life offers and to strive to make the world more human."

March 25, 2007 - Brenda Carolina Alvarado Gálvez

Brenda is 10 years old and in fourth grade. She lives near the school. On the 8 of January her father died of cancer - after a four-month illness. She is one of five children, two older brothers and two younger ones. After school Brenda helps her mother with the house work, does her homework and looks after her two younger brothers - four years and one year of age. The two older boys are studying. And their uncle is helping pay for the oldest brother who is studying to be a teacher. Brenda likes math and language and would like to be a teacher. Rae Ann
 

March 11th, 2007 - Hi, Bob, The Sister principal of the Colegio Santa Lucía gave me a little about Sindy who would like to study this year. Rae Ann

Sindy lives with her grandmother because her mother works as a domestic in Tapachula in Mexico and does not have the support of her father. She has many necessities as she has no income for her studies, clothing and just living expenses.
This year Sindy may not study so that she can help her grandmother who is quite elderly. During vacations Sindy worked in order to buy clothing and other necessities for her grandmother. Sindy lives in a very humble house. Despite all of her troubles she has a great desire to learn and to develop her skills.

March 4th, 2007 - Hi, Bob, Here is the info about the students we would like to help to study for this year.  Rae Ann

NOTE:  because of great distances traveled to school, a portion of the needed money goes for transportation espenses and expenses to live with families near the school during the week. We had $2400 available, which we sent to Sr. Rae Ann to get everyone started.  As soon as we have an additional $400 in the Malacatan account, we will send it on.  Bob Tracy

SCHOLARSHIPS for students of Colegio Santa Lucía

Malacatán, GUATEMALA  2007

February 25, 2007 - Fr. Kelley's visit - Hi, Bob, We got to meet Father Kelley - really nice. He came with Fr. Ken Woods and some 5 parishioners. They were valiant. Had brunch here. We took
them to a community on River Suchiate which divides Guatemala and Mexico. The devastation of Stan is still evident. They are now in San José Ojetenam and return on Monday, I think. I have a small project - again for the scholarships in Colegio Santa Lucía. Fr. Kelley said to send it on to you - there is always some money there. I will get the information and one photo to send to you in the next days. It was great to have a visit of someone from St. Ann's. Hope all is well. Un abrazo, Rae Ann next week: Sr. Rae Ann's project

February 11, 2007 - BERONY
Dear friends at Saint Ann's Parish and my godparents I send fond and respectful greetings to you,. Hoping that you are in good health and of course blessed. My godparents, I ask for your pardon for not having been in touch constantly with you. I know that without you I wouldn't be able to continue my studies. But please know that you are always in my heart. Thanks to you and Sisters Judith and Teruko I can study. I want to tell you that I and my family are fine thank God. We have constant economic problems but we are at peace. Now that I am beginning another school year I ask God to give me wisdom and intelligence to be able to get ahead in my studies. In the mornings I am practice teaching and in the afternoons into the evenings I continue my classes to be a better teacher. I ask God that during this new year that I can become more responsible. For you I ask that God always care for you, that God keep you from all harm and that God shower you and all your families with huge blessings. All that we do has its reward. I want to tell you that on February 5 I am going to be baptized in the Catholic Church. Ever since I was little God has put in my heart that wish. But since my parents are Evangelicals I wasn't able to be baptized until now. I go to mass on Sundays to celebrate the Eucharist and now my parents support me and are happy for me. After all that I have written I just want to say again how grateful I am for your financial support and for your prayers. I will try to be better about writing to you. May God protect you and bless you always wherever God finds you. My love and prayers, Berony Janeth Soto Macario
 

December 10, 2006 - Theology Student   Ofelia Tul.

Hello, Brothers and Sisters: I am Ofelia Lucila Tul López, of the Parish of St. Catherine, in the Diocese of San Marcos. I write you to thank you for the assistance you have afforded me, and to tell you that your efforts will not be wasted, since I realize that I must, as a lay Christian, be prepared to give direction to the groups with which I work, both in the larger community and within the parish. This study of theology has taught me:: a] That Jesus Christ must be above everything else. At times we try to speak of religion and the Church but what we do least is to talk about Jesus.
b] That we ought to know how to interpret the Holy Scriptures in the light of the Holy Spirit and not in a fundamentalist way. c] That in order to do a good biblical exegesis.we must rely on different methods, such as Historical Criticism and Literary Analysis.
d] Also, that in the face of the challenges to the Church in the world, but especially in America, many of these challenges and important pastoral options have been taken on, as one can find in the documents of the councils such as Vatican II, Medellin, Puebla and Santo Domingo. I feel that these challenges are the focus of the action of the Christian Church and that, following the example of the Creator, we ought to work especially on behalf of the poor. e] That we appreciate the symbolic language found in the Sacraments.
f] That, as Christians, we must not place ourselves at the margin of reality or express an only “me and God” spirituality, but rather to recognize and see God in the people who live in different circumstances. So, we ought to make spiritual all that we do, which means that we do it with love, humility, responsibility, with the desire to serve. Only in this way will we be the polite persons who love Christ who taught us to strive for the good of all. I desire with all my heart that all of you in your country along with us here in Guatemala will have the full conviction that we are the body of Christ, that we should always be active in proclaiming the Kingdom of God, denouncing injustices that are lived out each day. May God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless you all. Until later, Ofelia Tul.

December 3, 2006 Theology Student Delfina Mazariegos Rodríguez
My Most Respected Brothers and Sisters:  With this letter I send you all fond greetings. I ask God to heap blessings upon you. The reason behind this note is to let you know that, thanks to the help you are sending, I have been successful in meeting my commitments here in my parish. Though I was doing well enough with my limited background, with all that I have learned in my theology classes I now feel more confident and able to do a better job.  Presently I work in the Children’s Pastoral program, preparing the children for first Communion. I also serve with a team that gives retreats for those who wish to ready themselves for service: we prepare retreats and evangelization discussions for those who wish to live in harmony with their families and their respective communities. I also work with the sisters in Celebrations of the Word in the homes of those who request this. Naturally, a person who is better trained can work more effectively and provide better service, especially in our environment which needs spiritual assistance as well as the material, when one considers the religious and moral confusion in which our communities live. That’s it for the moment. I say goodbye thanking you all for the interest you show to our communities as do our missionary sisters who live here with us. May God bless you all, with great affection to you all, Delfina Mazariegos Rodríguez.
 

November 19, 2006 -Theology Student - Elena Emperatriz Santice Roblero
Brothers and Sisters: I must tell you all that with the help we received from you, you have assisted us greatly in our training and awareness of the reality in which we live. So it is that we can better do our pastoral work in our community. We have learned to get to know in a better way the situation in our country and in the Church, and we have learned how to work within our society and Church. It is hoped that you can continue to help us improve on our training. Thank you so much. Elena Emperatriz Santice Roblero

February 4th, 2007 -Over the past two and a half years, in addition to the continuing contributions (averaging over $900 per month) from parishioners and visitors, who use the blue envelopes in the bi-monthly packets or those placed by the doors of the church, organizations within the parish have also contributed separately to the sisters. Last year the Sodality sponsored a theology student. This year the Men’s Club contributed to the work of the sister.

