I want to thank the support and efforts you make so that this Thistle Farm project continues and continues to grow because without the help that you and the other volunteers and donors give you could not continue in the growth and support to all those women who need us.

At the time my child was a child, my mother told me one thing that is very true: Be grateful for what you receive because everything comes from God through the hands of your children, that is your neighbor, so these gifts must bear fruit in thanks to the children of God and we can read this in 2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.

This is how everything we give for love and to help is a fruit and response of God to his children who ask him for it. We are channels of God's love for others. And for that, thank you!

Another aspect that I want to mention is the life of suffering of all these women; they lived or live their lives in the way that sometimes they did not decide they have lost their own power, and when a woman lives in the margin of the society it is very difficult to integrate or assert herself. That is why this foundation seeks to help them to empower themselves and to realize that they have the dignity of people, of human beings and daughters of God; because you should not always talk about God so that people receive the gifts and love from God. As said prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred I will carry your love ... because giving is how you receive and forgiven is how we are forgiven and this forgiveness will not come from society for these women who require your help and support, but from them for themselves.

St. Augustine said this interesting phrase: The measure of love is to love without measure. We have no measure to help and support our sisters in need, they now need us and this life is like a chain of love, where we give now, but someone else ahead will help us in some way. The suffering of these people is not cured with money is true, but it is good to know that with our economic contribution we help them to reintegrate into society and above all empower and recognize people of value. Saint Augustine also said that if you need a hand remember that I have two.

In 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, merciful Father and God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our tribulations so that with the same consolation that we have received from God, we can also console to all who suffer. We recognize that suffering is not a moment of abandonment by God, but a moment of faith and learning. Many times we do not know or we do not understand this until someone else who already lived through this process of suffering and learning teaches us to live it. Therefore, do not tire of helping and offering consolation, praying for those who need it and embracing them with the love of Christ.

I finish this letter with this biblical quote from Romans 8:18: In fact, I consider that nothing compares today's sufferings with the glory that will be revealed in us. Because we are beacons of hope and presence of the Kingdom of God here on earth. Do not get tired of helping because in the end the suffering is worth living with God.

Fraternally:

A channel of God

Javier Garcia Nunez, osc.

November 10^th 2017

Field Education

Dr. Barbara Sutton

 

 

The Crosier community in Phoenix now has a new location, just in the south of the city, this brings new opportunities for ministry. The new location is located in one of the areas where the Latino population is growing and the Crosiers want to respond to their needs for evangelization.

 

Last May I was in Phoenix as an experience of the Crosier religious life in the South, but I started getting involved in the meetings about this new ministry for Latino young adults in the Crosier Village.

 

During my time in the Crosier community in Phoenix, I developed a project for the ministry of young adults; this is the result of some interviews with young people who know the Crosiers, others who already work in the Church and other young people who do not know much about the Church or the Crosiers. The main question was, what do you want from us as a Church? And how do you think it would be better to evangelize young people? The answers were surprising, they asked for Mass but in their time and in their own language, this does not mean Spanish or English, this is deeper. They asked for a community where the meaning of the family is very important and primordial; they also said that they do not want to talk only about religious issues in meetings, but also about the situations of daily life; they want this youth community to be a place to discover and promote their talents, ideas, thoughts, and their own life.

 

The community "Amigos Cruzados" needed to start forming the Core team named: Hermanos Servidores training them and preparing them so that they can develop their position in the best way, the Formation was human, Christian, liturgical, vocational and on the Crosier charism. Also as part of the project is to organize the Liturgy, music and ministers of the mass with young people that began on Saturday October 28 at 5:30 pm. This ministry is an inclusive youth community. We have a target for young adults from 18 to 30 but always everyone is welcome.

 

  The Genesis team of the Nucleus was replenished in the first days when I started visiting some of those who already spoke in May and they had gladly said yes. his prompt and safe response encouraged me. When I arrived the day of the first meeting I realized that of the fourteen people that I invited to be part of the Core team, only ten came and of those ten, four people said that they were not interested in the project. We were six and appreciated the honesty of those who said they were not interested.

This meeting opened me to an incredible reality that I had never lived and that I go back to the Gospel parable of Matthew 21, 28-31 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and I came to the first and said, Son, go work today in the vineyard And I answered,' I will not 'but afterward I regretted it and went in. The man came to the second and said the same thing and answered, 'I will, sir', but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said the first. "Jesus said to them," Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you."[1]   

So I invited people that I thought were the best and best trained for the ministry of young adults in the Crosier community. God made me understand that He has better plans and that I should open my mind, my heart and spirit to God in order to understand what was best. In the Core team there are people that I thought were not going to fulfill their commitment. Totally new people in a Church Ministry     

 

As an inclusive youth community and realizing that many young people from the south area of Phoenix, have an almost dead relationship with God because they have been given a wrong message, that they do not know about theology, that they have nothing to contribute, that they should keep quiet, observe and learn; we base on this part of the gospel Luke 7: 11-17: Jesus Raises the Widow's Son at Nain

Soon afterwards I went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As I approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, I had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then I came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young men, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. [2]                                                                                                                                                          

 

Looking at the passage, I close my eyes and contemplate the young man's potential and the great need that Jesus saw in Him to approach and resuscitate him. I invite you to contemplate the scene: a funeral way to the cemetery, the women crying the mother a widow and therefore on the margins of society, a young man with much to do and learn and give in life for others has just died and they are going to take him to be buried. The women who did not have a man protection were husband or children and were widows were outside the society and although by law they were taken care of by the community, they did not have the same opportunities for development and stable life.[3]

 

Jesus arrives at the moment we all would say more hopeless because he died, for human logic there is nothing to do, but Jesus does it! Jesus orders him, picks him up, gives him the power, and the young man starts talking!

I bring this passage to my reflection because it is how I see that the young adults in our churches are dying, they do not have life because they do not feel worthy, because they do not understand, because they do not know how to ask, because they have had a bad experience when they have asked Opinion and they prefer to get away. They prefer that they take them to be buried.

 

I see that we can do something, just like Jesus who arrived at the moment when nobody had hope, at the least indicated time according to the normal of life. We can come and tell the young people, get up, help them to empower themselves as Baptized and let them take action as disciples, as well as the Son of the widow.

Here something incredible happens, the son who hears the voice of Jesus and obeys him and practically there is a resurrection or "conversion" from dead to alive and begins to speak, taking action with the power that Jesus has just given him. so he will take care of his mother the widow and she, in turn, will educate her son who has a lot to learn. This work and fruits of the Holy Spirit in the Church as the gift of Encouragement, Faith, Healing, Mercy, Leadership and Wisdom are necessary and indispensable in the life of the Youth and the Church.

 

That we are not that Widow who represents a Church in crisis, in poverty and marginalized. Let us be the church that takes care of its elders, that learns from them and that gives life. Young people are definitely the present and the future of our Church. and the elders are definitely the wisdom of our church.

 

work together, united, but in the freedom of the children of God and seeking to bring the kingdom of God in our environment.

[1] New Revised Standar Version (NRSV),  Matthew 21, 28-31[2] New Revised Standar Version (NRSV), Luke 7: 11-17.[3] http://www.webdepastoral.salesians.info/index.php?option=com_content&id=2364%3Ala-viuda-de-naim-lc-711-17&lang=es