Procession to Cathedral

Children at “Salvador Mundi”

Procession Forming

San Francisco de Asis: 30th Anniversary of Passionists

 Nancy Caccamo and Kathy Woods were part of a delegation led by Father Jerry Waris to El Salvador January 12 -19, 2010.

Nancy reports:  A delegation representing three parishes traveled to El Salvador: St. Patrick’s:  Fr. Shawn Ratigan (new pastor), Fr. Jerry Waris (former pastor, now retired);  Our Lady of the Presentation:  Rex Scott
(Business Manager), Rex’s adult children, Ashley Salisbury & DannyScott;  St. Peter’s: Kathy Woods and Nancy Caccamo.

We spent several days in the countryside as we visited Estanzuelas (St.Patrick’s) and San Rafael Cedros (Presentation), visited San Francisco de Asís and attended the 30th anniversary celebration of the Passionist
priests and met with the Vice-President in his role as Minister of Education.  I have attached somw notes that I gathered from several meetings.

There are several websites that have information about the current situation in El Salvador.  If you don’t already read them, you may want to take a look at the following.  They all provide good information. 

Myfavorite is Tim’s Blog.http://luterano.blogspot.com/                                         http://thesharefoundation.blogspot.com/
http://www.cis-elsalvador.org/        (You can access their newslettersfrom website.)

Notes from January 12 – January 19 Delegation to El Salvador

Sources:   Leslie Schuld, Director of CIS

Election: 

The Legislative Assembly is configured differently now.  In December, the Arena party split.  Twelve deputies were expelled from the party and some are now voting in alliance with the FMLN.  There is a 13% sales tax across the board, no property tax and little income tax.  However, because of the new government, reforms now have a chance.

Tuition in the public schools has been eliminated.  The government will now provide each child with one pair of shoes, uniforms and some school supplies.  The National University is still within reach of the poor because there is a sliding scale for tuition.

There is much hope at the present time, but there are obstacles.  The policies in the last 20 years such as privatization of utilities caused the costs of basic services to rise.  Because of CAFTA, it is cheaper to buy beans/rice from the US.  Local farmers have no work.

Exploitation of natural resources:

There is a movement to privatize water.

The former president signed a contract with Pacific Rim to mine gold in poor areas—Cabañas and Chalatenango.  In order to mine gold, cyanide is put into the water.  Only 1%-2% of the profit would go to the community and the company would leave after 5 years.  The current government has said “NO” to mining and Pacific Rim is suing.  Three environmentalists in the countryside have been assassinated.  This is a big issue that continues.   

The current Archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar Alas, has come out against the mining.  However, he has supported the construction of a dam that will cause environmental problems, so he is not consistent in his positions about decisions affecting the poor.  A new dam is projected for Chapparal Sulaman, called the Chapparal Hydroelectric Project, over the Torola River in San Miguel.  We were told that the government would probably sell electricity from this hydroelectric plant to foreign countries.  Electricity is currently being sold to Honduras from a dam in Usulatan.  A dam had been proposed in Chalatenango that was stopped because people had protested against it.   The results of the new dam will be damage to the environment, the poor will be tossed off their land and they will not be justly compensated.

Organized crime/Gangs:

The impunity of organized crime hasn’t changed since the war.  Gangs are recruited by organized crime for drugs and extortion, which is aimed at the poor.  The targets of extortion are buses, small stores and the poor who are receiving remittances.  Gang members move into a neighborhood and find out which families have members who emigrated and they target them.  The most emigration to the US has been from the Eastern part of El Salvador, i.e., San Miguel.  A new police investigator has been naming some higher-ups and this is causing problems.   The poor don’t trust the police and won’t go to the police stations to report the extortion.  It is a very complicated problem—bigger than even the economic situation.  People still have hope, but it is a challenging time.

Death Squads:

Activity from the Death Squads has increased and they are targeting leaders under the new government.   Deaths from violence have increased from 7-8 per day to 16 per day since Funes has become President.  However, this could also be attributed to the fact that the new government is not hiding the reality now and Funes has said that he will accurately report what is happening.  Funes has 80% support of the people and the press is favorable of him.

