January 14th-19th Medical Mission
Each year the Casa Franciscana Mission provides a “portable” medical mission to the rural communities outside of Guaymas, MX. The undertaking is a joint effort of Casa Franciscana staff, the Franciscan friars from the Province of Santa Barbara who are medical professionals, local volunteer physicians and dentist, countless other volunteers, the local Public Health Department…
Read MoreEmbracing Franciscan Values at Work
Volunteer CFO board member, Francisco López, traveled 20 hours to provide leadership training to the supervisory staff at the Casa Franciscana Mission in Guaymas. Francisco tells us that it was clear that each team member sees his or her job not as a job but as a calling. The commitment is to being the best…
Read MoreFarewell to Fr. Elias, a Mission Icon
A New Year’s tradition is to bid farewell to those who have passed in the closing year and on December 23, 2018 Fr. Elias Galvez left us. Given his life of good works, we are sure that he is now enjoying the presence of his Father and his beloved St. Francis. This quiet friar with…
Read MoreNo Shoes for La Posada
As usual, we spend a lot of time in December organizing piñatas, cake, candy and new balls for Posadas/Christmas parties with kids in poorer neighborhoods and villages around Guaymas. Last Saturday (December 15th) we went to Guásimas, a fishing village of indigenous Yaqui people, that was about a half-hour drive south of Guaymas. They still…
Read MoreA New Christmas Tradition: Prayer for Opening Gifts
Start a New Tradition: Prayer of Thanks before Opening Gifts Lord, let us hold this time in our hearts, the wrong sizes, the snippets of ribbon and most important, being together. Help us to remember the immense love you have for each person in this room. With every gift we open, no matter how…
Read MoreLa Posada Procession
If there was NO Christmas, there would be NO Casa Franciscana Mission. If there was NO Casa Franciscana Mission, last year our poor sisters and brothers would have gone without: ✓ 1000+ children attending the La Posada Procession – a 400 year-old tradition representing Mary and Joseph looking for room in an inn, followed by…
Read More62 Children Receive Medical Care by Shriners’ International
If there was NO Christmas, there would be NO Casa Franciscana Mission. If there was NO Casa Franciscana Mission, last year our poor sisters and brothers would have gone without: ✓ 62 children receiving specialized medical care by Shriners’ International in Phoenix, Utah and California – facilitated by the Casa Franciscana Mission Thank you for…
Read MoreAn Income Path for 17 Widowed Women
If there was NO Christmas, there would be NO Casa Franciscana Mission. If there was NO Casa Franciscana Mission, last year our poor sisters and brothers would have gone without: ✓ An income path and support group for 17 widowed women through learning jewelry-making in the Mission Co-op Thank you for being God’s instrument and…
Read MoreEmployment Opportunities for 15 Adults
If there was NO Christmas, there would be NO Casa Franciscana Mission. If there was NO Casa Franciscana Mission, last year our poor sisters and brothers would have gone without: ✓ Employment opportunities for 15 adults after learning the trade of culinary arts in our mission’s Culinary School Thank you for being God’s instrument and…
Read More236 Babies, Children and Adults Receiving Shelter
If there was NO Christmas, there would be NO Casa Franciscana Mission. If there was NO Casa Franciscana Mission, last year our poor sisters and brothers would have gone without: ✓ 236 babies, children and adults receiving shelter from the elements, from domestic violence, from no water and the means to prepare food. Thank you…
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