BARRIO CHAPEL DESTROYED

     After Father Benny Piovan, Pastor of the Saltillo Mission, celebrated Mass at the little St. Francis
of Assisi Barrio Chapel (San Francisco de Asis),  strong winds blew down from the Sierra Madre
Mountains surrounding the Mission and destroyed the Chapel.

     "Thank God the people were not in the chapel at the time, as we just finished with 4:30 p.m. Mass
on June 2, when the winds began to blow," the pastor explained.   Around 6:30 p.m. there was little
left of the dilapidated chapel.  The roof was completely torn off.

     "The chapel served the people of the poorest barrio," Father Benny said.  The walls were made of 
pallets and cardboard, and the roof was old pieces of tin.  The outside was made of fence posts and
used plywood.

     "The chapel was never a very sturdy structure but it served the people of the barrio and they loved
their little chapel," the pastor related.  The chapel was stifling hot in the summer and freezing cold in
the winter and there were no windows in the building.

Barrio Children sing outside their Chapel

      Father Benny has issued an Appeal for funds to help rebuild chapel.  "If anyone can help in any
way, please send their donations to their respective diocese with a notation that it is for the Saltillo
Mission Chapel Fund," he said.

     "With a little help from our friends and by the Grace of God, we can rebuild this little chapel for
those wonderful people of the San Francisco de Asis Barrio,"  the good Pastor stated.

     Father Benny can be contacted at his email address which is bennyinmex@yahoo.com

     Those in Mississippi can send their  dontations to the Diocese of Jackson or Diocese of Biloxi.
      Those in Louisiana can send their dontations to The Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church, LaPlace, Louisiana,  which was Father Benny's parish before retiring and moving to  Saltillo to do Missionary work. God Bless!

Father Benny shows Father Henry the inside of Chapel

MISSION EXPANDS---MORE RANCHOS!!!



Ringing bell in new rancho







Father Benny and Bishop talk Ranchos

     When the Bishop of Saltillo asked Father Benny Piovan, Pastor of the Saltillo Mission, to expand his mission and take on more ranchos, there was only one thing he could say, and that was, "SIGN ME UP."

     Father Benny has been at the mission at San Miguel A. Catholic Church in Saltillo, Mexico since 2006, after he "retired" from the Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in LaPlace, Louisiana, and knows  the need for priests to visit the distant ranchos, to bring the Sacraments to those remote areas, where seldom a priest is seen.

     Saltillo Bishop Raul Vera was impressed with Father Benny's work at the Mission, where he already served numerous ranchos in the mountains south of the City of  Saltillo, as well as 8 churches in the surrounding barrios of the City.  Father Patrick Quinn, a native of Ireland, who served in Mississippi, began the Mission in Saltillo in 1969 and served until his death in 1997.  Father Benny is promoting the cause for canonization of  Father Quinn.

FATHER QUINN

     The Diocese of Saltillo stated that the work of foreign priests takes much commitment and the work they do is extremely important to Bishop Vera.  For that reason he visits them, calls them frequently and asks them favors, because the Bishop trusts their pastoral service.

     "There is a terrible need for the Mission here.  Father Benjamin Poivan, Pastor of the Mission is a good Missionary.  I was sorry when the  Bishops of Mississippi stopped sending priests to San Miguel. Fortunately, Father Piovan chose to remain, and the Mission has a good team of priests and lay people working in that Parish.  Father Benny has a good number of Ejidos (ranchos) as well as all those in the City of  Saltillo, and we need the help of the Mississippi Dioceses," Bishop Vera stated.

     Father Benny explained the new program, " As for the new rancho churches we have contacted and are working now in 32 new ranchos, for a  total of 55 now, but there are still others which we have not yet contacted or visited."  The new ranchos are northwest of the City of Saltillo.

Another New Rancho Church

     The Pastor thinks he may have as many as 100 rancho churches to serve when everything is sorted out.  "We are also contacting and involving some local priests who lean favorably on helping with working on behalf of the rural communities," the Pastor said.  With the 8 local churches in the Barrios, that makes 63 at present the Mission is tending to.  Father Benny also says Mass at the two new hospitals which have been built next to the Museum of the Desert, as well as a new church next to the new hospital built by foreign missionaries.




     At the present time, San Miguel Parish has 70 teenage and adult catechists who worked in 30 rancho churches during Holy Week and are now preparing for Vacation Bible Schools in the ranchos.  "There is more than enough work here for anyone that wants to work," Father Benny related.

     Helping Father Benny in the tremendous workload are two newly ordained Mexican priests, Padre David Martinez Rubio, and Padre Evelio Rodriguez Casarrubias, both ordained at San Miguel last February by Bishop Vera.

     AS Father Benny drove up to one of the new ranchos, the parishioners were waiting with smiles on their faces.  They could hardly believe that  they would have regular visits from a priest since it had been more than a year since they had seen a priest.

