THE MANGO TREE AT THE MARIE POUSSEPIN CENTER

Those who have been to Guaimaca and specifically to the Marie Poussepin Center, know of our mango tree in the middle of the patio. This is a very special place for our students, who love to gather around the mango during their breaks and study times.

It is also a place where some parents wait for their children on Fridays or sit for a while to talk with them on Monday mornings before they go back to their villages.

The first months of school, the mango tree is always a temptation because the flowers gradually turn into small mangoes, which our students love to eat….However, they know they are not to “abort” them before they are ready to eat…and ready for them means “green” (not riped) to be eaten with salt and spices.

This year, our three Stonehill Volunteers spent some time on a Friday afternoon, once they students had gone home for the weekend, picking the mangoes from the tree as it can be seeing in the pictures. Needless to say they had a good time!

 



Matthew Rigby and Alex Flores

 





Christine Martone

 Also, our students had a good time, during the following weeks, as they enjoy the mangoes during during their break…Most of the time they have eaten them green, but also they have helped to peeled them for Digna, the cook, to prepare a delicious desert with the mangoes cooked with panela o raspadura (a dark brown sugar).

THANKS TO OUR MANGO TREE

 AND TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!

BISHOP COLEMAN'S VISIT AND CONFIRMATIONS

On March 5,2012 fourteen young women were confirmed at the Marie Poussepin Center's chapel by Bishop Coleman. This was a time of grace, not only for them, their families and sponsors, but also for everyone at the CMP.

 

 

 

 

 

Last year it was a year of preparation for each one of the students.

Sr. Teresa María and the tutors had followed them up to this moment.

For the sisters and the CMP community this was the highlight of the Bishops visit to Guaimaca. 

He actually spend most of the morning among us.

GROUPS HAVE DONE GREAT WORK!

The projects of the Dominican Sisters in Guaimaca exist thanks to the collaboration of many people and groups from different parts of the USA.  For over ten years, generous people, young an older, have been coming to Guaimaca to make possible different ways of responding to the needs of the poor.  Through their time, talent, work and financial help they make it possible for us to incarnate the charism of Our Foundress, Marie Poussepin, in the education, health care and human promotion through work of the poor of Guaimaca and its villages.

Two other groups that have been very faithful year after year, are the one's from Lexington, from two parishes of the Archdiocese of Boston, and the "Hope Group" from Stonehill College. Here are a few pictures of some of their activities during the time they were in Guaimaca.

Sr. Marta Inés Toro with Larry Maloney, Frank Bellini and Tom Lukez, from Lexington, viewing the possible projects for the week at Nazareth Farm..

Larry gets to work!  An irrigation system for the noni and vegetable beds.

Also, a place to wash the produce baskets and to refresh from a day's work!

Larry also works at the other project...a roof on the compost shed.

The shed really needs a better roof!              Varena gets to work......
  
        One that doesn't leak....             
                                                                                It helps to be tall!

It is important to measure well.



by the end of the week...





Completed new roof!


The "Hope Group" from Stonehill was very involved in different activities at the parish and at the clinic.  At the Marie Poussepin Center they spent time with the students and with Chrisitna, Alex and Mattthew, the three Extension Volunteers, in different activities.  Some of the members of the group painted the values of the CMP on the walls to replace the ones painted by a previous Hope Group a few years ago. 

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP!

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR AT THE CMP

February 2012 has been the start of a new school year

at the Marie Poussepin Center for Comprehensive Formation. 

  


Sr. Teresa María Abelló finalizing
registration of a new student

 
 

Sr. Olga Iris Diaz welcoming
returning students



During ten months the 64 young women from 24 villages of Guaimaca will come from Monday through Friday to the CMP, where they not only receive the academic formation corresponding to Junior and Senior High School, but also formation in Catholic values, responsibility, honesty, respect and several  technical courses to help them develop their gifts.

The first week at the CMP meant getting an orientation

to the new school year




Welcoming new students

 


Receiving the uniforms

 


Special cleaning of the hair



 


Families bringing their daughters

 



   

 


Mother with three daughters at the CMP 

The younger ones were received with a night of celebration

by the ones who now are in the second year.

  

Thank you to all the tutors, volunteers and benefactors that are making possible

this school year at the Marie Poussepin Center!



St. Anne's Hospital in Guaimaca

This week of February 3-10 has been very special for the mission at the Clinic. 

Ten healthcare professionals have come in the name of St. Anne's Hospital

to respond to the many healthcare needs of the poor of Guaimaca.

Sr. María Ceballos has been coordinating these efforts during the week.

Sr. Gloribel Mendoza has been overjoyed to have some efficient help at the pharmacy.

Both Sr. María and Sr. Olga Diaz have been helping out with the necessary translations.

 

  

Of course, Portuguese has been a help to communicate and 

the Stonehill volunteers have also assisted with translations during the weekend.

  

The St. Anne's group in Guaimaca has been an outstanding team during the week, not only at the Clinic, but also in some villages where they have been with Fr. Craig Pregana taking advantage of the gathering of people for the Eucharistic celebration.

The team has also made several home visits to assist very sick people.

We the sisters, have been able to see in them people who live the spirituality and the care offered at St. Anne's. 

It is a joy for us to see how they have embodied through the years  the healing ministry of Jesus Christ lived at the Hospital.

This is a living proof of how the Charism of Marie Poussepin is carried on both by the Sisters and the lay people associated with us! 

A NEW YEAR AT THE MISSION

These few weeks have been full of activity with different groups coming.

The Clinic is seeing many more patients

The Marie Poussepin Center is getting ready to receive the students

Nazareth Farm is having some help in finishing up a green house to grow tomatoes.

Groups have come from Bridgewater University in Massachusetts and from Mt. Carmel Parish in Seekonk, MA.  On January 13th, we also welcome three volunteers from Stonehill College who will be with us during the school year as tutors at the Marie Pousspein Center:  Alex Flores, Christina Martone and Matthew Rigby, who is in Guaimaca for a second year.

Alex, Christina and Matt are getting familiar with the area and their responsibilities at school.

Also, they have been an excellent help

in finishing up

the new meeting area that is replacing

the gazebo in the "patio".

We are greatful to the many people helping us, and also to the older students themselves, who this week are preparing the place to receive all the students next week.

Best wishes for a good year to Sr. Teresa María, students and staff!