February `8, 2007 Hi, Bob, Thanks for money sent for Abelino Ramírez. We have tried to give his mother travel money for Abelino so that he can go to the special school in Retalhuleu. He is deaf. Thanks to your help he is able to attend school. He is doing well in school. this photo was taken on Independence Day, September 15. All the schools have special programs for the occasion. Here Abelino is holding a Guatemala flag. The mother has given me a photo every year and Abelino has not changed in looks or size. Perhaps this year he will begin to grow. Thanks for your help. Regards to Andy. Gratefully, Rae Ann

January 21, 2007

September 10, 2006 -- FROM MALACATAN THE SISTERS FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE WILL PROFILE THE
SISTERS WHO ARE SERVING IN MALACATAN

Judith Noone

Judith Noone was born November 17, 1947 in New York but moved shortly thereafter to Alexandria, Virginia where she grew up, attending Saint Mary’s Parroquial and Saint Mary’s Academy High School. After studies in Literature at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland she joined the Maryknoll Sisters and was assigned to Bolivia in 1970. During her years in Bolivia she lived and traveled along the rivers of the Beni Province, visiting rural communities, then to the North of Santa Cruz she lived for 3 years in a remote jungle community helping the new settlers forge a new life after having lost everything in floods. She returned for a year of formation (where she first met Teruko Ito) in 1974 and earned an MA in theology at Maryknoll Seminary. She returned to Bolivia in 1975 to begin the “Rural Pastoral Project” to train ministers of all kinds in the vast area to the North of Santa Cruz. Given the increasing number of Quechua speaking highland people migrating to the lowlands she studied Quechua for several months in Cochabamba. In 1980 she was asked to work in the Communications Department at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY, arriving just a few months before Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke of Maryknoll and Dorothy Kazel OSU and Jean Donovan were brutally murdered in El Salvador in December 1980. For the next 4 years she dedicated most of her time to researching and writing The Same Fate As The Poor, a book on the lives of Ita Ford, Maura Clarke and Carol Piette, a Maryknoll Sister companion to Ita who died in a flash flood in August of that same year. In 1985 she received the invitation from the sisters in Guatemala to begin a new mission in the war torn department of El Quiché where she lived for 7 years doing whatever could be done among the traumatized Quiché speaking people whose language she learned. Among the projects she launched with the people were goat and rabbit raising, vegetable gardens, reforestation projects, literacy, catechetical training, basic formation on human rights, community organization, etc. etc. From 1992 to 1994 she studied anthropology at American University and earned an MA there. Returning to Guatemala she and Teruko Ito and Rae Ann O’Neill began the Diocesan Pastoral Commission for Women’s Ministries in the Diocese of San Marcos and is still there as she hopes to be for many more years.
 

Teruko Ito

Was born into a Buddhist family in Kyoto, Japan on March 25, 1945 a few months before the end of World War II.  Under the guidance of her maternal grand-mother she was baptized into the Christian faith at the age of 4 together with her younger brother.  Shortly before the baptism, her mother also became Catholic, while her father remained a Buddhist.  She grew up in Kyoto where Maryknoll Missioners presence was strong in parishes though she studied in a mission school (from age 12 to 18) run by School Sisters of Notre Dame. After obtaining a BA in Education with a minor in Math from Maryknoll College in Manila, Philippines, she joined the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation in Manila.            The first assignment in 1969 was to Tanzania in East Africa, where she taught Mathematics for 4 years.  Then she proceeded to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, New York for on-going formation. There she studied at Maryknoll Seminary and received an MA in Theology. After working at the Congregational Center for a few years, she returned to Japan in 1978 where she made her  Final Profession and engaged in the pioneering work sponsored by a Maryknoll Missioner with Alcoholics in Skid Row areas in Tokyo and in Osaka for ten years. 
            In 1988 she was called back to work as Formation Directress of the Congregation in New York and for five years engaged in the process of becoming a multicultural community, the future of the Maryknoll Sisters. After completing the formation work she studied in an Advanced MA Program in Pastoral Counseling at Fordham University. In 1995 she joined the Pastoral Team for Women in the Diocese of San Marcos, Guatemala. For almost ten years she has been engaged in on-going formation with and for women, especially indigenous women in Western Highlands of Guatemala. She began this year to design workshops on alcoholism, one of the primary causes of family violence, and offers family counseling and assistance. At the same time she is part of an alternative health center run by the School Sisters of St. Francis, where she provides integral body care including Reiki and Massage.
 

(chatting with local women)
Location: Guatemala, Central America
There Since: 1990
From: Highstown,New Jersey
"They keep us grounded in the relity of San Marcos."

Sister Rae Ann hails from Highstown, New Jersey, and joined the Maryknoll Sisters in 1960. She spent her mission years as a teacher in Tanzania, East Africa; as an administrative secretary for the Holy See Mission at the United Nations; and as pastoral worker with basic Christian communities in a poor area of Mexico City. In 1990 Rae Ann began her mission in Guatemala as a pastoral worker, especially with women. Since 1995, she has dedicated her time to the development of the women’s work in San Marcos.

Sr. Mi Young Sung
Visiting a family in Malacatán
Location: Guatemala, Central America
There Since: 2003
From: Seoul, Korea

Sister Mi Young Sung is from Seoul, Korea. She joined the Maryknoll Sisters in August 5, 2000 and received her formation in Chicago. She is a trained social worker with a certificate in pastoral counseling. Malacatan is her first mission experience as a Maryknoll Sisters. She is also an artist, eager to share herself with the women of Guatemala and animate their creativity. She has began a literacy campaign for women.
 

August 13th, 2006 - The parishioners of St. Ann’s and the Maryknoll Sisters in Malacatan, San Marcos, Guatemala
Approximately two and a half years ago, the parish of St. Ann’s established its partnership with two groups of
Maryknoll sisters, who were assisting the needy poor, especially the women, in Malacatan, San Marcos, Guatemala.
Over the past two years St. Ann’s has contributed over $25,000 to the sisters work, and in addition, provided them with funds to purchase a new jeep to reach the people in the hills on virtually non-existent roads. The money has been used to provide needed surgeries for poor children; to replace a collapsed kitchen ($800); to assist a family get on their feet, after their husband/ father was killed attempting to cross Mexico into the US to find work to obtain some money for his family. The mother and her children were established in a simple food preparation business that has enabled them to become self-sufficient. Funds have also been used to further the education of lay leaders, who teach religion and administer parishes between the visits of one of the few priests there. We have provided funding for a store for the sale of locally hand made artifacts, and other items, again with the hope of providing some ability for people to become self-sufficient. A library has been established for children, especially those who are born HIV positive. And of course there are the little needs that the sisters are now able to do which helps the people in short term crises, including helping
people rebuild their homes and re-establish crops that were destroyed by Hurricane Stan. The relationship with the sisters has been a multi-dimensional one. They have visited the parish and met some of the people here. The sisters pray for the needs of the parish, as correspondingly, members of the parish pray for the needs of the sisters, and the people they assist. One of the classes at Most Blessed Sacrament school organized into teams named for each of the people we were supporting in their education. They sent them messages of support, and prayed for their success. Additionally, The town of Bethany Beach has donated the unused July 4th T-shirts, for the children of San Marcos. St. Ann’s continues to support the sisters through the blue envelopes and other private donations. The sisters have been able to meet needs that had gone unmet in the past. 

August 13, 2006 - FROM MALACATAN  -  Thanks to your generosity, we were able to send $2000. to Sister Mary Ann Duffy in Malacatan. The following is a short note from Sr. Duffy: “The courses on Sexuality for 60 women are still coming, on September 22 and 23. then again September 29, 30.  So good to know we are solvent. Sister Mi Young is back from her renewal. Sorry for your heat wave. We are enjoying cool weather for a change. Mary”
 

July 30, 2006FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN  -  BERONY
A few weeks ago, Sister Judy had asked us to help with a young girl, Berony. Through a special gift, we were able to provide her with needed support for her education. Here is her note: "Dearest parishioners from St. Ann's: I greet you with all my heart hoping that God will grant you health and I
wish you success in all your daily efforts. I am writing to you to thank you most sincerely for giving me your help so that I can be a good mother and have a better future, since, if it were not for you, I would not be able to get ahead as my parents are not able to give me the financial help that is
needed. The fact is that they have my nephews as a responsibility since the children's own mother abandoned them. I am so grateful for all you are doing for me since I am studying the fourth level of teacher formation and have the desire to graduate so that I can pass on the benefits I
have received through the education of children. I say goodbye with the hope that God will pour his blessings on you and that you may receive his peace.    Respectfully, Berony Janeth Soto Macario.

