Posts by Mark Hiland
Men Chosen by The Holy Spirit?
A heartfelt thank you to Kevin Gralen who, after six years on the CFO Board and five years as president, is leaving us. Kevin brought a special spirituality to the board with his ultimate example of living the Gospel – service to others. In his words: In one of the impoverished areas of the world,…
Read MoreWalk in the Shoes (or Barefeet) of a Migrant Farm Worker
Since the COVID pandemic shut down our dining rooms and many other services, the heroic friars and staff of Casa Franciscana have brought the services directly to the needy. Amongst these are the migrant farmworker families in the camps of the agricultural companies. The migrants usually come from the far southern states of Mexico on…
Read MoreCelebrating the life of Brother Ivo Toneck
Br. Ivo Toneck, OFMDecember 5, 1927-February 29, 2020 On Thursday evenings, Ivo and Gerard would join us for Mass and dinner.About six months ago, Ivo made his usual Thursday arrival in his beat-up pickup truck, would take a seat in our living room and enjoy his beloved Coca Cola while discussing with us the latest…
Read MoreThe Gifts You Bring
My Dear Sisters & Brothers, When I was a child growing up with eight siblings, one of the many exciting moments in our Christmas preparation was putting the manger scene under the Christmas tree. Besides the Holy Family, there were the wise men, the shepherds and the angels. Each brought a gift. The wise men…
Read MoreA Path Out of Poverty: The Denise Nagel Youth Center
In November 2017, the Mission staff went door-to-door to approximately 400 homes in four barrios (neighborhoods). The goal was to identify the unmet needs in these communities. The lack of resources for youths aged 12 to 18 years was a consistent theme. The result was the opening of the Denise Nagel Youth Center (YC) on…
Read MoreNEVER underestimate the power of shoes!
My dear brothers and sisters, Each year I reach out to you for shoes to help to send the children in the poor neighborhoods of Guaymas to school. Each year you answer my prayers. Children cannot go to school without shoes and we need your compassion. Imagine the heartache of parents who cannot afford…
Read MoreEaster is upon us, do not forget those less fortunate
My dear sisters and brothers, One of the differences between Guaymas, MX and many of the places in the United States is that the poor, not the rich, live in the foothills. Why? The answer is simple; because there is little or no water or electricity or trash removal brought up into the hills. The…
Read MoreWhat if there had been NO Christmas?
My dear brothers and sisters, One of the late Senator John McCain’s prisoner of war experiences was shared in memorializing him. It was Christmas Eve and he had been tortured. His hands and feet were tightly bound with course rope. The pain was excruciating and with no circulation, he would have lost his hands and…
Read MoreWill God Welcome You at your Transitus
My dear sisters and brothers, Each year as the Transitus (passing from this life to the next) of St. Francis approaches, I reflect on my own life and wonder at times if I am living it with a true Franciscan heart. St. Francis opened his heart to the poor, to the lepers and to all…
Read MoreSimplify your Donations to your Brothers and Sisters in Guaymas
Consider a monthly donation. It will change the life for our brothers and sisters in Guaymas. $5/month – two round trip bus tickets to get to and from work $15/month – a child’s well visit + immunizations $25/month – a prenatal visit with lab work and vitamin supply $50/month – a complete dental visit and…
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