     Two  young  catechists in Inglesia  del  Sangarado Corazon de Jesus in the rancho  of Pardon, showed Fr. Benny a long list of children who have been waiting for some time to make their First Communion, as well as Confirmation. Some of the ranchos have not seen a priest for a much longer time.  "In general, these new ranchos have not seen a priest for a whole year, some other ranchos, like La Popa have not had a Mass in 20 years, and Martin de Las Vacas in 12 years, and some have not had a Bishop visit in 30 years.  At the same  time, I am encouraged and inspired how the faith has survived and how enthusiastic they respond, they really exude the 'joy of the Faith,'" explained Father Benny.




Book with children waiting for Sacraments

     When entering another rancho, 3 residents stopped him in the middle of the road, and wanted to talk at length about his plans for regular visits, Mass, CCD, VBS, and other plans for the rancho after years without a priest.

     Yes, the faith is alive and well in these distant ranchos and the people have kept the faith alive.  In a number of  ranchos, some protestant churches were beginning to move in and build churches of their own.

     Included in the Mission's plans this summer are remedial courses for all students that failed subjects in their school, consisting of 4 weeks.

     San Miguel also has a dental and medical clinic to serve the people of the barrios who cannot afford to get medical attention otherwise.  The clinic also provides medicines to the poor of the barrios, when supplies are available.  The doctor at the clinic estimated that they treated over 4000 people at the clinic.

     When the American groups would come for their missionary visits, they would provide much needed material and financial support for the Mission as well as the clinic, but since the groups no longer make their annual trips to the Mission due to the unrest in Mexico, financial and material support for the Mission has been hard to come by.  Father Benny is trying to do More with Less.

      The priests of Mississippi who have served at the Mission have shown their support for the Mission and have asked for everyone's help to promote the Mission.

     "We have faith in our Lord that he has a plan for this Mission and I am confident that is is NOT to close the Mission, but the continue to serve these wonderful people of Saltillo and surrounding areas," stated Father Benny.

     God Bless the Saltillo Mission!




SUNSET

    
    

FORMER PASTORS RALLY SUPPORT

     Recognizing the need for additional support for the Saltillo Mission,  former pastors of the Mississippi sponsored Mission in Mexico, wrote a letter to all the pastors of  the Diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi, to gather support for the Annual Mission Appeal.

     The Mission, supported by the Dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi, has fallen on hard times in recent years due to the lack of  support coming from the groups that in the past made yearly missionary trips to the Mexico based Mission and which no longer come. 

     Drug violence in Mexico forced the groups to cancel their trips, when they would bring needed material items and also medical and financial support.  

     In addition to the drug violence, a severe drought has taken its toll on the thousands of  parishioners of the parish.   The Mission consists of  8 chapels in the City of Saltillo, as well as 39 churches in the mountain regions outside of the City.  The Mission is  also in the  process of taking on additional areas, both in the City and in the Ranchos.

     The San Miguel Church is the central location for the Mission and provides a medical and dental clinic to take care of the many that need medical  and dental care.   Medical  and dental care is limited to those who cannot afford it.

     Former pastors Michael Thornton, Louis Lohan, Patrick Mockler, as well as Saltillo native Father Sergio Balderas, penned an emergency letter, which was sent to every church pastor in the Biloxi Diocese, in an effort to help the Mission. "Recent events in Mexico have made the annual collection more important than ever for the ongoing funding of the Saltillo Mission.  For many years over twenty groups from Mississippi and other states were able to visit the mission each year.  These groups worked at the Mission and often made generous financial donations to the Mission.  This amounted to around 50% of the operation expenses.  Outbreaks of violence through much of Mexico have forced our parishes to discontinue the mission trips. It is difficult to predict when the situation there may improve.  Resulting from all of this is the need to increase the annual collection so that the funding of the mission may continue,"  the priests stated.

     Father Benny in his Annual Mission Appeal also stated that adding to the problems are the floods brought on by hurricanes in the southern  and central part of Mexico which have wiped out thousands of acres of crops.

     The four priests implored the pastors to do a little extra this year to promote the annual collection.

     "Rest assured  that your poor brothers and sisters of the Saltillo Mission pray for you every day.  And you are in my prayers as well. God Bless you all!",  commented Father Benny, pastor of the Saltillo Mission.

     Donations for the continuance of the Mission can be sent to any Catholic Church in Mississippi with notation for "Saltillo Mission",  or to Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in LaPlace, Louisiana, marked for "Saltillo Mission",or  contact Father Benny by email at bennyinmex@yahoo.com

or Saltillo Mission San Miguel on Facebook whose email is saltillomission@hotmail.com

     Our  Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE----PATRONESS OF THE AMERICAS

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE!!!!