July 16, 2006  - Dear Bob,  Here we are enjoying our eternal spring weather though Holy Week tends to be very hot, even here in the mountains. We just finished a week long gathering with about 35 friends from all over Central America and a few from the USA and South America. It was very good and enjoyable, but tiring, and then with visitors until this morning. Sunday we go to the city to pick up a young Japanese woman, Teruko’s god daughter, who will be with us for a week. But life goes on here as well even with all our recent ins and outs.
There was a three day conference - during ours in the city – with agrarian and other technical people preparing our colleagues (and ourselves) to be able to accompany the people for what will surely be an early and heavy rainy season. Given the ravages of tropical storm Stan last October, the mountain sides are ready to come down even more with a bit of rain. I will never ever be able to feel what it is like to so identify oneself with the piece of land they’ll live upon – we been such a mobile society. But they can not leave their land, s poor as it is. A grandmother, Crecenta, from Boxoncan was telling us how it was during the storm. Impenetrable blinding fog, relentless rain for days, the sounds of landslides all around, but that they couldn’t see. It was her grandson, 6 years old, who riveted the family with his wisdom when he said, “Grandmother, you and grandfather inherited this land from your parents, and they from theirs. And I will inherit it form you, but it doesn’t belong to anyone but to God, and God will take care of it and of us” We are very grateful to you, parishioners of St. Ann’s, for your generous support. Much love, Abrazos, Judy and Teruko
 

July 9, 2006 - Women involved in the Diocesan Women's Program have requested help in speaking to their daughters on matters of sexuality. The great majority of the women come from rural communities that are facing rapid social change. Music, school and TV present a harsh image of human sexuality that contradicts what most families’ value. Women themselves ask about sexuality because it is a topic not talked about in their communities. They ask how to handle a conversation with youngsters. What does sex mean for a 12 year old? What does sex entail at 22 when you are thinking of migrating? Is Grandmother obliged to care for grandchild? What new relationship is called for when boy friends return from the big city? We are planning two - day and a half courses and will have to provide room and board for a total of 60 participants. The Education Team from El Proyecto Vida will conduct the course As you can see we are asking for help with this important step in formation.
Wish us luck. Mary Duffy

June 25, 2006 - Berony
To Sr. Judith: A very special greeting hoping that this note finds you well in the carrying out of your daily activities. I wish to let you know that I am a young woman, 16 years of age who wants to continue in her studies, seeing that I have already completed the third grade of basic schooling. This was through the efforts of my parents who, thanks be to God, have been able to give me financial aid. However, what has happened is that they are now older. My dad is now 74 and my mom is 53, and they capable of working so as to help me so that I can go on to graduation. They now have the responsibility of raising my little nephews because my sister has abandoned them. They are still young. For this reason they tell me that it is really getting more and more difficult to scrape together enough money since they have no job skills. I also have a little brother who completed the sixth grade this year and needs to go on to high school. So it is that my parents are telling me that they can't help me any longer since they have to help my little brother. That leaves me a third grader and, since I am a minor, I cannot work because no one has confidence in me. I really have the desire to keep on studying to be able to help my parents and my little brother who is the youngest. But without a skill I'm useless.
This is why I am asking, if it is at all possible that you could help me, to give me a scholarship so that I could get into the upper level of secondary education. I thank you here for your support and understanding, with the hope that your response may be positive. God bless you... Respectfully, Berony Janeth Soto Macario
 

FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN - June 18, 2006  In the case of Berony Soto, also see attached autobiography in Spanish. We went to her house to meet the family when we received her request via our bishop. It is a terribly poor adobe home. The family has egg cartons strung above the bed to catch some of the dew that falls at night. So we bought lots of thick plastic sheeting which they have strung up there now and it is quite effective. They have no electricity so we bought them a rechargeable florescent lamp which she leaves plugged in at a neighbor's house each a.m. so she can do her homework at home at night. Thanks a million, Judy and Teruko next week: Berony's biography (in English) and picture.

Malacatan - Two Year Summary and Review -- Two year summary on St Ann's relationship with MALACATAN and the Maryknoll Sisters
As we approach April, we are reaching two years in our relationship with the Maryknoll sisters in Malacatan and the hills outside. In these two years the people of St. Ann’s have had a major impact on the lives of the people there, and enabled the sisters to do things they had been dreaming of. The parish of St. Ann’s has raised over $20,500 (in addition to providing a car for the sisters.)The money has been used in a range of ways, to assist both immediate needs and to provide for the long term well being of the villages. In the short term we have rebuilt a destroyed kitchen for a family of eight at a cost of $800. . We have provided funds for needed operations for children, one with fluid on the brain, another in need of a hearing aid, both of whom are doing well and are now in school. There have been numerous other on the spot needs that the sisters have been able to do to help meet people, because of St. Ann’s generosity. In the short and long term, we have provided a children’s library with special items for children with HIV at a cost of $1000. We have enabled a family of six, (whose husband and father was killed on the way to the US to work to send money home to his family), start a business in their home, which provides for the needs of the family. Other example abound. In the long term, we are providing education (tuition and transportation: $4000) for lay leaders (catechists) who travel a couple of hours from their villages every Saturday to obtain their theology degrees. We provided tuition ($2500) for two groups of young children, after hurricane Stan. They lost all means to pay the minimal tuition required. And we have enabled the sisters to open a store ($5000) for the sale of locally made goods and artworks, so that the people can become more self-sufficient, while developing a sense of personal pride. And there are many other things ongoing in the sisters’ work with the women and children of Malacatan, and its outlying villages. Please note: this will run in the bulletin through Easter, so if you read it today, you can wait ;until after Easter to return. Bob Tracy

FROM MALACATAN     The Store and Help Needed  - April 16, 2006

We opened a store in San Marcos to try to become self-sufficient to some degree - symbolically we are talking loudly and folks are noticing. I feel we will make it, thanks to a seed money donation from Saint Ann's Parish in Bethany, Bob Tracy's home parish. We do support local craftspeople and others around the country. On another front, a sister of mine in Denver has for the past several years received packages from us which she markets for us though it seems she will be getting out of that soon. We have over the years attained very high quality products which you will see in our store. We need someone, who would be interested in marketing our goods or, who would like to take over what my sister has been doing. The business is in place, the products are high quality and beautiful, bags of all kinds from cosmetic to shopping, wallets, aprons, kitchen gloves, woven and crocheted, pillow covers, Have a joyous Easter, Judy and Teruko

FROM MALACATAN - Theology Student Clementina
Dear friends from St. Anns Parish in Bethany Beach, Delaware: I send you my heartfelt greetings. My purpose in writing you is to thank you for the assistance you are giving me so that I can study for the diploma in theology. You are giving me the chance to better prepare myself to be of service to the community in the name of Jesus. The training is so important since it enables one to explain the issues that are relevant to the liberation of the poor and of the Christian people. I ask God that he always bless each and everyone of you. Sincerely, Clementina

FROM MALACATAN - February 19th, 2006  Dear Bob, Heaven forbid that children would miss out on ice cream. I think the first report card will be the sweet day. (note: there was a little money left over after tuition was paid, so I suggested ice cream for the children) I hope to get a picture. The Municipal Women’s Office will get the used furniture that Catholic Relief Services gave the AID’s office. There were some extras. We will find some nice cushions, posters and a plant for the corner. A young college student is helping Mi Young with the literacy work. She hopes to join the team. We are enjoying unusually cool weather and the folks are afraid of what will happen with the rains of May. Peace. Mary

FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN February 12, 2006 - Dear Partners in Mission of St. Ann's.
Yesterday we received notice of the arrival of your gift of $1450. for the Women´s Pastoral Work on the Coast of San Marcos, Guatemala. We had asked you to help students affected by the recent hurricane, Stan, to continue their education. Classes begin in January in Guatemala. Confident in you, 10 students have already begun classes in the Colegio de Santa Lucia run by the Guatemalan Franciscan Sisters of the Assumption. Sor Juana has promised me some background stories of the students. 6 more public school students are from the neighboring town of St. Catherine´s. A teacher will keep us abreast of their progress. We will use the left over money to support the new Women´s Human Rights Office of the Municipality of Malacatan. They are badly in need of a few
chairs and a file cabinet. Sr. Mary Duffy MM

FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN - February 5, 2006  THE THEOLOGY STUDENTS LOVE TO YOU AND ANDY AND THE GOOD FOLKS OF ST ANN'S. WE WILL SEE THE STUDENTS TOMORROW AND WE'LL GET MARTA'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. I ALSO WANT TO ASK THE ONES FROM LAST YEAR WHAT THIS EXPERIENCE MEANS.... THEY ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC. JUDY AND TERUKO Note: The cost for the five students for the coming year is Q18.750. Since quetzals are 7.5 to the US dollar, that comes to $2500 for everything for the five students for the year. Because of the request to fund a group of young children's education after hurricane Stan, we had depleted the fund for the Maryknoll sisters at the beginning of January. We are able to send an initial check to Sister Judy for $600. Since tuition is paid monthly, this is sufficient to get the students started. Thanks to you at St. Ann's we continue to be able to address both short term needs of the people in Malacatan, San Marcos and lay the groundwork for future growth and development in the villages. Bob Tracy
 

MALACATAN THEOLOGY STUDENTS (still going) January 22, 2006  Our 4 theology students presumably resumed their studies this past Saturday. We had left their money with one of our team but they didn't connect but I am sure things went fine, we'll be here next Saturday to deliver their inscription money. When we do see them on Saturday we will figure out the finances for the first semester at least and I'll get back to you. We don't have any new students but our faithful 4 are enthusiastic and supporting each other, becoming good friends which is nice to see. we pray this is a wonderful year, more later, Judy and Teruko
 

MALACATAN - January 15, 2006  Thanks once again to the parishioners of St. Ann's for coming to the aid of the Maryknoll sisters. Sister Mary Duffy needed $1127 to pay tuition for children impacted by Hurricane Stan, as was mentioned in last week's bulletin. We were able to send her a check for $1450 thanks to your generosity. The response from Sister Duffy was: "You are the greatest." Mary

MALACATAN - January 8, 2006

Dear Bob, I hope the new year came gently upon you and the parishioners of St. Ann’s.
School starts here in January. We would like to help some 16 students affected by the hurricane continue their studies, some in primary some in junior high. Could you help 10 who go to a small Catholic school here in Malacatan, COLEGIO SANTA LUCÍA. They need some 2000 quetzales for the year each. That would be Q20,000. or $2,667 Also 6 girls from the village of Tecomatillo need a monthly Q100. to continue in Public School or Q1,200 = Q7,200 or $960. A total of Malacatan $2,667 Tecomatillo $960, which would be a Total: $3,627. You have sent us $2,500 already, so we need $1,127 to provide the necessary tuition. We are very grateful for the help toward education. In the storm many lost the possibility of continuing their studies. The Franciscan Sisters at the Colegio struggle to help their students and maintain an integrated school community.
We are doing very well. Thank God. And thank you for your support. Mary Duffy

MALACATAN - December 25, 2005
May everyone at St. Ann's have a very merry Christmas, and may the new year bring abundant blessings to each of you. Thank you for all you do. The Maryknoll Sisters in Malacatan.

MALACATAN - THE WOMEN'S ECOLOGY PROJECT December 18, 2005
With the disaster Hurricane Stan) there is a worsening of the overall economic situation of the women. They have asked us to put some economically viable pieces in the courses "to justify to their husbands our coming to the meetings." While we have been principally interested in formation as well as the content of the ecology work, we will try to incorporate new activities such as candle making (during the storm there was a run on candles as electricity was down) and promoting gardening (as travel made it difficult to buy vegetables). Food security is an important part of the analysis of the Free Trade Agreement. These activities will be part of the courses until the next corn
crop comes in.  We have studied the local seeds women have cultivated for years in their backyards. We will further develop the study of local seeds. Everyone noted that after the storm the first show of solidarity came from nearby indigenous communities who sent corn and beans to the shelters where several thousands took refuge. Later food agencies appeared bringing in foodstuffs by helicopter. The sharing of native seeds will be important as we begin a new year with a new awareness of the reality and the danger of becoming dependent on food from distances.  We are grateful for the solidarity you show in supporting Women in their care for their local bioregion.   Mary Duffy MM
 

FROM THE HILLS OF MALACATAN - December 11, 2005

Bethany Beach donated over 150 T-shirts to the people of Malacatan, who are still recovering from Hurricane Stan.  
THE HILLS OF MALACATAN - December 4, 2005     Hi, Bob, In the last 10 days we have visited some of the communities devastated by hurricane Stan. On Friday we visited La Libertad. Their homes are (were) alongside the river. Stan carried away 35 homes and now 6 families are living in the School; the others have scattered with family or friends.  On Wednesday afternoon, it rained torrentially and the people were so traumatized, remembering what happened during Stan that they sought refuge once again in the center where they waited out the storm. Things work very slowly in Guatemala. Nov. 30 is when the government will make offers to those mayors who have asked for the money for lands. Since Malacatán is one of the places most affected, we imagine that there should be some help for these people to relocate. One couple we spoke with, were talking about going to the US. But whoever they talked with, did not give them much hope, telling the difficulties and lack of work in the states. Good. That is not the solution. We have planned some small projects to help the women we meet to learn something so that they can have some income. One project is to make candles. The other is the planting of papaya trees. A friend of ours has a "vivero" (I forget what that is in English.) Don Julio says that the entire papaya harvest was taken by Stan from Esquintla throughout the coastal area that produces papaya. He will give a quick course on Dec. 13 with little trees to plant. We have sent the word to different communities and hope to have at least 40 to learn and to start planting. It takes only 8 months to begin a harvest. The two problems, of course, are land to plant and water to irrigate. Our other plans are to offer financial help to people we know who will be reconstructing their homes. We will not get into the buying of land. They will have to take that first step. So, thank you, Bob, and the community of Bethany Beach God bless each of you. Rae Ann, Mary and Mi Young Thanks to the generosity of the parishioners of St. Ann's, we were able to send the sisters $2500 to aid in their efforts.

THE MALACATAN CORNER November 2005 - The Medical Sisters of San Marcos (continued, some of the problems)
Tuberculosis is endemic in the area and they are currently treating about 80 active T.B. patients. T.B. treatment costs about $45.00 (US) per patient per month and they charge their patients less than $1.00 a month. Tuberculosis patients need to rest to get better, and in San Marcos, if you don’t work, you don’t eat. Epilepsy is another major health concern. The doctors believe this is caused by unattended births or parasites from rancid beef and pork. Medicines to treat epilepsy have gone “sky-high” and patients will take them only until their seizures stop and then stop taking the drugs in order to save money; only to have their seizures return again. The Caterina clinic supplies seizure medication to epilepsy patients at ½ the cost. The doctors see about 300 diabetics each month. They have their diabetes under control and come into the clinic each month for a blood test and to have their medications adjusted. These patients can not use insulin due to the lack of refrigeration in their homes. Diabetes treatment is very important because, if left untreated, it can result in stroke, heart attack and renal failure. Malnutrition is another ongoing problem. The clinic gives simalac to mothers of twins and also supply a wide range of vitamins. As noted above, the high cost of medicines is another big health problem. To help, the sisters have opened three medicine dispensaries in the diocese. They charge a 15% mark-up on drugs to pay for utilities and one full-time salary. All three dispensaries are on diocesan land and are now self-sufficient.
 

THE MALACATAN CORNER October 2005 - The Medical Sisters of San Marcos Over the next few weeks I'll tell of the medical missionary sisters and their works and their needs. Our Wilmington diocese, with our help, will be making a concerted effort to support them. Sister Jane is a Maryknoll nun and a surgeon. She came to Guatemala in 1963 and quickly realized that her medical skills would be better used serving the people in the rural areas of this poor country instead of in the operating rooms of urban hospitals. In 1983 she and Sister Mary Lou, another Maryknoll Sister/physician who came to Guatemala in 1981, established a clinic in the town of Caterina in the department of San Marcos. The clinic is open every Monday and they see about 300 patients each week. They also operate clinics in Ixchiguan and San Jose. Since there are so few doctors and nurses in the region; the sisters spend a lot of time and effort training “health promoters” - volunteers who diagnose and treat the most common medical conditions in their towns and villages. Health promoters are also trained to know when to refer a patient to a doctor. There are currently 185 promoters in the diocese of San Marcos who work 2 or 3 afternoons each week. They help their patients by their work in prevention and they dispense about 20 basic medications. The sisters provide ongoing training and supervision. The only requirements to be a health promoter are to be willing to serve and to be able to read and write Spanish. The sisters noted that the best student in their recent graduation class only finished half of the first grade in school. Most of the promoters are men. The sisters have noticed that several of their children have gone on to become doctors or nurses. Because of their work with health promoters; the sisters are the Directors of the Health Pastoral of the Diocese of San Marcos.
 