Two months ago, the Legislative Assembly approved putting military on the streets.  The Peace Accords had prohibited them, however, the military was approved because of the crime/gangs.  People are happy that the military are back because they feel safer.

Meeting with Vice-President of El Salvador: Father Jerry Waris, Nancy Caccamo, Kathy Woods, CIS

Delegation meeting with Salvador Sanchez Cerén, Vice President of El Salvador and Minister of Education

January 18, 2010

 Vice President Cerén began the meeting by telling us that the current situation in El Salvador is dependent on the previous government and that the future must build on this.  People want an immediate response.  However, this is a new movement in history and the government will have to motivate the people.  The people participated in changing the military dictatorship.  Health care, education, housing and social programs are the most important goals of this government. 

 Statistics on school attendance:

Preschool (4 through 6 years):  50% - 51% of eligible children enrolled.

1^st grade – 9^th grade:  98% of eligible children enrolled (1,300,000 students)

High School (10^th, 11^th, & 12^th grades):  45% of the 1,300,000 students continue in high school.

University:  24% of high school graduates continue in university.

(Wilber Solano told us that there is no compulsory education in El Salvador.  Many children sell goods in the markets and the streets.)

 A high number of students repeat grades.  10% of all students have to repeat a grade.  14% to 15% leave before finishing.  7% don’t finish at all.

 The Vice President discussed the following programs that are being implemented in order to provide education for the majority of students and to improve the quality of their education. 

 “Let’s Go to School”.  This is a five-year plan to institute radical change in schools.  Targeted goals are community integration, permanent training for teachers, participation of students in creating their own knowledge and not just receiving knowledge, family integration and involvement in the process of their children’s education and involvement of teachers in the community. 

 Teachers will be trained in modern methodology and pedagogy.  There are 56,000 public school teachers and the hope is for them to be updated in teaching methods.

 Initial education will begin at birth and continue through 6 years.  Inclusive education will be implemented.  Children who have different needs will be able to participate with typical peers and children with special needs will have access to regular education.

 In the area of literacy, 17% of the population is illiterate.   A total of 600,000 people cannot read or write.  There is also the problem of those who have learned to read and write but then have dropped out of school.  The goal is not just to teach literacy but also to have students continue to receive a full education.

 “Educate Me”.  This program is directed toward youth who leave school.  It incorporates a flexible model of studying at night or the weekend and technical education so that youth can be prepared to go on to either a technical job or the university.

 “Mega Tech”.  This program integrates the areas of science, creativity and strengthening values and identity.  It begins in Preschool.

 “Closing the Gap”.  A pilot program in five rural schools has been initiated to utilize technology in learning.  Students included in this program attend preschool through 9^th grade.  Laptop computers have been given to the teachers and they have received training.  In February, each student will receive a computer and will be able to take it home.  

 The Vice President feels that a number of the new programs are visionary.  In order to fund the programs, they are beginning with small pilot projects and involving communities, NGOs and private parties.  It is difficult for the government to totally fund all of the projects and it needs allies.  In the next five years, the government must put more money into the education budget.  Currently, 18% - 20% of the national budget and 2.8% of the GNP is allocated for education.   The goal by 2015 is for 6% of the GNO to be invested in education.

 One of the problems in the country is employment.  70,000 people lost their jobs during the past year.  The programs that are proposed will generate jobs, such as making the uniforms that will be provided for all students by the government.   Construction of new homes will also provided employment.  Technical education should be increased so that students can get jobs right away.  There is no program that links education to employment.  They plan to work with the Ministry of Economics in order to train students in developing the necessary skills for applications, interviews, etc.

