South of the Border, Down Mexico Way
Guardian Angels Parish, Santee, California
to
Parroquia Santo Nino de Atocha, Rosarito, Mexico
Sr. Mary Potter and friends
My love for across border outreach began during the late 80’s when I worked with Los Ninos organization for 4 to 6 weeks in summer. It involved hosting groups of high school teenagers at an old army barracks on the USA side of the border for a week at a time and driving them to ministry sites in Tijuana, B.C. Mexico. During the rest of the year I would co-ordinate “drives” at Good Shepherd School where I was teaching, to support the various orphanages in Tijuana. We had “drives” for typewriters (pre-computer days), for a teenage girls’ orphanage, drives for sewing machines and for baby clothes/diapers for Casa de Cuna orphanage for babies.
Tijuana, Mexico
In 1991, when I moved from teaching in Catholic School to Parish Ministry, I met Omaha Mercy Sisters Ruth and Lucina and was inspired by their example to lead others into ministry. The Sisters were living in Rosarito, Baja California and purchased a site for their new mission endeavor: “Rosarito Project: Love, Hope, Trust”.
So the first involvement from Guardian Angels Parish began during a casual chat after an RCIA session. Two men, one desiring to become Catholic and his sponsor were involved in construction and chatting about their work of installing new doors and windows for homes in Santee area. I casually asked what happened to the “old ones” and they said jokingly “do you want them?” So a few days later they were delivering gently used doors and windows to the Rosarito Project: Love, Hope, Trust. Sisters Ruth and Lucina had other connections deliver “old garage doors” which were used for the walls of homes. So began the first homes for several families who had lived on the hillsides or dried out riverbeds or wherever they pitched their tents.
The parishioners of my parish, Guardian Angels, Santee, began to collect pots, pans, dishes, beds, bedding and furniture and so about every 4 to 6 weeks a caravan of cars and pick-up trucks would load up the donated goods and head out on a delivery trip. Trips were and still are challenging and exciting adventures as not all of us make it across the border … often one of the group is refused entry by the authorities or one or two may stop for gas or coffee and lose their way.
Boys at Van
Since 9/11 the border security has tightened and so we have tailored our donations. Nowadays we only use cars and have a set schedule for needed items. During Lent we have a drive for hygiene items and children’s clothing, at Halloween, it’s trick or treat and at Christmas it’s candy and toys. In August we collect school supplies and all types of shoes, clothing, fabric and yarn.
Giving Socks
Sisters Ruth and Lucina retired several years ago and about two years ago both went home to God. Sr. Clare ran the project for about 10 years. The Sisters were welcoming, appreciated the donations and served us with coffee, lemonade and Mexican treats. If there were new people in our delivery group, Sister took them on a visit to families and homes.
About 18 months ago Sr. Clare retired to the Omaha Motherhouse and the Mercy building, built with discarded garage doors from north of the border, was donated to the local parish. Sr. Clare’s intention was that the premises would continue as a gathering center for the women and families of the area so that they could have adult Spanish language classes, catechism, cooking and of course their sewing and knitting sessions.
Within a month the situation changed as the priest and two huge dogs moved in and some factions broke out among the group who used to gather at the Project Love, Hope, Trust site. One or two of the women facilitators were refused access to materials; the sewing groups split with some of the materials going to the parish and some to homes. It was an awkward situation. While our parish delivered the donations for Christmas and Fiesta de Los Reyes, (January 6) to the parish church, Parroquia Santo Nino de Atocha, we weren’t sure if they were going to the poor.
So with the assistance of an interpreter we met with the Deacon and expressed our concerns and asked for the assurance that all would go to the area’s most needy.
We continue with our deliveries of fabric and yarn for the sewing/knitting/crochet groups. We also deliver gently used children clothing and gently used walking shoes for all ages. Just a few days ago we received donations of two gently used sewing machines for the quilting/sewing group. In a week or so we shall be crossing the border as we also have stacks of fabric and yarn destined for the sewing groups. The women’s groups are very creative and it’s a joy to see their work and hear about the money they earn on market day from the sale of the items they have sewn and knitted.
Many of our parish Adult Faith Formation groups donate money to help with the catechism materials for children of Parroquia Santo Nino de Atocha, Rosarito.
This parish outreach is possible with the generous donations of both our adult and young parishioners and also the generosity of those who help with delivery.
Sheltered Living
“In Mercy, we touch the hearts of those who are in misery.
In Mercy, we’re touched by them and feel their strength and courage.”
