Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi
As we approach St. Francis’s Transitus, we are reminded of his attention to the sick. Every year, on the third evening of October, Franciscans ritually remember Francis of Assisi’s passing from this life into God as a reminder to renew one’s commitment to follow Christ in the way of the poor man from Assisi. It’s heartbreaking…
Read MoreShoes Make a BIG Difference every year in Guaymas
My dear sisters and brothers, ASK THESE CHILDREN IF WE ARE MAKING ADIFFERENCE!! Each year we discover more children deprived of education becausethey don’t have shoes to attend class. Last year you opened yourhearts AND a path out of poverty for 2,150 children. You fundedshoes giving them the opportunity to go to school, 32% more…
Read MoreCFO Annual Board Visit to the Mission
February 15 – 18, 2024 some members of the CFO Board visited the Mission. Thanks to you and anamazing staff, the programs to walk with the poor are thriving. Here are only a few:
Read MoreThe Resurrection Door
My dear sisters and brothers, There is a door at the Mission that, due to its design, we call the Resurrection Door. However, I think ofit as the Resurrection Door because of all the lives that have risen from pain and hopelessness throughour programs. A few examples are: the volunteer at the Meson who is…
Read MoreSave Taxes Through Donations From Your IRA
Generally, all distributions from IRA (excluding Roth) and 401(k) accounts are included in taxable income. An exception is available for donors who are 70 ½ or older under the qualified charitable distribution (QCD) rule. Those donors can direct amounts from their IRA and 401(k) accounts to qualified charities and exclude the donated amount from taxable income. Casa…
Read MoreA Guiding Light?
We are all familiar with the story of Baby Jesus asleep in the manager with parents and a guiding star to provide protection, love, and care – every child’s need and hope. Four year old Sergito’s and six year old Carlita’s story is very different. One day he and his sister walked hand in hand…
Read MoreOur New United States Citizen
On October 6, 2023 I was honored to attend the ceremony where our beloved Fr. Martin became a U.S. citizen. It was on his 19-year journey to citizenship that he was guided to a parish in San Jose, CA. where he was introduced to the Franciscans and found his vocation! The citizenship ceremony was amazing as…
Read MoreDiabetic Education Program a Reality
Señor Gomez is a 53 year old diabetic with high blood pressure and resulting amputations of the right leg and left foot. He is one of 30 similar diabetic sisters and brothers that our new specially trained diabetic education team will follow. The hope is that, if taught to manage diabetes, their quality of life…
Read MoreYour impact in 2023
Diabetes Impact on the Poor
My dear sisters and brothers, Mexico’s marginalized populations are at higher risk of developing diseases like diabetes – a sickness costly to manage for low-income individuals. Mexico has a diabetic rate of 1 in 6 adults. With the poor, it is higher resulting in heartbreaking disability, amputations, kidney failure, blindness, heart disease and inability…
Read MoreCasa Franciscana Featured in International Magazine
Photo by Rick Rusch: San Xavier Mission Tucson, AZ on the way to Casa Franciscana, Guaymas, MX Eclair is an international magazine about celebrities, fashion, art and beauty . So how did the article, Humanitarian Travel: A Journey of Impact and Hope (Volume 41 Issue 184) , about the Casa Franciscana Mission happen to be…
Read MoreImagine never having a pair of shoes
My dear sisters and brothers,SHOES! Imagine never having a pair of shoes or imaginesharing shoes with siblings to take turns going to school!! Each year we discover more children deprived of educationdue to not having shoes to attend class. Last year you openedyour hearts AND opened a path out of poverty for1,467children by funding shoes…
Read MoreHome Gardens sustain life in Guaymas
My dear sisters and brothers, Last year we started a pilot project of home gardens that was an overwhelming success! This is another version of “if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime”. The idea…
Read MoreMothers’ Day Amazon Delivery: Casa Franciscana Style
The Casa Franciscana Mission brought tears of gratitude, smiles of happiness and a message of God’s love to almost 400 mothers amongst the poor and elderly. Many of these women are grandmothers raising grandchildren. The Mission staff and volunteers went out to the barrios and walked through dirt, ruts and stones to hand deliver flowers,…
Read MoreEarth Day: Are You Sharing Your Bounty
In August 2022, we wrote to you about the first harvest of the home gardens in Guaymas funded and mentored by the Casa Franciscana Outreach. There are now ten gardens with accessible water tanks! The families are not only enjoying fresh healthy vegetables and the pride of growing them but they are sharing their bounty…
Read MoreA Mission Transformation
The Casa Franciscana Guaymas has undergone an extraordinary transformation during these last three years. Fr. Martin Ibarra has challenged us to take our services out to all the local and neighboring communities to reach the people who need our help the most. We have transitioned what was an internal operation before the pandemic into an…
Read MoreChristmas Is Love in Action
My dear sisters and brothers, During the Christmas season, we naturally think of children. This year, little five year old Rigolito or Rigo is especially in my thoughts. We met him on a hot humid Guaymas day while we were visiting the sick and delivering food boxes. His sister came running to us; telling us…
Read MoreRon Cope: He Was A Special Blessing
We are all called to serve the Lord’s kingdom here on earth in different ways. Some to pray, some to lead, and some as soldiers. Ron Cope answered the Lord’s call many years ago with a service retreat to our Franciscan Mission in Guaymas, Mexico. Whatever happened on that trip changed Ron’s heart forever. Ron…
Read MoreParents Caring about Parents
When people are asked “what would you take if you were forced to quickly evacuate your home?” the answer is always family photos. But imagine not having any! This is the situation of many of the poor that the Casa Franciscana Mission serves. Frequently, as our team distributes shoes, they take pictures of the children…
Read MoreHome Gardens can bring a community together
During Saint Francis’s lifetime, he once encountered a vast and beautiful wildflower meadow, which deeply captivated him. He saw it as a powerful symbol of living in a way that respects and honors nature as God’s creation. Inspired by this experience, he envisioned and encouraged Friars to create a garden – a harmonious blend of…
Read MoreAsk These Children: Are We Making a Difference?
From Fr. Martin Ibarra OFM< Each year we discover more children deprived of education because they don’t have shoes to attend class.Last year you opened your hearts AND a path out of poverty for 2,150 children. You funded shoes giving them the opportunity to go to school, 32% more than 2023!!! We are also seeing…
Read MoreWhat on Earth Are You Doing for Earth Day
St. Francis was known for his love of nature and he had a deep commitment to the care of creation. Some consider him the original Earth Day advocate. There are many stories of his friendship with animals including the wild wolf of Gubbio. While we are not recommending that you attempt to befriend a wild…
Read MoreA Guiding Light?
We are all familiar with the story of Baby Jesus asleep in the manager with parents and a guiding star to provide protection, love, and care – every child’s need and hope. Four year old Sergito’s and six year old Carlita’s story is very different. One day he and his sister walked hand in hand…
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