First Scholarship Student to graduate from college

 Delegation meeting with Scholarship Committee and Students

San Rafael Cedros

January 15, 2010

 Iris is the head of the program in San Rafael Cedros and in charge of the Scholarship Committee.  The group formed for leadership formation, to find office space for the program and help the students stay in school.  There are nine members of the committee and they are in charge of the finances.  The committee would like to restructure at the current time because the women have been members for several years.

 The committee holds two meetings each month with the students.  At one meeting, the students receive their scholarship money.  At the other meeting, they reflect on themes for leadership development such as youth violence, economics, media, human rights, gender equality, HIV-AIDS, family planning.  The students are required to attend the meetings.  The proposed calendar of workshops for 2010 include the following themes:  World Day of the Environment (June 5), government, sexual and reproductive health, drawing, history of towns in San Rafael Cedros, new government, new social programs, democracy and its implementation, global warming. 

 The committee maintains a registry of students, contracts with the students and their parents and the names of the sponsors from Presentation.  The students are required to give the committee a copy of their grades. 

 The program began in 2007 with 15 students.

2008:  24 students

2009:  31 students (27-high school, 4-university)

                13 students graduated, 4 are leaving program, 9 going to university

2010:  16 high school, 12 university (I know—the numbers don’t match up)

 Their biggest achievement is the 9 students going on to the university.

 High school:  Scholarship of $25/month

University:  Scholarship of $87.50/month

The National University has a sliding scale for tuition.  SRC has made a commitment to send their high school students on to university after they graduate.

Selection Process

1.       Committee asks the community councils for recommendations.  There are also personal requests to the committee.

2.       Criteria: 
Scarce economic resources
Participation in community life
Good grades
Attitudes of solidarity
Prioritization—single mother, large family size

3.       Requirements
Maintain good grades
Students must teach workshops in the community
Participation in group meetings

4.       One scholarship per family

Food Aid

Mrs. Laura Hall’s Sixth Grade Homeroom and K-8 Students  of St. Peter’s Catholic School in Kansas City, Missouri 

So you’ll know, the sixth graders mentioned specifically above organized a bake sale and jeans day for a “Save El Salvador (SES)” week a few weeks ago, after the mudslides and flooding in El Salvador.  We are very proud of their efforts.

 On Sunday, Dec 20, 2009, Beth Tellman wrote for the Friends of Santiago Texacuangos

Angie and St. Peter’s and Mrs. Laura Hall’s Class:

On behalf of the people of Santiago Texacuangos, I want to thank you so much for your generous donation.  Of course, money will be essential in building the emotional and physical lives and communities broken by the rains and cyclical poverty in El Salvador. We promise to keep updates on the blog, and I am trying to get out an e-newsletter this week with an update of our 3 main projects as well as how we have spent the money so far.  Of course, money is essential.

But I think more importantly, the fact that I am able to report to Salvadorans that entire schools are mobilizing… is an incredible energy of solidarity and hope that is desperately needed in these times. The media forgot in 3 days, and the government declared the emergency “over” only 3 weeks after the storm.  But for Salvadorans it is far from over. And to know that there are still humans in far away places intentionally wishing them well means more than I can possibly describe in words.

When school is back in session, I would be happy to do a skype-video meeting with any group of students or classrooms. Mercedes and I did a little skype event with Brebeuf Jesuit Highschool (Indianapolis), and I think the students got a lot out of it, because they could ask questions live. Mercedes also LOVED to see the faces of the generous humans in solidarity with her people.

Feel free to contact me if any of you or your friends come to El Salvador and would like to meet with me or Mercedes, or even visit any of the communities.

Thanks for getting involved, and for working so hard for justice.

Merry Christmas! Stay Warm! Feel loved!

Paz
Beth and the Friends of Santiago Texacuangos

from http://www.friendsofsantamaria.blogspot.com/         Saturday Dec. 19,2009

Summary: Heavy rains in El Salvador on November, 7th 2009 killed over 190 poor Salvadorans and have left 15,900 homeless.