March 13 Malacatan Theology Student - Elena - My name is Elena Emperatriz Santizo Roblero. I was born on the 28th of August in 1964, in the little village of Ojetenam in the township of San José Ojetenam, in the province of San Marcos, Guatemala. I’m the daughter of Sixto Doroteo Santizo Cifuentes and Emperatiriz Roblero Lopez. When I was 16 a group was organized to work in a reforestation nursery and I was its council chairwoman. Also in the same year of 1990, I worked as secretary for a diocesan charity that gave out food for work, seeing the needs that existed in the community, as well as the conservation of the soil and the tree nursery. Right now I work for a committee dedicated to the betterment of the Canton of St. Isidro where I currently reside. I’m also a catechist in the parish of San Jose Ojetenam and I help a group of people in a housing program in which the houses are already being built. Further, I work for a project dealing with scholarships from the Women's Pastoral group and Catholic Relief Services intended for the betterment of the town. My highest grade in school was the third grade. In 1999 I took a course in natural medicine at the University of Rafael Landivar in Guatemala City, and a course entitled The Analysis of Human Behavior.

February 27, 2005 - I am Virginia Leonor Lopez, an adult female, a native and resident of the provincial capital of San Marcos. I was married and gave birth to three sons, two of whom are married, and the other is single. I feel happy that God gave me a family and, in spite of many problems and limitations, I was fortunate in being able to give my children an education for life. I finished primary school as well as high school, and I studied to become a nurse’s aide and social work assistant. I began studies for a Masters Degree in Social Work, but I had to give that up owing to illness and lack of funding. I had the opportunity to share jobs as a nursing assistant both in the community as well as in a hospital. I worked in the health field as a technical facilitator in the SIAS program (The Comprehensive Social Service System) and for the Department of Public Health and Social Work. I coordinated the Dolores Bedolla de Molina project, facilitating a program of training for volunteer outreach workers in San Marcos, San Miguel Ixtahuacan, Quiche and Coban. The headquarters is in the capital of Guatemala. I worked two years in Tecun Uman at the Woman's Home with the Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer, helping and just being there for women who were caught up in prostitution. I felt very satisfied and useful in the work I did establishing a rapport with women who for one reason or another became involved in prostitution. In getting to know in depth their problems, I could see the living Jesus in them, struggling to survive.

February 13, 2005 From the hills outside Malacatan - Hi Bob,  Here is a pic of most of the theology students,  Two more, who were in class today, must have forgotten about lunch. When the others went to find them they had gone. We'll get another pic another day.  Left to right, Clementa, Vicki, Maudilia, Felipa, Elena, me and Teruko, my side kicks.   Not sure why Vicki looks puzzled.  They left this message for you: We thank you for your generosity shared with us which allows us to learn and understand more profoundly the things of God through our theology classes. May God bless you and all the people of your parish.    Many many thanks, we will keep you posted.  Sister Judy.

January 30, 2005 FROM MALACATAN AND THE HILLS BEYOND

Hi, Bob, we received word today of St. Ann's donation of $1500 to us for theology and $1000 to Rae Ann (for Freyma Carrera and other needs). Many thanks. A full report will go with autobiographies (I am still missing 2 of them but hope to have this Saturday) and pics. Many thanks, Judy

Note: Thanks to your generosity, the sisters are able to meet many needs and improve the education of some of those catechizing the people in outlying areas of the San Marcos diocese. These are things that would not be possible without your generosity.
 

January 16th, 2005  NEWS FROM MALACATAN  From the Hills outside Malacatan
Saturday I went with 6 women to register for theology studies. I have most of their autobiographies which I am translating to send to you, interesting, and will send their pics too. Auralia [whose family we have been helping] decided what she really wants to do is make tamales on a regular basis to sell right there in her village. She has done that previously so knows it will bring in a bit. Her three school age daughters will be going to school this year and have bought their notebooks and back packs. We will go see them or they will come up to do some accounting with us of the funds we left there. So things are moving along thanks to the generosity of St. Ann's. More in detail in the next few days, just wanted to give you this very brief good news update. Abrazos, Judy

January 2004  NEWS FROM MALACATAN  HAPPY NEW YEAR, BOB!
Just wanted to send you greetings before the old year rings out and the new one comes rushing in upon us.  Mi Young’s Mom died and she has spent time with the family in Korea – especially with her Father who is 89 years of age and now living alone in the family home outside of town. She returns in January.

December 2004  NEWS FROM MALACATAN    From the Hills outside Malacatan    Malacatan and the HillsHoliday greetings and many thanks for all that the parishioners at St. Ann's have done over the past year,
Maryknoll Sisters, Rae Ann O'Neill, Mary Duffy, Mi Young, Judy Noone, and Ito Teruko

October 24 -   From the Hills Beyond Malacatan  (Beatriz and her family) 
 Beatriz again came by to visit, with the twins and the twins' two bigger sisters. We found out in the course of the conversation that her son, Connie's father, had died in the desert trying to get to the States. They are not sure when, just got the news through the grapevine. The mother who followed later never caught up to her husband and eventually worked her way home.  Connie's parents had each borrowed $4000 to pay the coyotes to get them to the Mexican/US border. Besides that staggering debt they also owe $2000 they had previously borrowed to build a little house. Connie's mother plans to sell their little bit of land and the unfinished house to pay a bit of the debt. After talking with the distant and scattered relatives who loaned her the money to get to the USA, to see if they can hold off for a while, we hope to offer Connie's mother an interest free loan to buy a sewing machine to make clothes for sale, or begin a small store in her home to be able to live without selling her home.  We have to talk with her to see what she is able and has the energy to do to pay the loans and fend for herself and her 5 children without resorting to selling her little bit of land and unfinished house. This is a traumatic and tragic time for her. And there are so many others like Connie.
 All our best, and with gratitude,   Judy Noone MM

October 17 - News from Malacatan  From the Hills Beyond Malacatan   (Maryknoll Sister Judy Noone)
We have known Beatriz for five years, came to know her when her daughter-in-law died giving birth to healthy twins, a little girl and a little boy. We actually first met her by chance when the babies were two weeks old, in that short time they had become skeletons on the verge of death. She showed us the small tin of powdered milk she had been giving them to keep them alive. It was still half full! She was trying to stretch it out because she didn’t know where she could get money to buy another. Thanks to the generosity of friends who were visiting us they received enough milk, etc, to bring them back to health through two visits to the emergency room in their first months. Today they are darling healthy smiling five year olds. In April Beatriz dropped by with one of her many granddaughters, Connie, 11 years old. Connie told us her father and then her mother left to go to the United States to look for work but since they hadn’t heard from them in six months they assumed they were dead. And so, eleven year old Connie told us, she planned to stop going to school so as to find work to put food on the table for her 3 younger brothers and sisters.

 October 10 - Malacatan News   St Ann's committee for Malacatan met to discuss plans for expanded parish involvement in support of the Maryknoll sisters and the people in Malacatan, Guatemala.  Our intention is to provide a more personal and a spiritual involvement with those in Malacatan.      The sisters in assisting the people are trying: to give them an ability to grow their own food without pesticides to avoid pollution of drinking water and streams; to assure the children learn to read and write, and provide emergency help to those in difficult times.     If you have suggestions. especially in organic gardening, or wish to be involved, please contact any of the following committee members:
Bob Tracy (chair)              539-3240       Harry Dice  (men's club)  537-4260       Bill Graves  (men's club)  537-9919 Leslie Gale (Religious ed)537-7936      Madeline Jarka (sodality) 541-0114       Cathy Earl (sodality)         537-4824   Olive Cannon                      537-7428     George Kalvinsky           539-3776  (website)

October 3 - News from Malacatan  Hi, Bob, Greetings. You are right – everyone is back now. Wow! Four people, one very vivacious cocker puppy and our old time cat. We had a trip today to a nearby village but the worst road yet in the new car…which is much lower than the Toyota. We scraped the bottom several times but we didn’t do any damage. It is plenty powerful but when it rains and there is a steep incline of a road made with stones or a clay-like earth, it is slip and slide all the way. The rains have been heavy. I went out this afternoon in the rain to deliver a message and the road was flooded but on both sides of the road, the people were walking in water up to their knees. By tomorrow, the water will be gone, all drained away, waiting for the next downpour.
Sister Rae Ann
 

September 26 - News from Malacatan To date the parishioners of St Ann/'s have contributed over $7500 to assist the Maryknoll sisters in Malacatan, Guatemala. In addition to the initial parish donation to buy the sisters a new car, we have provided a children's library, a new, sturdier kitchen for a family of eight,  whose old kitchen rotted away, and  helped in significant numbers of family emergency situations, where a little money goes a long way.  As Sister Cheryl Allam wrote to our parish: "Your parish has been most  generous in supporting the work ofour sisters in Guatemala and we are deeply appreciative. We will keep  you in our prayers and we hoe you  will remember us and our mission work in your prayers."

