Sister parishes strengthen links

"Ours is a growing relationship, one that requires patience," Edward Frederick told The Evangelist. "But for us at St. Bridget's, it is a worthwhile project."

Mr. Frederick and his wife Vilma were recently accompanied on a visit to the Nicaraguan parish by fellow St. Bridget parishioner Bruce Gardiner to assess the needs of their sister parish.

Assessing need

"We saw a definite need for improvement of the homes that people live in," said Mr. Gardiner. "Rather than just giving money to the parish, we would like to set up a system where the people can obtain individual, interest-bearing loans for home improvement."

Mr. Gardiner sees this as an opportunity to not only improve their way of life but also allow them to maintain the dignity of caring for themselves.

Aid to school

"Last year, 23 students graduated, and 17 of them went on to college," he noted. "Their financial need is great; they simply cannot afford the cost of higher education."

In the past, parishioners of St. Bridget's have raised money for scholarships; on their recent visit, both the Fredericks and Mr. Gardiner saw the need for that to continue. St. Bridget's has also donated a fax machine, Bibles, an encyclopedia and school supplies.

"People cannot even afford to buy the supplies that we take for granted," said Mr. Gardiner, "and for some families that includes paper and pencils."

Other donations

The pastor of St. Esquipulas, Padre Rafael Pavon, receives no salary and also has the responsibility of ministering to seven mission churches and 40 house churches.

Mr. Gardiner said it is a "huge area for one person to cover on an ongoing basis. Over the past ten years, pastors have come and gone, so now we deal directly with the parish council there, on a parish-to-parish basis."

Another area of need that they assessed concerned the plight of local farmers. In fields where cotton once grew, there now exists subsistence farming.

"Two years ago, Hurricane Mitch virtually wiped out the cotton farming industry," noted Mr. Gardiner. "These farmers are harvesting what they can from the soil -- corn, sesame and other staples -- but it is inadequate for the needs of the community."

Working together

"We feel that we can work together and continue the partnership we have established with these people over the past decade," he said. "We need to get people here excited about becoming involved in a project that is meaningful as well as interesting. Being involved with the people of St. Esquipulas also gives our people a sense of an added dimension of parish life, what it means to be a Catholic in this millennium."

Youth to youth

"We believe it is important for young people both here and there to know that our two parishes can collaborate, even though we are far apart and people seem different from each other in so many ways. This collaboration increases our understanding of each other and what service means. It allows us to work together. After all, we are all members of the body of Christ."

(For more information, Bruce Gardiner can be contacted at 325-5546. Edward and Vilma Frederick can be contacted at 329-4649.)

(03-29-01) [[In-content Ad]]