What a week! Whenever a team from SMA visits our parish mission in Honduras, we ask each person to share of their time and talent and to “seek to serve” all those we encounter on our visit, especially the nuns, children and elderly. Inevitably, we are deeply humbled by the grace and joy that is shared with us tenfold in the daily small ways we are “served” at our mission, from the hospitality of the nuns, jovenes, marias and aspirantes to the beautiful ways the young ladies at the Hogar de Niñas look after each other and in turn looked after our team.
We meditated all week long on being “Called To Be Saints” and through the lives of the Saints such as St. Theresa of Calcutta, St. Faustina, St. Bernadette, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Ávilia that sanctity is not reserved for a select few but is a universal call for each one of us. Through small acts of kindness and a genuine commitment to the well-being of others, we can all contribute to the realization of a more compassionate and just world, echoing the spirit of holiness exemplified by each of these saints. We also looked to these saints as models for the virtues of trust, humility, courage and JOY!
We encountered these small acts each day from the nuns greeting us with beautifully prepared meals that were lovingly served to us, to the voices raised in song and prayer at mass, during the rosary and in prayer, with greetings from the elderly as they greeted us with smiles and as their eyes lit up when we approached in spite of language barriers, through the many greetings and hugs we received EACH time we visited the Hogar de Niñas.
Our parish has committed to improving the day-to-day lives for the residents in each home by investing in improvements to each facility, providing funds for health & wellness (medical, dental, vision, nutrition), supporting costs for education (tuition, tutors, educational resources), as well as funding operating expenses in each home. Additionally, we are assisting several young ladies with college tuition as they pursue degrees in the medical field. Our efforts over time are making a difference in the overall opportunities available to the young ladies and to the end of life dignity for the elders. But we are also humbled to our CORE how we are truly forever changed by the deep faith, humility, courage and joy rooted deeply in those we encounter at our mission and in the community – we have been in the presence of so many saints on this earth at each home in Honduras.
Please join me in gratitude to each of these volunteers this week that shared so generously of their time to be fully present to the nuns, children and elderly at our parish mission: Chris Kopecky, Rose Kopecky, Sabrina Kopecky, Samantha Kopecky, Jessica Kozel, John Kozel, Lynn Pollock, Michelle Prier & Sophia Rall
Until next time…..
¡Paz y bien! Juanita
Most Loving God, You are the master of all creation and we stand in awe of your truth, beauty and goodness. We ask you to shine your light down on the people in Honduras and let them always feel the warmth of Your love. Guide our thoughts, words and actions as we work together on this mission project so it is Your work and Your purpose we strive to accomplish. May our hearts forever be changed as we witness Your presence and love and may we be inspired by the faith of those we seek to serve in Honduras. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
St. Michael the Archangel Honduras Mission Project 