| Used for |
Transportation of pilgrims, Christmas Gift Stockings, Toys, clothes, and mattresses to the 200+ children housed at the three (3) orphanages operated by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Guadalajara, Mexico. St. Joseph Church has been sponsoring "Semillas de Esperanza" and "Hermanos Unidos" orphanages for over three years with a monthly tithe from our offertory collection and twice annual pilgrimages to the orphanages. This grant will cover the transportation of the extraordinary outpouring of support for our 2009 Christmas Appeal for the children. |
| Benefits |
This grant would allow St. Joseph Church to continue it's ongoing suppport and aide to these needy children, improve their life on the short term now, and therby hopefully improve their future lives as fully participating persons in a global world view. This "adoption" of the orphanage work in Mexico has had a very positive effect on the consciousness of the parish community as to the need and struggle of other persons in other parts of the world, and has already caused a mutual love and respect between the parish and the orphans. There is a greater understanding of the brotherhood of all mankind and respect for all persons - our shared humanity, without regard to national borders, ethnic origin, or religious preference. |
| Proposal Description |
St. Joseph Church in Beeville, Texas entered into an ongoing support relationship with the orphanage "Semillas de Esperanza" (Seeds of Hope) over three years ago when we found out the blood relative of one of our Hispanic parishioners was a Religious Sister in the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother that was in deperate need in Guadalajara, Mexico. Sor Denicia came to the parish for a weekend appeal and was able to raise $5,000.00 for support of the children. The following month the Parish Pastoral Council voted to tithe 2% of the weekly offertory collection in support of the children and of the sisters. The monthly support gave the childre for the first time - new shoes, new clothes, and new school supplies. The ongoing support has allowed them to refurbish their library into a real study hall for the children with desks, lamps, and even a shared computer. Repairs to the roof, plumbing, and installation of ceiling fans during the last summer pilgrimage made the living spaces and dormitory more habitable. Since the adoption the parish has sent down a bus of volunteers and supplies every six months (June and December) to work with the staff and the children. Each Christmas, we offer to the church members the opportunity to take a child's name and size and fill a box or stocking with necessities and toiletries and games for the child. We transport the Christmas gifts down in the Dec. 26 to Jan 2 trip each year and have a fiesta party for the distribution of the gifts. This year's outpouring of gifts has been so tremendous we are suddenly in need of a larger bus for the transportation of all the gifts, toys, stockings, and rubberized mattresses (for the children who might still be bed wetting) that have been donated. All of the gifts are donated and all of the volunteers pay for their own tranzportation, food, and lodging. All monies donated toward the children goes directly to the aide of the children and there is no administrative charge by the parish. The grant money will be used to lease a larger bus with greater storage capacity to transport the increased number of pilgrims, and the tremendous outporing of support for the 2009 Christmas Appeal for the Orphanages. This is a sudden and unforeseen situation to be so blessed by the outpouring of support that we may not have the means to get it to the children and the orphanages it is dedicated to. We hope to achieve that our current succesful 2009 Christmas Appeal that will truly bless these children may happen for this 2009 Pilgrimage. We will be better prepared for the future pilgrimage trips and better anticipate the generosity and support of our parish for this mission orphanage that we have adopted. |
