Mexico
Partnership Family Field Trip to Tijuana
Partners and friends from around the country met in San Diego on June 24 to kick off the second annual Partnership Family Field Trip to San Eugenio Mission in Tijuana.
Highlights of the trip included:
- rooftop conversation and family-style meal in San Diego
- tour of mission medical and dental clinics and literacy center
- back of the truck ride for teens around mission perimeter
- craft session with kids from Special Needs Program
- interactions with mission youth ministers
- food and clothing distribution for needy at out-station chapel
- 2 piñata parties
- impromptu dance with youth ministers
Mission host Fr. Jesse Esqueda, OMI summed up the experience by stating:
“We provide a “community” for all of the people you have seen. We are a place where they can bring their suffering, their poverty, their sadness, but also their joy and their hope.”
Fr. Jesse invited each of us to now feel a part of this community. How could we not?
ATTENDEES: Kathy Raskob Van Loan, Tim and Emily Van Loan (Arizona); Kevin, Max and Ava Henseler (Minnesota); Dennis, Mikayla, Katherine Kempf (Missouri); Michael, Julie and Stephanie Whitehurst (Texas); Mike, Charlotte and Elizabeth Koroscik (Texas); Don Gonneville (California); Lena Romano (California); Penny Cuffe (Arizona) and Artie and Caitlin Pingolt (South Carolina).
Saying ‘Yes to the Dress’ In San Eugenio
Oblate Founder St. Eugene de Mazenod famously said “leave nothing undared.” Knowing De Mazenod’s love of the poor women of Marseille, he would look down with joy on the inspired gift recently made by Philadelphia Partner Gregory Woodward – 10 couture gowns and wedding dresses for the women of San Eugenio, the Oblate mission parish in Tijuana, Mexico.
