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| Ringing bell in new rancho |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| SUNSET |
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