You may remember earlier this year the letter about the church called St. Anthony Marie Claret that we were helping build in a very poor area in Juarez, Mexico. Several of you very generously sent in donations to help with that construction and the Claretian missionaries who are in charge of the parish are so grateful. We wanted to give you an update.
First we extended the whole structure so that more people could fit in the church.
Then we put up insulation and plywood to cover the walls that were made of wooden pallets. Next came a roof with tar paper to keep out the sun and the rain, and then the women decorated and fixed it all up beautifully inside.
“We are very happy with our church,” said one mother who helped build it from the ground up.“I want my children to know God and having a church of our own to go to each week is helping them a lot.”
Another person shared, “With all the violence swirling around us, we know that God is our only hope. We find peace and strength in this place.”
A few weeks ago several children received their First Communion here. As we looked at their smiling faces and at their proud parents and happy relatives, once again our hearts were filled with gratitude to God and to you for making their dream of having a neighborhood church a reality.
