One of the first things we wanted to begin when we arrived in Juarez was the construction of a new chapel in the most forgotten ejido in our municipality. Mexiquito had never had a Mass celebrated within its borders before we arrived. It had no place for people to come together and pray, no place for the the Catholics to gather and celebrate Mass, or receive any of the sacraments. Because of this, the visiting priests (we didn’t have a pastor living here until last year) who came to serve our municipality, when deciding which of the ejidos they would go to to celebrate Mass, always looked over Mexiquito. There were seven other ejidos to visit with chapels, so of course they would visit those places instead. The people in Mexiquito had become disconnected to the faith they claimed to profess. Even now the people of this village have very little knowledge of Jesus, and almost none are married in the church. The children aren’t catechized and though most are baptized, they can hardly tell you even one story from the Bible. But the love of the people is profound, and their thirst is evident.
The beginning of our procession.
Through the generosity of benefactors in the United States, we will be able to begin building Mexquito a chapel very soon. On April 6, 2014 we had a procession from the entrance of the ejido to the chapel construction site, where Fr. Rogelio said the very first Mass in the ejido and blessed the ground. Hundreds of people attended the procession and the people of Mexiquito served a delicious meal for all who came. The excitement of having their very own chapel could be felt by all. 
We can’t wait to begin construction, but are waiting on an official document from the government saying the land was donated to the church so that in the future no one will be able to claim that the land (and therefore the chapel on it) belongs to them. In the past, we have been told, others have not waited for the document from the government and then the chapels were claimed by individuals and subsequently destroyed or turned into chapels for other religions. Out of a sense of precaution, we are waiting. Please pray that our wait is not too much longer and we can begin very soon!
Until our chapel is completed, we are content to offer communion services on Sundays in the old school and we return on Mondays for a Bible study. This week we are starting the first ever Mexiquito Bible Study beginning in the Gospel of Mark. Through generous donors and benefactors we were able to give each person in the ejido their own copy of the Bible. There is almost no room for all of us to fit, but the families come faithfully, and with open hearts! May God continue to bless Mexiquito!
FromMeToMissionary 