September 19th - News from Malacatan "Malacatan Children's Library" I’m Miyoung Sung, Maryknoll sister in Malacatán, San Marcos. I got cassette tape recorder(Sony), about 30 books, 1 wooden desk, 2 plastic tables, 8 plastic chairs, 1 slider, some music instruments, some art supplies, some toys etc..... I made a mistake. We can’t call this space as children’s library, but children’s kingdom. You know why? I was going to buy many more books and let the children sit and read books. But I found out the children don’t read books. It’s not they don’t like to read books, but they just don’t know what to do with books. They never saw anyone who read books in their family, in their village or even in their school. They never saw or had before
these colored printed books. Even many students don’t have text books for their class in the school. So no wonder they are not interested in reading books. They just don’t know what these books for. I’m trying to let them familiar with books.  And there is another obstacle. Many of the children can’t read. But we are so happy to have our space and be together. We paint, play, sing, READ ... and of course fight each other. Please thank to all the parishioners, specially the family who sent us money for the children. Thank you so much for your generosity and for more. Your support also make me sure this is the life that I want to live.
There are many beautiful people like all of you around me, we remember you in our thought and prayers.  +Sorry about my broken English. Definitely I’m having a problem with my three languages. I’m speaking in English at home with Sisters and in Spanish outside with people here and still thinking in Korean. Can you imagine? Love and prayers, Miyoung

August 22nd - Today, Anna Mae and I went to visit Reina Mejía.  We have been helping her and her family over the past two years.  Her husband one day decided that she and the eight children were an obstacle to his freedom and he left them – to live with another woman.  Actually there were only seven children at the time, but Reina was pregnant with the eighth.  The two oldest girls, Quendy, 14, and Nance, 15 years were not there today.  They went to wash clothes at the river and then bathe as well.  The other children were all there, Ronald, Brian, Emanuel, Cesar, Rolando, Bibiana.  We waited for Reina to return from town where she bought things to sell in their little shop and vegetables for the family. They are the sweetest family you would ever want to meet. When I was visiting several months ago, one of the children mentioned that their kitchen had fallen down and they were lucky that no one got hurt.  The kitchen was a very simple affair of four posts with tin roofing.  There were no walls.  What caused it to fall?  The four wooden posts rotted and down it came.  We would like to help Reina to build a real kitchen with cement block – so that she won’t have to worry about replacing it again after a few years.  There is a little kitchen that they use, but it belongs to Reina’s mother.             Sincerely,  Rae Ann

August 15th - Due to the generosity of the people of St Ann's, we were able to give Sr. Mary Duffy, who was here from Malacatan, two checks, each for $2000. One will be used by Sr. Mary Duffy for the work she described while she was here, and the other will go to Sr. Judy Noone. Sr. Rae Ann is about an hour away from Sr. Judy, who with Sr.Teruko is in the mountains. All are actually the San Marcos diocesan team for women's ministries, though Sr. Rae Ann lives and works in the parishes on the coast and Sr. Judy and Teruko are in the mountains and high valley.

August 1st - Sister Mary Duffy, one of the three Maryknoll sisters we have been assisting in Malacatan, San Marcos, Guatemala will be at St Ann's on Monday, the 9th of August.  She will give an informal presentation on the work of the Maryknoll sisters in Malacatan, after the 8:30 mass in the Hall.  All are invited.

July 25th Update   Congratulations to the parishioners and visitors to St Ann's who have contributed so generously to the Maryknoll sisters in MALACATAN, San Marcos, Guatemala.  Because of your generosity, we have been able to provide for the immediate needs of the sisters helping the people in and around Malacatan.  Their new jeep arrives in the next couple of weeks.  The children's library has been given the funds needed to get underway, and some of the work with women and some of the reforestation are now funded and soon to be underway.   Sr Rae Ann has said the next use of funds will be for Sister Jude Noone and Sister Teruko’s who form the other half of the Women’s work team in the Diocese. Details of the status of the women of San Marcos, and the work the sisters are doing can be found on the parish website:  http://www.stannsbethany.org

Dear Bob,  July 18th, 2004    Just to let you know – our new car has arrived.  We will be able to pick it up in early August.  I will send you a photo of it.  I am really attached to our Land cruiser – 1989.    The majority of the cars on the road here in Guatemala are Toyota.  Yes, I think it is worth much more than $2,500 – but the repairs are constant.  Hope they don’t rob the new one – but we are getting full insurance coverage that includes robbery Glad you will be seeing Mary.   Rae Ann   If you wish to assist in the work of the Maryknoll sisters in Malacatan, San Marcos, please use the blue “Malacatan San Marcos” envelope in your envelope packet, or pick up a blue envelope on the tables at the exits of the church.  Checks should be made payable to St. Ann’s.  Questions can be directed to Bob Tracy at 539-3240.

July 11th, 2004 Greetings from Malacatan.  Regarding the car. We are goingahead with buying a new car – aMitsubishi Montero. It will beavailable the end of July. So we are in the process of doing all the necessary transactions –ownership, trade in of the Land cruiser, etc. We are so grateful for your donation to make this purchase. Take care. Rae Ann   If you wish to assist in the work of the Maryknoll sisters in Malacatan, San Marcos, please use the blue “Malacatan San Marcos” envelope in your envelope packet, or pick up a blue envelope on the tables at the exits of the church. Checks should be made payable to St. Ann’s. Questions can be directed to Bob Tracy at 539-3240.

July 4th, 2004 -  The Car.  I did get a chance to see the used car when I returned from El Salvador on Saturday.  Mi Young and Fr. Bill saw it on Monday.  There seems to be a problem with the clutch – not a good omen.  We have decided to get a new car which is only another Q 2,000.  We don’t want to ask St. Ann’s for more money.  We do appreciate the $10,000 that we have already and it makes it possible for us to get a car.  We thank you for that great impulse. We can get help for the remaining funds for the car. Enjoy the summer.  Con cariño!  Rae Ann.

June 27th, 2004 - We had a very good meeting of Maryknoll Sisters from Panama to Mexico in El Salvador last week.  Very good to get together.  We are fewer now - three houses closed in Guatemala City this year – six sisters returned to Maryknoll…the signs of the times, age and health.  We who are the remnant are still strong and full of energy for our mission here in Central America.

May 23rd, 2004 - Thank you for what you are doing for the Women’s Pastoral work of the Diocese of San Marcos. I am the latest arrival on the Malacatan team. I was formerly working in the outskirts of Guatemala City and am heading for renewal at Maryknoll this summer. I was surprised to learn that my brother and his family are summer parishioners of San Ann’s. I hope to visit them in August and would like to stop by to thank you and your pastor personally. I know summertime is special for most beach parishes so, if it is inconvenient – no problem. Know we are grateful.”

