FATHER BENNY PIOVAN----taking a vacation

Padre Benny working in Saltillo Barrio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6qRMHpV7Pc

                       (Pescador de hombres)

Father Benjamin Piovan, the Pastor of the Mississippi Catholic Mission in Saltillo, Coah., Mexico finally  takes his vacation this week, after 2 years.   Due to his busy schedule running such a vast and heavily populated Mission left him with no time to take his vacation.  Also, adding to his schedule last year was the building of the new church at San Miguel, where the Mission is headquartered, and the little chapel in the newest barrio.

Most Mississippi priests take a month off every summer and some in the Mississippi Dioceses take 2 or 3 months off.   

Besides running the parish, which consists of 7 large churches in the Barrios of the City of Saltillo and 24 mountain rancho churches each month, he has now been  asked  to take over 16 more ranchos and one more in the City.    He also took time off to visit the Ascension of our Lord Church in LaPlace, La. to fill in for 2 weeks for the pastor there. Father Benny, as he is affectionately known, was founding pastor of the LaPlace Church in 1979 and remained pastor until he "RETIRED" in 2006, then became a Missionary Priest in Saltillo.  Father Benny was assisting the Mississippi priest that was Pastor, and when he returned to Mississippi, another came for 2 years and then had to return to Mississippi.  That is when the Mississippi Bishop asked Fr. Piovan to run the Mission for the time being.   Mississippi opened the Mission in 1969 at Perpetuo Socorro Church, which then moved to San Miguel in 1997, after the death of  Father Patrick Quinn, the Pastor at the time.

Thanks to God, there are now 2 newly ordained Mexican priests who work with Padre Benny since they were ordained at San Miguel in February.   They will continue to hold down the fort while Padre Benny is in Italy, where he is from.   Fr. Benny was born in Padua, Italy, and in February celebrated his 75th birthday.  " I love doing Missionary work and I will continue to do God's work here as long as my health lets me," stated Father Benny.  Father Benny has served many roles as a priest, from teacher, counselor, chaplain, builder, missionary, priest, as well as accomplished gardener and raiser of chickens, birds, etc.  The vegetables and chickens he likes to share with the people in the ranchos and barrios.  

Padre Evelio y Padre David

Padre David Martinez and Padre Evelio Rodriguez are the two new padres working at the Mission with Father Benny.  They belong to a new Order named Misioneros Siervos de la Divina Misericordia and are happy be serving at the Mission since there is always lots of God's work to do.

The Mission will be in good hands while the Pastor is away with  the two new padres as well as the steady hand of the long time secretary, Ines Laureano, as well as a number of  really good catechists.

Ines and two Mission supporters

The Mission also provides a medical and dental clinic at San Miguel, with a doctor and dentist to provide dental and medical treatment for the many poor people of the barrios.  Visiting missionaries through  the years brought needed medicines from home to give to the Mission for use in the clinic as well as the distant ranchos served by Padre Benny and his two Mexican priests, but since the groups have stopped coming to the Mission because of the drug cartel violence,  needed medicines have been hard to come by.

Also, Father Benny announced that he has taken a massive overhaul of the youth program in the parish as well as starting youth recreation programs.  He said the youth are the future of the Church.

And there you have it, the Mission goes on. Padre Benny, Padre David y Padre Evelio are certainly "Pescadors de Hombres."

PESCADOR DE HOMBRES

HERE I AM LORD!

Padre Patrick Quinn

I HEARD YOU CALLING IN THE NIGHT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk2CHhjlFj4&feature=related



CALLED BY NAME:  Some of Those that answered the Call! 

Fr.Mike Thornton and Fr. Louie Lohan

Ralph Bandy and family

Fr. Dean Danos

Jeanne Harbison

Jeanne Harbison and  Father Quinn

L.J. Livaccari and Kathy Chapman

L.J. Livaccari and Julius Broussard 

Fr. Patrick Mockler

Dr. Matt Kuluz

Fr. Henry McInerney

Father Benny Piovan

Bragg Moore

Rebecca Boudreaux

Since Father Patrick Quinn first started the Catholic Mission in 1969 in Saltillo, Mexico, thousands of Missionaries have traveled there answering the call to make the long trek South of the Border, Down Mexico Way, to aid and support the Mission.    The Dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi, Mississippi answered the call from Pope Pius XII to open missions in Latin America, calling Latin America, "the world's largest mission field, " and Fr. Quinn volunteered to go and chose Saltillo, due to its closeness to Mississippi with the help of the Mississippians in mind.  Many Mexicans never saw a priest or waited years to receive the sacraments.  Many lived and still do live, as millions of the world's poor, in pathetic living conditions.  Many from Mississippi as well as other states answered the call, bringing needed clothing and medical supplies to the Mission to provide to the residents.

The Mission not only built churches in the City of Saltillo, and in distant mountain ranchos, but brought material support and medical help to the many poor of the area.  Many homes  were built in the barrios for those living in shanties, with money donated by those in the United States.

