Viator

PROVINCIAL OFFICES

OCTOBER, 2002

Dear Partner in Faith... “Mission becomes our Vocation at Baptism.� (John Paul II) We Viatorians have a special call to evangelization and mission. We invite you to join us in a call to mission.

The Holy Spirit is working in Belize. Whether the small village of Concepcion, Chan Chen (in Mayan, "the little well"), Copper Bank or San Andres, the places of worship are packed! However, the places of worship are a former barn, a cleaned up beekeeper's shack and a village schoolroom. People come regularly to these cramped buildings for Eucharist, and many must stand outside to hear Mass and receive communion.

In the Corozal District, Belize, where we Viatorians minister, there are at least four village communities without a chapel and five more where chapels need furnishings.

Two new chapels in San Narciso and Buena Vista have been completed. These communities joyfully celebrated with the Bishop, who came to dedicate both chapels on the July 4th weekend. They are so proud of their new chapels, which they have built themselves using their meager funds and generous gifts from donors like you.

Each fall between St. Viator Day (October 21) and Thanksgiving, we appeal to our friends and benefactors to help support our ministries. This fall our appeal is directed to the village parishes of San Andres and Chan Chen in Belize. San Andres, a growing area in the southwest part of Corozal District, is a very poor area. The present chapel is the size of one classroom. The building is a former beekeeper's work shed which the parish painted and fixed up to use for their liturgy.

Chan Chen is the northern most village in the Corozal District and has a very small chapel that is generally filled to overflowing. The tin roof is rusting through and needs to be replaced. They plan an expansion of the chapel in order to accommodate the community.

In Chan Chen and San Andres, we have promised to try to raise the funds to help build chapels. In US dollars, it doesn't cost much to build a modest chapel. The people in the village of Buena Vista have just completed their chapel (foundation, walls, roof and windows) for $30,000.

The parish community donates most of the labor; allowing the women and children an opportunity to participate. The funds they require are mainly to purchase building materials. We invite you to help the villagers build these two chapels. Your assistance could take several forms:

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If you and your family (or a group of friends or parishioners) might consider a major gift toward a chapel in memory of a loved one, then I invite you to contact me at (847) 398-6805 to discuss various options. An appropriate plaque will be placed on the Chapel in the name of your loved one.

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You can make a donation to the "Chapel Fund"; simply mark your gift for: ) San Andres ) Chan Chen ) Chapel Fund

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You can also join our Viatorian Monthly Mission Club. You simply designate the amount you wish to donate each month. For your convenience, we accept quarterly or annual payments. These funds help furnish the Chapels that have been completed. We have members in the Monthly Mission Club who have been active since its founding in 1957.

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We invite you, as a partner in faith, to join us in this mission outreach. See the enclosed brochure to learn more about these villages and their needs. Fill out the form to “Build a Chapel, and Build a Community�! For the people of Belize, the chapel is the heart and center of their village. We Viatorians extend our thanks and prayers to you and your family in advance, for your generosity. May God richly bless you for answering His call to mission!

Sincerely in St. Viator,

Fr. Charles G. Bolser, C.S.V. Provincial