 

April 21, 2004

Dear Father Kelley and Parishoners of St. Ann’s,
We are overwhelmed by your generosity and quick response to our needs here in Guatemala. Thanks so much for the check which you sent for us to buy a new used car for our work with the women.
The last two days we traveled to the most distant communities – it takes over two hours to get there and we are all shaken up from the many bumps and rocks and holes in the road. Believe it or not these roads are one hundred per cent better than they were last year. There is hope that they are going to pave them – hopefully this year. The rains are just starting now – so that is always a problem for the road builders. Our work with the women encourages us to give them formation that will help them be self-sufficient.
There is hope here in Guatemala for the new government that just completed 100 days in office. They have shown an openness towards the indigenous community which previously has been marginated. They are trying to bring to justice the ones of the former government who stole millions of quetzals unashamedly from the pueblo for their own use and luxury. Today there was a special Mass in the cathedral in Guatemala City for Helen Mack for her valiant efforts in the last 12 years to bring to justice the murderers of her sister, Myrna.
We appreciate so much your support of us and our work here in Malacatán.
God bless,

________________________________________________________

Project Executive Summary 

Emilia has been up before dawn, putting wash to soak, taking the corn to be ground, making the tortillas and heating the black beans. Her eldest daughter, Ana, sets the table in the one room company house as the other six children and their father, Antonio, get out of bed and grope for their clothes in the semi-darkness. Emilia and Antonio must report to the "finca" (plantation) boss at 6 a.m. and get their work requirement for the day. Ana will stay home and take care of the youngest two children while the other four study a half day in the primary school down the road. 

Today's work is to spread the foul-smelling fertilizer on the young coffee plants growing on the hills and into the ravines. At least this early the air is cool. At 2 p.m. the couple trudge home, each with today's earnings: Antonio gets 20 quetzales ($2.65) and Emilia 8 quetzales ($1.06) for the same work. Antonio sleeps for a while and later goes down to the local bar for a few drinks. Emilia gets to work on the washing, mending and cooking. She can't help her children with their homework because she is illiterate. Ana studied two years and learned to read a little before she had to quit. 

Emilia is 35, though she looks ten years older. Two of her children died in infancy of intestinal and respiratory complications. Though she tends to accept her lot in life, she has begun to question some things. Some of her neighbors began to get together once a week to talk, pray together and do their mending. Now they're having regular visits by the sisters who work in the diocese and are learning all sorts of new things about dignity and their rights as women - what next?! She wonders if Antonio would give her permission to leave the house and go to those meetings. . . 

Problem 

We know hundreds of women like Emilia who have been marginalized, trivialized, discriminated against, abused physically, emotionally and sexually, who work 16 hours a day or more - for less or for no remuneration at all, not even recognition. Even worse, many of them do not value themselves, have no concept of their innate dignity, much less do they feel called to exercise creativity, to develop their potential to participate actively in their communities, to speak up, to reach out toward a reality beyond their established role: culturally accepted, often brutally imposed. 

The wall of inequality is beginning to be seen for what it is. Cracks are showing and there is a rumble in the air. Back in 1993 the diocese of the department of San Marcos (29 municipalities with approximately 640,000 people, 51% women) named Women as a priority. The urgency for a pastoral approach was stated, to formulate policies, plans, strategies and programs that would address the specific needs of women in order to break down these walls that impede their integral development. 

We Maryknoll Sisters responded to this priority in January 1995 and have been able to offer formation to over 200 groups of women in the highlands, valley and coastal areas. We have focused on attitudinal change as an essential step in the process. A woman who does not recognize her own worth is doomed to a life of diminishment and society is at least 50% poorer. We have seen changes, felt excited at potential released, exhilarated about growing self-esteem and independence. Increasingly, women are asking for new ideas, skills for organization, and self-help projects. We have a hard time trying to keep up with it all! But we recognize that our efforts are touching the most basic elements and there is yet a long way to go. 

Work with women was again named as a priority in the diocesan assembly of November, 1999. There is an appreciation of the work accomplished and support from the bishop and the parishes. Even a number of the husbands applaud the changes in their wives! 

Early this year a related program was approved for our diocese and three others. Its objective is to provide formation in civic and political concepts for women's groups as well as assist them in getting their documentation in order to participate in the electoral process. A separate team of Guatemalan women will lead this program, utilizing the network that we have developed. In order to support this new initiative which is being partially funded by Caritas of Switzerland, our team of Maryknoll Sisters is forfeiting our funding at the end of November, 2000, because the agency is not permitted to finance two projects for the same priority. This is why we are seeking funding from another entity. 

Solution 

Our team needs funding in order to continue and expand the work begun in 1995. New groups are forming and asking for help. The older groups urgently need organizational skills and participation in activities that will deepen their attitudes about self-worth and provide opportunities to function as groups who are focused on transformation. 

The four of us work more or less directly with approximately 2,000 women (mostly from rural areas) throughout the 29 municipalities in San Marcos. Some of these women are representatives who return to their respective groups in the outlying districts and share what they have heard and done. In parishes where there are many groups, we use a system of clustering - five or six groups together - for our monthly or bimonthly sessions. The methodology is participative. Special dates are commemorated with general activities: marches, demonstrations, dramatizations, etc. planned by an extended organization of women in related work. Sharing and planning is also done on an inter-diocesan level involving four other neighboring dioceses. 

MARYKNOLL SISTERS: Organization and its Expertise 

The Congregation of the Maryknoll Sisters was founded in 1912. It was the first group of U.S. religious to dedicate their lives to serve as missioners abroad. Today the sisters are from distinct cultures serving in a variety of ministries, including the areas of medicine, communications, education, agriculture, social services and spiritual formation. 

Although the Congregation was a response of the Catholic Church of the United States to respond to the call to serve as missioner, it has always included members from other countries and cultures - one third of the congregation come from 22 nations, including China, Tanzania, Peru, Mexico, the Philippines, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Canada, Ireland and England. 

In the 70s many sisters served as administrators of their schools, hospitals and other institutions. After the changes and decisions of Second Vatican Council, many sisters handed over the administration to lay people. Now the Sisters work in more places, with few personnel and in non-institutional ministries, for example: basic Christian communities, education for adults, training of leaders, of women, of health promoters. When sisters go to work in a country, they always try to take into account the needs of the local population and adapt themselves to the country, including learning the language. The Center House of the Maryknoll Sisters is in Ossining, New York: Tel: (914)-941-7575. Consult the Web page: www.maryknoll.org.  

Statement of Needs

There are certain conditions of life which are common for all poor women of the Department of San Marcos and of the entire country. "The Guatemalan woman works for 16 hours or more a day. She prepares the three meals, gathers firewood for cooking, grinds the maize or takes it to be ground at the mill, sweeps, washes dishes, cares for and feeds the domestic animals, washes clothes in the river, labors in the fields, cares for the children, fetches water. Many times the women of the highlands, along with the children, accompany their husbands to the coast area to harvest coffee. Guatemala has the highest illiteracy rate in the western hemisphere and among the rural indigenous women the rate is from 60 to 80 percent. 

Women and children, especially in the rural area, are those who traditionally have received less attention by the State and society. As a consequence, they are very vulnerable and suffer more severely the effects of the prolonged economic crisis which have been exacerbated by the programs of structural adjustment imposed by the IMF, the World Bank and other international monetary entities. In general the medical care is inadequate not only for children but also for the parents, who are unable to pay the exorbitant prices for medicines. Malnutrition is rampant among the rural and urban population, especially infants and children but also among women who feed their families first. There are few opportunities for remunerative work for women and often they have to work long hours for a scant salary. The constant struggle to survive, the fact of their illiteracy, the poor health conditions and malnutrition of the child and the mother offer little hope for a decent future. How can poor women offer to their children what they themselves lack?" (UNICEF: Study on the "Socioeconomic Reality of Guatemala: the Situation of the Woman, 1994) 

Generally speaking, a woman's ideas and rights are ignored; she is considered ignorant and inferior. By reason of her gender, she is presumed to be the one responsible for all the household chores and the care of the children. Those who are obliged by poverty to work outside, therefore, are carrying two full-time jobs: the one unfairly paid and the other unrecognized. And yet, she survives all of this, plus needing to function in an ambience of violence. Physical and psychological abuse are common, as is sexual harassment in the work place. San Marcos is one of the departments most severely affected by the 36 years of internal conflict. Many women, especially the indigenous, lost family members, were abused by the military forces and still suffer the trauma of those violent times. 

