Our Lady of Guadalupe Pray for Us
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Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas. We fly to you today as your beloved children. We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.
Pray for us, loving Mother, and gain for our nation and world, and for all our families and loved ones, the protection of your holy angels, that we may be spared the worst of this illness.
For those already afflicted,
we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.
In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind. Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.
We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.
Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms,
help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
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A Letter from our Mission Circle President
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Dear Mission Circle Newsletter Readers,
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All Mission Circle programs are currently cancelled to help flatten the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While we are all called to serve, sheltering in place is now the best way we can serve our neighbors whether they live next door or in another country. While we shelter in place and wash our hands, we can pray for one another and follow the guidelines of Bishop McElroy, the CDC, and our local government. We can also find new ways to serve by reaching out and supporting our own communities. Consider going to the grocery store or pharmacy for an elderly person or those with underlying health conditions. Skype, Facetime, texting and
voice calls can help keep the generations connected and heal feelings of loneliness and isolation. There are great needs in our community…reach out, connect, and be an angel to someone in need!
In the following article, we are pleased to introduce the new Madre at Casa Eudes, Sister Ana Berta. Although we are currently unable to provide the Sisters and the girls with sewing and craft classes or facility maintenance, we are still providing monthly financial support for their daily basic needs. We hope those of you who are able will continue to make your generous donations so we can support the Sisters in their works of mercy and charity. Our regular programs will continue as soon as we are able. We thank you for more than 40 years of faithful support. You are Mission Circle and it cannot serve others without you!
God bless,
Kevin O'Connor
Kevin O’Connor
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For
more than 40 years, Mission Circle has served with the Sisters at Casa Eudes helping disadvantaged girls change their lives. The new principal of Casa Eudes, Madre Ana Berta Lopez Carrillo, knows the Girls Home well. Early in her career she lived at Casa Eudes and now has returned to a home she knew and loved 33 years ago. Ana Berta first arrived in 1987 at Casa Eudes while finishing high school and preparing for religious life. At first, she was put in charge of about 35 young girls. Later she was responsible for about 25 older girls who were just slightly younger than herself. Her students may have been nearly her age but they came from backgrounds very different from her own. Many of the girls had experienced the trauma that can come from poverty including gangs and jailed parents. Last year, Ana Berta returned to Casa Eudes as Madre or Sister Ana Berta to serve as its principal. Mission Circle volunteer Jessica Reed asked Madre Ana Berta to tell us a little about herself, then translated the interview into English.
Background…
Sister Ana Berta was born in Valle de Santiago, Guanajuato, Mexico. At age 17 she joined the Order of Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (Congregación de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Buen Pastor) and has been a nun for 33 years. Her biological sister had joined the same Order about 5 years earlier. Sister Ana Berta had known she wanted to join the Order since the age of 11 when she first met a group of Sisters who visited her hometown as missionaries. What attracted her most about the Order was its focus on helping young girls in need. Children had played a very special role in her family and were treated with lots of love.
Memories of the first time at Casa Eudes…
Sister Ana Berta has very fond memories of her earlier years at Casa Eudes and of the girls. Earlier this year, about 20 of the older girls returned to Casa Eudes for a reunion. They all reminisced about their time together and how important Casa Eudes had been for them to transition from their previous lives into the good jobs and stable families they treasure now. Their favorite days at Casa Eudes were when Mission Circle volunteers visited them and they felt loved, special, and part of one big family.
Her dreams for Casa Eudes and the girls who live there…
Madre Ana Berta has one main goal: to empower the girls so they gain strength in their desire to succeed in life. She talked about the Girls Home in Acapulco where she made important changes to the school that gave the girls the sense of ownership that resulted in better grades, higher self-esteem, and improved behavior. She wants to implement the same changes at Casa Eudes.
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What she would like Mission Circle members to know…
Sister Ana Berta hopes that Mission Circle and Casa Eudes can work as partners with the transparency, trust, and openness of a family relationship. She also wants Mission Circle
members to know about the Silver Angel (photo right), an award Casa Eudes was given in 2019 for its altruistic work to benefit children, women, and youth. This special recognition was given by Red Social, a Mexican organization that recognizes individuals and institutions that contribute in an exceptional way to solving social problems and enriching the lives of people in Baja California
.
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Mission
Circle welcomes Madre Ana Berta and looks forward to supporting her vision to help disadvantaged girls with psychological, socio-economic, and emotional problems gain what they need to develop into young women with brighter futures."
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A little about Casa Eudes Girls Home:
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Casa Eudes, located in Colonia La Mesa in Tijuana, Mexico has been serving disadvantaged girls since 1975. Currently 7 Sisters live with and serve 35 girls who range in age from 6 to 21 years old. The Sisters are assisted by 10 staff members including 4 psychologists. Mission Circle contributes 80% of the monthly operating income to Casa Eudes as well as organizes facility maintenance projects, sewing & craft classes, a Spring Fashion Show, the Epiphany Party, outings, and college/vocational tuition for qualified girls. If you would like to help with our mission at Casa Eudes, please read more on our
website at
https://www.missioncircle.com
or contact:
- Facility Maintenance (repair work, all kinds):
- Sewing & Crafts with girls:
- Futures College/Vocational Support:
- Financial support for Casa Eudes:
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Mission Circle can help you connect with like-minded people
to make a difference!
or
Visit us
at
missioncircle.com
and contact the chairperson
of our programs and events.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
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