Catholic Family Mission

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Catholic Family Mission
June 13-20, 2009 NUEVO DURANGO, Quintana Roo,
México.
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Though it is hard to believe, the Mayan Indians
still exist and they are very poor. Most of the
current inhabitants are decedents of the
historical Mayan Indians. We hope that you will
decide to help the Mayan Indians connect to their
faith better.
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Most of the population lives in rural villages
and towns. Thatched houses are often found in the
middle of the rainforest. They survive on the
farming of lambs, corn, beans, squash, chilies,
and other vegetables. Many keep chickens in their
own corral for their own consumption.
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People willingly go to confession whenever it is
available.
When missionaries arrived here for the first time
in the 1970s, before Cancun became a vacation
destination, they found that some 700,000 people
lived in isolation from modern civilization and
were incredibly poor.
Attendance to Mass is high now thanks to the
untiring work of the priests, Legionary
seminarians and lay missionaries.
But what few know is that the area has thousands
of impoverished residents that are lacking in
basic services.
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STATISTICS

• Quintana Roo covers a vast area, over 20,000
  square miles.
• It has a population of 1,365,000, mostly Mayas.
• Many live in villages buried in the jungle,
  difficult to reach.
• 40 Legionary priests (10 of the Legionary
  priests who exercise their ministry in Mexico) do
  so in Quintana Roo.
• Other priests also help to evangelize
• 9 Franciscans
• 7 diocesan priests
• 1 Piarist priest
• Since the establishment of the mission territory
  in 1970, the Legionaries of Christ missionaries
  have built
• 42 parishes
• 324 chapels and oratories
• The first university in this area, The Anahuac
  University in Cancún (1999)
• UNID Cancún (2004)
• Clinics
• Residences for the elderly
• Schools
• Refuge centers for immigrants mostly from
  Guatemala

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Although many churches and chapels have been
built, many are only half finished or some
villages dont have one at all..
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Our 1st mission site
In 2006, we chose the site for our mission base
camp which was in the Mayan village of Nuevo
Durango. This was their unfinished chapel. Our
1st mission in April of 2007 was centered around
finishing this chapel which also serves as a
crucial hurricane shelter for the entire village.
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Eco-Tourism is a new business where tourist
experience the natives. The Mayans of Nuevo
Durango built the Mayan Hilton, beautiful huts
to house tourists. This is the residence for our
Missionary families.
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Mission 2007, working with the Mayans

• We removed the old church floor and replaced it
  with new compacted stone. It was then ready for
  a new concrete floor.

Our Closing Mass
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Evangelization and some fun in 2007
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One week on mission was not enough time to do all
the work. However, with generous benefactors, we
were able to provide the financial resources for
the new church roof. The Mayans provided the
labor.
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Easter Mission 2008, 24 Missionaries from Iowa
working with the Mayans. The Church floor that
was prepared for concrete at the Easter Mission
2007 was finished at the Easter Mission 2008.
New floor dry and ready for Mass
Pouring the new floor
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• Join us for
• Catholic Family Mission
• June 13-20, 2009

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We Need Your Help! Take this opportunity to
enrich your familys charitable service by
joining us on our mission.
Are you courageous enough to help? Will you reach
out to others? This is your big opportunity to
put your faith in charity into action.
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Share your talents!
Christ in the gospel says Whatever you did to
the least of my brothers you did it unto me.
The Mayan people are mostly shy, but friendly and
accepting once you gain their trust.
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Here is our 2009 Missionary Project Can you
help?
The church of Santa Cruz located in Nuevo X-Can,
10 miles down the road from our Nuevo Durango
mission base camp.
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Blueprints for the new church of Santa Cruz in
Neuvo X-can.
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If you cant attend our 2009 mission

• Please consider helping by joining us
  financially and donating what you can for
  building supplies.
• Our goal is to raise 25,000. This money will
  finish the Santa Cruz church.

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• For more information on how to join or donate to
  the cause, please contact Catholic Family Mission
• www.CatholicFamilyMission.com
• JonMorris_at_CatholicFamilyMission.com

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TO THE GLORY OF GOD THROUGH THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST
Love Christ, Serve People, Build the Church