Howdy all!

I´m writing from hot, sunny Comayagua, with another petition.  Our mission (the Missioners of Christ) runs some catechism and discipleship classes for children and young people, along the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (Fr. Groeschel´s order).  We´ve seen a lot of young people grow tremendously in their relationship with God, and in the Faith, and this even amidst so much darkness—i.e. terrible influences from every side—and so much confusion—e.g. well-meaning Protestants, Mormons, and Jehovah´s Witnesses have met with enormous success here.

As I´ve mentioned in previous notes, there´s plenty of work of all sorts to be done in the Church in Honduras.  But right now, we need special help.  Some of the girls we teach and work with are living in situations of abuse.  They need to get out of their houses, and we want to help send them to a local Catholic boarding school.  We´ve discussed other ideas, and this really is their only decent option.  But it is not going to be a possibility unless they have people helping them to pay their monthly tuition fees ($40-$120/month).  And some of them are being offered free tuition from local evangelical church-schools, where they would certainly receive persecution for being Catholic, and might lose the Faith.

We are also helping to pay for the uniforms and school supplies of kids in our catechism and discipleship programs who attend public schools.  Many families in our neighborhood cannot afford the $75 it costs at the beginning of each year for uniforms, books and school supplies.  Thus, many children do not make it to middle school, and so the cycle of poverty continues.

I don´t want to beg, but I guess that´s what I´m doing.  Please help these kids.  A little goes a long way here, and gives kids a lot of opportunities that they wouldn´t have otherwise.  In helping our brothers and sisters here, it´s often the difference between a broken life and a good, godly life.

Regardless of whether you can help financially, please pray for the children we work with.  Perhaps you can offer your Friday fast this week for the Body of Christ in Honduras.

If you´re interested in receiving pictures and biographies of some of the young ladies we especially need to help, or for more information of any sort about the work I´m doing with the Missioners of Christ and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, write me at joe_catholic@juno.com, or Jenny Perone (our sponsorship program coordinator) at jperone@missioners.org.

Grace and peace be with you.  And Happy Feast Day of the Conversion of Saint Paul!  May God make us to see as clearly and to work as passionately as did St. Paul.