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News
of Our Wandering Padre' |
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Pictures Taken During My |
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This will be my last email to you from Mexico. To all the crew back home,
thanks for all your help. I could not have done all this without the help,
love and prayers of each of you! I have carried each of you in my heart all
the way and will continue to do the same when I return home. I
have never been at so many celebrations of birthdays and anniversaries in
such a short time. It is so good to see the people of Mexico enjoying their
lives and
celebrating with family and friends the days that are so special in all our
lives. In one way or another God has been present and recognized by the
people and this does my heart good. The first two pictures are of a
celebration of a birthday for dedicating their children to God again at age
3. In this family of Rafael and Maryam Lobato and their two boys, Jesse is 4
years and Joshua is 2 years, they just combined the two ages and came up
with 6 years, which is 3 years for each boy. The custom of the 3 years for
their children is important in Mexico. |
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 In
the town of Vega De Alatorre, they celebrated their annual feast day of Sts.
Joachim and Anne. The principal Church is named, Santa Ana. Manolo and I had
the privilege to attend the Eucharist that day, July 26th and then to have a
meal with the Bishop of
Vega, Bishop Lorenzo and several of their priests and sisters and laity. The
singing at the Mass was incredible and truly the Veracruzan style! Also at
this Mass they confirmed the children of the parish and it was so touching
to see so many children being confirmed one by one with their sponsors. I
think in all about 120 youngsters. These two pictures are one of
Bishop Lorenzo first blessing a child at the dinner, and the other of a
young boy who was confirmed. |
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 After
the Eucharist and the dinner in Vega, the family of Ignacio a nd
Ysabel Leon took Manolo and I to the coast for some, what I call, Divine
A/C. The breeze off the ocean was wonderful and refreshing. The first
picture could be used for a commercial it is so good, it is of Senora Ysabel
and her son, Jose Eduardo; The next one is of the whole family, Senor
Ignacio, Ysabel, Juan Pablo and Jose Eduardo. |
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 After
the visit to the Coast of Mexico, they took us to see the Laguna Grande. The
father of Ignacio is showing Manolo how one cast a net into the sea. Senor
Leon is a fisherman by trade and his son told us that he can make that net
so round as it goes into the Laguna that it is an art all in itself.
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 My
last pictures are of a ranch that we visited in Misantla, Veracruz. Ignacio
and Ysabel work in Misantla and the ranch is owned by Professor Cereno and
Senora Guadalupe. We had a most delicious meal at the ranch. The meat was
grilled in a home made grill and the sauce with ajo, garlic, was delicious!
God is good! This is the professor and senora at the grill and it was
raining. They say the priest always brings the rain...Wow! |
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This is of Senor Igancio Leon, Professor Cereno and Manolo
Casas, close to the Misantla River that goes thru the property. The property
is all "natural" and would make a wonderful place for people to come and be
refreshed in spirit and body. The next pictue is the Misantla River on the
ranch. |
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 I
wanted to end with a picture of myself and a picture of Our Lady and so I
chose this one of myself. I am standing beside a huge bolder that contains
an ancient map of the roads and pueblos in the area, before the Spanis h
came to Mexico. Wow! This is the first map that I have seen that is so
ancient. I tried to take it with me, but you know that would be impossible.
I hope that all of us, no matter what century we are in, will use our maps
well as we travel abroad. My inner guide, the Holy Spirit, has been the best
map maker I have ever known. I deeply thank God for all my encounters on all
the roads I have traveled in Italy, Mexico and America. I remember an old
saying that proclaims: I searched the world for an answer and I found it in
my own backyard. May Our Lady of all the Americas, for truly there is only
One America, and the woman who is constantly interceding for us all, help
each of us find our heart's desire. A brother pilgrim, Dionisio Leon Espera, Dennis Leon Wait |
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