Before I launch into an explanation of our projects, I want to acknowledge several large donations we recieved this week. First, a $3,000 donation from the SHARE foundations was transfered to NGO Mujeres Transformando in nearby Santo Tomas. This enabled us put 100 families in a food aid program with CONFRAS (Confederations of Agrarian Reform Cooperatives). Mercedes and Beth’s truck will deliver food grown by Salvadoran cooperatives. Double Whammy! Food for those who need it AND a boost to the local economy.

Big thanks to Xavier College Prep Highschool in California and St. Peter’s Catholic School in Kansas City MO. Each of these schools organized HUGE fundraisers for Salvadorans! Obviously, I was blown away by the sheer $ amount of the fundraiser. However, more amazing I think is the solidarity and energy it took to organize something like that. The Media, NGOS, The World Food Program, and the Government all seem to have forgotten about Salvadorans affected by the storm. It is a bright light of hope for Salvadorans to know that students far away have not forgotten them. Mercedes is constantly excited at how many new friends El Salvador has made in the wake of the disaster. What a different world we would have if humanity always did this kind of stuff for each other…

It is the hope of all involved with the sister parish relationship that the outreach will continue and that there will always be blessed people from St. Peter’s who wish to be visitors to El Salvador or involved with San Francisco de Asis in some way.

2009 Fiesta Committee

Kristen Campbell, Sandra Castillo, Diane Marrin, Barbara Martin, Maria Pelto  Julie Spaeth, Craig Watz

Bus Trip 2009

 

 

 

 

 

2009

2009

It is the hope of all involved with the sister parish relationship that the outreach will continue and that there will always be blessed people from St. Peter’s who wish to be visitors to El Salvador or involved with San Francisco de Asis in some way.                                            From History by Jane Brummel

St. Peter’s Parish

Please receive a warm greeting on behalf of our parish.  We are very encouraged to know that the people of the United States are working for justice and we share the joy of knowing that you have a new president.  We hope that there will be positive changes, especially concerning the migrant community and other groups that continue to be marginalized by society.

With regards to the questions you sent us, we will try to respond based on what we have lived and observed in the Municipal and Legislative elections process.

The ARENA party won the mayor’s office of San Salvador, which for various years was in the hands of the FMLN.  It is clear that ARENA used the strategy of bringing people from other municipalities after changing their address to permit them to vote in the capital city.  Despite this reality, however, fraud could not be confirmed.  But we cannot avoid accepting that this was not the only cause for the FMLN’s loss in the capital.  We do not believe that Violeta Menjívar’s campaign was done as successfully as possible.  She made many efforts in the communities, but they were not things that called much attention from the general public in spite of the fact that they resolved problems.  We believe she did not know how to conduct a good campaign.  On the other hand the fact that she is a woman also had a negative influence because of the machista culture in which we live.  Some members of the party were not in agreement with her.  There is also no doubt that the people wanted a change and perhaps they saw that Norman Quijano (ARENA) offered changes not promised by Violeta (even though we know that later he will not complete them as promised).  Violeta’s campaign slogan was “Violeta Continues”, while that of Funes is “Change is coming.”

The FMLN effectively will occupy 35 seats in the Legislative Assembly; the majority required to approve laws is 43 votes.  ARENA counts only 32 seats, but at the time of voting they join with the other right-wing party (PCN) which has 11 seats, making a majority, so the structure has not changed much.

Results from the Legislative elections:

Following is a consolidated presentation of the quantity of votes and the deputies according to political party, in which it can be seen that with an insignificant quantity of votes received, the PCN was able to obtain a third of the number of deputies obtained by the FMLN because of the assignation system for deputies.

As you can see the FMLN obtained the largest quantity of valid votes and thus can be predicted to win in the future.  However, the triumph of ARENA in San Salvador has caused some fear in some members of the FMLN because the victory of ARENA will begin a million dollar campaign through the means of communication, such as the Central Government which spends public funds on announcements of the achievements of the ARENA party in order to convince the public that they are the best option.

Our parish is raising consciousness among parishioners and members of the civil society over the need to participate in the electoral process, to exercise their rights and be vigilant to avoid and denounce any fraudulent acts.

