Mission of Friendship

In 1971 the Diocese of Erie and the Diocese of Yucatan established a cooperative relationship with each other and began the Mission of Friendship in the city of Merida on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. It has expanded over these 36 years to include numerous ministries with the people, especially with children. Four of our sisters have spent extended time there and another dozen or so have had short visits, either by themselves or accompanying mission experience groups. This week one of our sisters is returning from ten days there with physical therapy majors from Wheeling Jesuit College.

The rest of us try to contribute as we can. My favorite is the yearly display of four or five dozen little summer outfits for young children. We help by "buying" one for the child whose name is on the clothing--Jose or Angelica, Hernando or Maria. I always pick the ones with matching sandals!

One of the co-directors is a former member of our community and Benedictine spirituality permeates the mission in its prayer and philosophy. We even have a dozen oblates from the Mission of Friendship area. Our Latin America connection!