In the past five years we have been working in the Diocesan Pastoral of the Woman in San Marcos, Guatemala, we have been witnesses to the fact that the Guatemalan woman not only is a victim of "machismo" and severe oppression, but she also perpetuates that same machista attitude without questioning it. It is both the woman and the man who live and teach the prejudices against the woman and girl children. The accepted custom is to refer to "girl" children as "hembras" which is a term for female animals while the boy is called by the proper term, "varón". 

The main aim of our work is to reflect with communities about the prejudices, attitudes and customs which look down on the woman and that confine her to a limited, culturally imposed role within the household. We seek to help them recognize the dignity, value, equality, capacity and responsibility of the woman in the family, the community and in the broader society. 

Description of Project

General Goal: to strengthen the promotion of women through an integral and liberating formation, taking into account their reality and their culture so that, participating in all levels, they can achieve equality and contribute to the transformation of the church and society. 

Specific Goals and Objectives: 

1. Recover the dignity of the woman: by encouraging self-esteem and active participation in society and the church; denouncing all abuses against the dignity of the woman; collaborating with other groups who work with widows, single mothers, and women in the sex trade; and by meeting with women in their communities and homes.

2. Relate content to the woman's cultural reality: by adapting the programs according to her culture, promoting training courses according to her necessities and interests, giving particular attention to young women.

3. Recognize women's values and equality of rights alongside those of the man: by promoting her participation in lay ministries, encouraging her to take responsibility for her own development; organizing and giving support to women's groups in each community, promoting the participation of the woman in different organizations - ecclesial, social, political etc.

4. Consolidate support for the work of the diocesan team: by promoting regional and parish teams (Valley, Highlands and Coast); fortifying the existing ones; preparing adequate teaching materials for use in the groups and collaborating with other ministries and commissions and organizations within the diocese.

5. Promote and support the formation of groups of women in each parish: by visiting the communities regularly, offering formation courses and activities that further these objectives.

6. Train more group Animators who will be able to present themes related to the project by methodology workshops, supervision and periodic evaluations.

7. Promote formation for both the men and the women that is liberating and that helps to fortify the rights of the woman: by doing an analysis of the woman's reality in each parish; inviting men to attend formation workshops so that the men can hear what the women are learning; making both parents aware of the need to treat their sons and daughters equally.

Methodology or Implementation

The four full-time members of the diocesan team are assisted by:

• A contact person for each parish/municipality who is responsible for communications to and from the groups, for other organizational tasks and as a member of the regional council.
• The pastors of the 29 parishes who - in varying degrees - support and animate the promotion of the woman.
• Coordinators of individual groups
• Animators, who prepare the venue and present themes. Content themes include:
• Women's role in the family    - Sexuality and community - Violence and the Woman
• Problems women face    - Gender
• Self-esteem      - Health Themes
• Women in History     - Democratic process
• Mayan History     - Group organization
• Women in the Bible - Alcoholism
• Songs (with women's themes)
• Special dates (Feb. 18: Latin

American Woman; Mar. 8: International

Women's Day; Nov. 25: Day of No Violence)

• Use of Bible Dramatizations and Socio-dramas
• Distribution of work roles
• Religious themes related to women's concerns

1. The Steps to solve the situation:

1. Plan content that furthers the goals for monthly or bimonthly sessions with individual groups or clusters.
2. Give monthly formation course in the year 2004 to Animators in the Coast: with 100 women from the Coast (representing 40 groups) in Malacatán, Catarina, Pajapita, Nuevo Progreso and El Tumbador.
3. Provide popular teaching materials taking into account the women's experience and the economic, political and religious context of their community and of the country. For experienced groups, focus on gender themes, cultural values, creative _expression, critical thinking, and group organization.
4. Use the media to advance the presence of the woman in society: by contributing articles to the diocesan newspaper and a woman's newspaper, "La Cuerda"; conduct interviews with women (in Spanish and Mam) for the twice-weekly diocesan radio program, "Between Friends".
5. Establish a network of coordination and animation on the diocesan level, inter-diocesan and inter-institutional that will strengthen the work of the promotion of the Woman:
• Diocesan: plan a yearly get-together with representatives of each parish of the diocese and colleagues from other allied offices to evaluate the year and plan for the next year.
• Inter-diocesan: Continue the meetings of the pastoral of the Woman in four other dioceses (El Quiché, Huehuetenango, Sololá and Quetzaltenango) who also share our same interests, in order to coordinate activities, planning of joint radio programs, press releases on the special days for women, share materials and friendship and a spirit of unity and support.
• Inter-institutional: maintain contact with colleagues who form The Allied Organizations of the San Marcos Woman to share information, give support to one another and plan together the activities of Feb. 18 (Day of the Woman of the Americas), March 8 (International Day of the Woman), Nov. 25 (International Day of the No Violence Against the Woman).
6. Create space for interchange among groups, parishes, regions to share experiences and talents and to look for alternatives. Facilitate women from one region to share her expertise with another group in another part of the diocese. Each Region of the Highlands, the Valley and the Coast have "Encuentros" for the women 3 or 4 times a year when they are hostess to all the other women in the area. This gives them the opportunity to organize and carry a project through on their own.
7. Maintain Contact with the Parishes: the success or failure of the program depends on having someone living in the community to promote it. We have established Contact Persons in each parish in order to keep alive the spirit of the groups.
8. Coordinate efforts in order to promote the practical education and literacy for the women using the various programs available: We are making a concerted effort to make available these services especially for the women of the groups.

Financial Self-sufficiency is greatly desired but not feasible in the immediate future. 

Staffing/Administration

The full-time staff consists of four Maryknoll Sisters who are responsible for carrying out the project within the Diocese. Contact Persons, Coordinators and Animators are not paid. 

• Sister Patricia Redmond worked for 27 years in Bolivia in formal education and administration and with rural men and women pastorally. She also served in Papua New Guinea in development of lay ministries for four years.
• Sister Teruko Ito has worked in Tanzania, East Africa in education; in Japan with persons suffering from alcoholism, and in an administrative position at Maryknoll Center.
• Sister Judith Noone spent 10 years in rural Bolivia doing pastoral work. Her studies have been in the field of anthropology and has a great interest in the various cultures of Guatemala. She also worked in rural Guatemala among the Quichés in one of the areas greatly affected by the political violence of the 1980s.
• Sister Rae Ann O'Neill taught in Tanzania, E. Africa for 4 years; was secretary at the Holy See Mission at the United Nations; worked with basic Christian Communities in Mexico City; and 4 years in Guatemala City in a marginated poor community with women's groups.

Collaborative efforts: Within the Diocese there is a concerted effort to coordinate the efforts of the various offices, ministries and commissions in order not to duplicate efforts. From the beginning of our work, we have reached out to the other offices to see what they are doing regarding work with women - Pastoral of the Land, Caritas, Human Rights Office, Pastoral of Health. The establishment of the OAMM (Organizations Allied with the San Marcos Woman) mentioned above, has greatly helped to facilitate the activities within the diocese. 

Evaluation Though attitudinal goals are difficult to measure, we will use behavioral indicators to evaluate.

The evaluation will be done yearly with the contact persons of the women's groups, pastors, the Central team and other collaborators as mentioned above. 

Conclusion  

Women’s Pastoral Work was first named a priority of the Diocese of San Marcos in 1993 during the annual diocesan assembly. During the assembly in November 1999 appreciation for what we have accomplished was expressed, and it was unanimously renamed as a priority. We Maryknoll Sisters responded to the invitation of the bishop in 1995 and for the past five years have dedicated ourselves to creating and implementing programs to meet the needs of the women and their communities, to question and ultimately transform the prejudices and discriminations which cripple the entire society.  

We will continue to consolidate and expand the work that we began in 1995. We will pursue new ways of coordinating and collaborating with diocesan & inter-diocesan commissions, ngo’s and other entities working for and with women and their causes. We will continue to give priority to networking as we avoid duplication and struggle against all forms of competition.  

As we gradually turn over some of our efforts to Guatemalan women, we will move into related areas presently on the margin of our concerns for lack of time and energies: intra-familiar violence, women & substance abuse, literacy for women’s groups, quality production and marketing of women’s crafts, etc. When we move on to other ministerial challenges, we will, with the help of this funding, turn over a healthy and strongly rooted ministry to other (Guatemalan) women, equally committed to transform their society for the good of future generations.