     On the morning of  December 9, 1531,  Juan Diego was walking to Mass. When he passed Tepeyac Hill  he heard a sound coming from the top of the hill.  Looking up he heard celestial music and  a young native woman, about 16 years old, 4 foot 8 inches tall, who began talking  to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oUlFt5VErg&feature=related


     He stopped to see what was happening, when the young woman asked him to come up to the top of the hill.  "For I am your merciful Mother," she said, " to you and all mankind who love me and trust in me to invoke my help.  Therefore, go to the Bishop in Mexico City and say that the Virgin  Mary sent you to make known to him my great desires."

     The Virgin asked him to tell the Bishop of her desire that a chapel be built on the spot where they were standing.

     Upon telling the Bishop of the vision, the Bishop did not believe him and dismissed him.

     When Juan Diego returned to the hill, he told the Blessed Mother of his failure to convince the Bishop, she instructed him to return to the Bishop and repeat her wishes.  Upon meeting the Bishop a second time, the Bishop asked for a sign from the Lady.  When Juan Diego  told her of the need for a sign, she told him to return the next morning and she would give him a sign for the Bishop.

     Juan Diego did not return the next morning because his uncle Juan Bernadino became suddenly ill and Juan Diego went to fetch a doctor for his uncle.   Two days later, on December 12, Juan Diego was on his way to a Church at Tlateloco, to seek a priest for his dying uncle.  On the way, he was stopped by Our Lady who asked him why he did not keep his appointment and he explained about his dying uncle.

     The Lady told him not to worry about his uncle, that indeed, he had already been healed.  Our Lady also appeared to the uncle that day and restored his health.  Juan Diego was 57 years old and his uncle 68 years old.  Both had been among the first of the natives to be baptized into the Catholic Faith.

     Our Lady instructed Juan Diego to climb to the top of Tepeyac Hill and there he would find many kinds of flowers blooming and that he was to cut them and bring them to her.  It was the middle of the winter and the rugged rocky hill was not known to grow anything so Juan Diego doubted he would find anything growing there.  When he reached the top of the hill, to his shock and amazement he found a lovely garden growing there with beautiful Castillian roses.   He cut them and placed them in his tilma.   When he returned to the Lady, she rearranged them and instructed him to take them to the Bishop as a sign and  not to open his tilma until he was in the presence of  the Bishop.

     Juan Diego did as She wished and stood radiantly before the Bishop and opened his tilma and let the roses fall to the floor.  The Bishop was amazed at the image he observed on the tilma.  It was a beautiful image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she appeared to Juan Diego.   The Bishop agreed to build the chapel and  8 million people were converted to the Catholic Faith within 7 years.

     The original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is on display at the Basilica in Mexico City.  It is one of the most visited Catholic Shrines in the world.   Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared "Patroness of the Americas" by the Vatican in 1946.  In 2009 on Friday and Saturday, December 11 and 12, a record 6.1 million pilgrims visited the Basilica to commemorate the anniversary.

     The image and tilma are still in perfect condition after 480 years.  The tilma is made from the maguey cactus plant which normally does not last more than 30 years.  Even a bomb exploding near the image did not damage it.

     Juan Diego was declared a Saint on July 31, 2002.  His feast day is December 9, and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is on December 12.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City

THE LORD IS WITH YOU!!!!


BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

AVE MARIA, PRAY FOR US!!!!!!!!!!!!

MISSION NEEDS HELP NOW!!!

Father Benny working in the Barrios

Father Benny Piovan, the pastor of the Mississippi sponsored Mission in Saltillo, Mexico issued the following Emergency Appeal for support for the people of Mexico who are in dire need of help.

" My dear sisters and brothers in Christ: Greetings from the 40 ranchos and 8 very large subdivisions which are part of the Saltillo Mission which Padre Patrick Quinn established in 1969. 

     Here at San Miguel, we are still working to continue the work of the Saltillo Mission.  However,
the situation is getting even more critical due to the ever rising cost of living with the cost of the basic foods like rice, beans, eggs, flour, etc.   To compound the problem in the rural communities is the two years of drought which has made it impossible to raise any crops like beans and corn.

     Due to lack of rain (in  some areas 15 months without a single drop) not only has there been no crops, but also their animals like goats and cattle have  died.

     The prospect for the winter is for the drought to continue  and a  harsh cold for months to come.

     In some areas the temperature at night has dropped to 10 degrees centigrade,and  the winter is just beginning.  Clothes and blankets are  not enough to warm people who have little or nothing to put in their stomach to generate some natural heat.

Little Girl lives the Barrio

     IN the name of your poor brothers and sisters of the Saltillo Mission I appeal for your help and generosity."

Typical house in Barrios

     Fraternally yours in Christ,

     Fr. "Benny" Benjamin Piovan
     Pastor of San Miguel Arcangel
     Avenida Central 4649 y Calle 44
     Col. Vista Hermosa
     Codigo Postal 25010  
     Saltillo, Mexico

Father Benny can be reached on email at:  bennyinmex@yahoo.com
Saltillo Mission is on Facebook at  "Saltillo Mission San Miguel"      

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