We feel overall content, however, there are doubts and confusions.  In Mejicanos and in many other municipalities, the FLMN won.  Undoubtedly, the people in these places have become conscious and have opened their eyes to the hard reality of the previous neoliberal governments.

The part which confuses us and disturbs us is the dirty campaign and the fraud, both obvious and hidden, that has allowed ARENA to win the capital.

This is worrisome because a new electoral process is beginning and one asks, “Will it be clean?”  “Will the means of communication, owned by the same people in power, continue misinforming the population?”  “Will hundreds of Nicaraguans and Hondurans be brought in again to vote for the party in power in exchange for a few dollars?  The surest answer is that they will continue to do it, and we can do little more than worry.

We know that many people have already opened their eyes and desire a change and want to look for a new method that will better address the interests of the majority.  The problem is that the same owners of everything are also the heads of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, and there will always be fear and a lack of confidence in any voting process.

We joyfully wait for better times, hoping that Monsignor Romero and those others who offered up their lives will encourage us for the elections in March.

Sincerely,

 The Sister Parish Team

When I opened my email this morning with the intention of writing to you and sending our Christmas greeting, I found the letter sent by Diane Marrin on behalf of Fr. Sharbel and everyone in the parish.  I was very happy to receive your Christmas wishes and the news of what you are doing in the parish for Christmas.  It is wonderful to see the bond we share and the interest and concern that you have in our parish and the Salvadoran people.  We consider it an important gesture to send letters to your government asking that they not permit manipulation of the Salvadoran elections.  This is very important for our people, because for the first time there is the possibility for a change in the politics of this country.  We hope that this change will be for the betterment of the neediest Salvadorans.

This Christmas we find ourselves caught in the midst of a severe economic, social, and political crisis.  There is no work, wages too unsteady, violence that does not end and instead seems to be increasing, and politicians who continue being among those least respected by the people.  The political system is the institution in which people have the least amount of confidence, and our youth are very disillusioned.

In the midst of this very negative situation we are preparing to celebrate Christmas with much hope.  For this year we’ve organized a Christmas vigil with all of the communities that will be held today, Saturday.  We will all gather in front of the church and there will be theatrical representations of Christmas scenes, caroling, raffles, presents, piñatas, etc.  We will be celebrating from 5 pm until 10 at night.  We hope around 600 people will come.  In addition, today we will inaugurate the nativity scene in the church.  It is a very original and unique nativity scene prepared by a Passionist working with the youth, and we hope to be able to send you a photo of the nativity.

The 28^th we will have the parish assembly to evaluate the past year and plan the coming year.  This next year is especially important for us for various reasons: we will celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the death of Fr. Octavio in January.  June will mark the 30^th anniversary of the death of Fr. Rafael Palacios and November will be the 30^th anniversary of the Passionist community in Mejicanos.

For January we have already planned various activities to celebrate the anniversary of Fr. Octavio: a week of themes about martyrdom, a congress about martyrdom with the two parishes where Fr. Octavio worked, and a march and pilgrimage with the two parishes and a final mass with the participation of artists.   We hope to document these activities and send you further information.

Now I would like to speak of behalf of our parish to wish you all a very merry Christmas, full of blessings from our God.  The greatest act of God’s love to humanity begins in Bethlehem and ends at Calvary.  In Bethlehem, God makes Himself small and insignificant to be among us and live at our side, suffering and loving amidst our disappointments and joys.  On the cross He is in solidarity with all of humanity and especially with those most crucified.  I feel that our sister-parish relationship is also based in this principle of humility and solidarity.  We humble ourselves to understand, grasp, and accept our brothers from another culture and we stand in solidarity with the pain of another parish.  You and us, being from different cultures and social standings; we are capable of loving, understanding, and supporting one another.  This is also “Christmas.”

We wish you all the peace and happiness this Christmas.  An embrace from this parish to all our brothers and sisters from St. Peter’s,

Fr. Jesús María Ahechu