Many said "Here I Am Lord" and made trips with groups year after year.   They gave up their time and money and summer vacation to drive the 1000 miles or more to help and Fr. Quinn and the Mexicans appreciated it.   The Mexicans and Americans quickly became close.  The Saltillo Experience started out as a youth experience, but then spread to adult groups too.  No one could refuse the requests of  one of the Giants of the Earth, the man they called Padre Quinn.  They even wrote songs about him. 

Some of the great missionaries who brought literally thousands to the mission over many years are those like Ralph Bandy, a retiree from Gautier with his converted Greyhound Bus, and year after year brought tons of clothing and medical supplies to the Mission.  Ralph and Fr. Quinn quickly became

good friends. Ralph later married a Mexican girl and named his son after Fr. Quinn.  And those youth group leaders like Bragg Moore, Jeanne Harbison, Kathy Chapman,  Ruth Higginbotham, and adults like L. J. Livaccari, Julius Broussard,  Rebecca Boudreaux,  Father  Henry McInerney  and Father Dean Danos as well as many others too many to mention, who tirelessly planned and organized the many trips bringing thousands of missionaries and supplies to the mission over the years.  They will live in the hearts and minds of the Mexican people for years to come.  

We also thank those priests that Chose to serve at the Mission, like Fr. Quinn, Father Mike Flannery, Father Mike Thornton, Father Louie Lohan,  Fr. Patrick Murray,  Father Paul Madden, Father Patrick Mockler, Fr. Benny Piovan and others who served as pastor or associate pastor of the mission over

the years.    

What a Wonderful Experience!  God Bless you all!

Anyone else that wants to be remembered can send their memories of  Father Quinn to the Mission and their writings will be included in a  Book of Memories of  Father Quinn located in his side chapel  of the new San Miguel Church.

Father Quinn's Book

The Mission is on Facebook (Saltillo Mission San Miguel)

Father Benny's email addres is bennyinmex@yahoo.com

The secretary's email address is maineslaureano@hotmail.com or saltillomission@hotmail.com

MISSION IN ACTION

"COME HOLY SPIRIT AND FILL THE HEARTS OF YOUR FAITHFUL  AND KINDLE  IN THEM  THE FIRE OF YOUR LOVE"

Father Benny Piovan, Pastor of the Saltillo Mission San  Miguel has sent an update on the work of the Mission:

Dear Friends and Benefactors of the San Miguel Mission in Saltillo, Mexico,

It is with great joy that I send you this update on how your prayers and financial contributions help us provide for the ever-growing and developing needs of your Mission.

Last year, for the summer of 2010 we undertook a massive overhaul of the youth program in the San Miguel Parish and expanded it to the 24 rural communities in the Ranchos.  Then in the fall we did and overhaul as well with the Catechism program; changing the day of CCD classes from Saturday to Sunday, the students attending their classes either before Mass or right after Mass, while the parents attending at the same time their Adult Education program.  Then parents and children go to Mass together.  But the most important change has been extending the program of CCD to all the students to all the grades.  As before they would come to CCD class one year in the third grade for their First Holy Communion and then return only in the 8th grade for their Confirmation. Now they are required to attend every year from Kindergarten through 8th grade without skipping.  The same was implemented in the Ranchos.

Now during their summer of 2011 we have these ongoing programs: Vacation Bible School for all children and teenagers alike---2 weeks.  For CCD students who failed to attend last year we implemented a 4 week intensive CCD class and for all students who failed subjects in their school, a 4 week remedial course in their subject areas.

As part of the religious manifestations we offered a live Station of the Cross the Saturday before Palm Sunday, a live presentation of the Resurrection of Our Lord on Easter Sunday night, a live presentation of the Ascension for the Feast of Ascension and a live  presentation on Pentecost.  Then for the Feast of Corpus Christi we had a solemn high Mass and procession with the participation of the First Communion children and their families.  These have been all new programs this year.  We also held a Prayer Contest in all the 7 chapels in the City of Saltillo with the children of CCD which we did at each grade level and then at parish levels.  We awarded the top three winners in every grade in all the chapels.

We heard a lot of prayers that Sunday  afternoon and so did the parents!  This  took place Sunday, June 5th, and then on Sunday, July 3rd, we held a Choir Singing Contest among the choirs of the Parish. We have 8 choirs!

Now for the summer we started a sports program as well with teams from the 7 chapels in basketball, volleyball and soccer.  Baseball will follow soon.

With the beginning of the new school year we will offer retreats to all the children and their parents and godparents every weekend.  A big Rosary  Celebration is being organized for Mission Sunday, October 23rd.  A live presentation of the Apparition of Our Lady to San Juan Diego for December 9-12, 2011 and a live Nativity for Christmas and the Epiphany, 2012.

As you can see be are keeping very active.  This is our way of helping these children and their parents from turning   to violence, drugs and alcohol to a better and all around healthier lifestyle.

Your prayers and your  donations make all this possible.  Thank you! Thank you!  Thank you!

I love you all,

Fr. Benny

 Phone #011 52 844 482 5882
email address: bennyinmex@yahoo.com
Follow us on Facebook:  Saltillo Mission San Miguel