St. Mary’s “Partners in Mission in Ecuador”

Mission Statement

The mission of the St. Mary’s Partners in Mission in Ecuador Ministry is to promote and enhance the relationship of St. Mary’s Parish Community and our sisters and brothers who participate in our ministry partner, the Working Boys’ Center (WBC) in Quito, Ecuador.  Through our growth in relationship between St. Mary’s community and the WBC participants, everyone involved will gain a deeper understanding of justice, peace the integrity of creation, the dignity of the human person, the diversity of cultural values and the challenges of developing relationships across continents.

St. Mary’s Parish Community is dedicated to exploring, understanding and responding to the call and tenets of Catholic Social Teaching.  Our parish has a long history of reaching out to our local community; it is the desire of the Partners in Mission in Ecuador to broaden our understanding of “Who is our Neighbor” out of country.  We will be able to do so by walking in solidarity with the participants of WBC.  It is the goal of this new ministry to join the people of St. Mary’s community and the WBC in prayer, solidarity, advocacy, mutuality and the faith development.

St. Mary’s expresses the principal of Solidarity locally through the Santee Mission, a poor and neglected community in East San Jose; nationally through our Sister Parish in Pascagoula; and internationally through our Partners in Mission in Ecuador.

History

In spring of 2008, seven members of St. Mary’s JustFaith and WAV youth programs were commissioned by the parish on Holy Thursday to travel to Quito, Ecuador, to participate in a service project/immersion experience at the Working Boy’s Center (WBC) – A Family of Families. The WBC was started 45 years ago by a Jesuit priest and joined soon after by several Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM). The center began by serving the poor shoeshine boy population of Quito and has grown into a family program that provides care through meals, medical and dental services, values building, micro-enterprise credit, community homebuilding opportunities and most of all, education and vocational training. The WBC ministers to all family members to help them break the cycle of poverty though self-sufficiency.

As an outgrowth of that experience and complementing St. Mary’s Mission and Vision statements of the Peace and Justice Council, St. Mary’s Parish established a long-term relationship with the WBC. This grew into the Partners in Mission in Ecuador.  Together, we are building connections and faith rooted in service. There will be various opportunities to develop this relationship throughout the year. Please join our parish in building these bonds with our partners in mission at the Working Boys’ Center in Quito, Ecuador. Anyone wanting to help with this ministry directly should contact Carol Braham at 354-6121.

Partners in Mission in Ecuador direct contact is parishioner Carol Braham at (408) 354-6121 or Braham@comcast.net

Staff contact is Carol Thornton, Director of St. Mary’s Pastoral Care and Community Ministry at (408)354-4061 x121 or cthornton@stmaryslg.org

Current Connections and Volunteer Opportunities

Immersion Trip to Quito, Ecuador April 16-26, 2009

Purpose – This is an immersion trip rooted in prayer and reflection to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brother in another country whose life experiences may be different than our own.

Place – Working Boys Center/Family of Families.  Since 1964 the Center, a Jesuit-BVM work, has been committed to working with children and their families to break the cycle of poverty.  For detailed information please visit www.workingboyscenter.org.

Volunteer opportunities – during the day each person will be matched with a volunteer job that suits their interest and talents.  Jobs may include such things as: making educational materials, painting a room in the facility, tutoring children, helping in the classrooms, baking bread or helping in the kitchen.  The day will be concluded with prayer and reflection.

Accommodations – We will stay at the Working Boys Center in Quito.  Each person will have a shared room with a private bathroom.  Meals are provided at the Center.

Cost- Each person will pay their own airfare which is about $900 (may vary). A nominal donation to the Center for lodging and food of $10 a day ($100 for trip) will be due at the time of sign up.

For more information contact:
Carol DeCarvalho – 408-353-4732 or cdecarvalho@yahoo.com
Sister Elizabeth Avalos – 408-569-7222 or eavalosbvm@mac.com

Pen-Pal Relationships Established

With the help of Sandra Whalen, the Spanish teacher at St. Mary’s School, a pen-pal relationship has been established between the students at St. Mary’s and the students at the Working Boys’ Center.  The kids at the WBC are practicing their English skills while our St. Mary’s kids are working on their Spanish.  St. Mary’s students also hope to raise some funds throughout the year to help purchase much needed textbooks for their friends in Ecuador.  

Tanya Jorgenson, the Spanish teacher at Almaden Country School, has also set up a pen-pal relationship with her 6th and 7th grade students and the WBC.  Her students will be writing letters as well as collecting needed items for the kids at the WBC. 

These kids’ efforts are beautiful examples of connection, care and compassion!!

Current Needs

St. Mary’s will be collecting school supplies and gently used clothing to be taken to the Working Boys’ Center by the parishioners who will be participating in the immersion trip this Spring.  A specific list of needed items will be forthcoming.

And, like all worthwhile programs, the WBC is in need of money.  Any contributions are greatly appreciated and assist in the continuation of this unique family ministry. There are two ways to contribute. You can make an on-line donation through PayPal on the Working Boys’ Center website at www.workingboys.org, or you can send a check to Family Unity International.  Please see the donation form below.

Thank You!

A little bit about the Working Boys’ Center in Quito, Ecuador

“To contribute to the prosperity of the working boys and their families is to contribute to the present and future welfare of the community.”

The Working Boys’ Center:  A Family of Families

“The Working Boys' Center: A Family of Families” serves the working boys and their entire families. This characteristic makes the WBC a unique agent for social change. They are a Catholic institution, with the objective of creating, developing and strengthening moral values by means of changes in attitudes and behavior, helped by programs of formation and social assistance. This process of change stresses ten important areas of life: loyalty, personal formation, family, religion, education, economy, work, recreation, health and housing.

The goal is that the families of the working boys will be united in their Christian commitment be financially independent, have access to education, health and quality basic services; become agents of change, oriented to the construction of a just society that promotes equal participation and respect for fundamental rights.

The strength of a society depends on the welfare of the whole family. All members of the families of the working boys receive the benefits provided by the WBC and learn a technical profession. In this way they contribute to the elimination of unemployment, one of the determining factors of poverty.

More information available at www.workingboyscenter.org

Personal story:

“I WAS MOTIVATED TO BECOME A NEW MAN”

Carlos Gómez, Working Boys' Center Graduate and now Director of the Working Boys' Center

“I was shining shoes in Quito's main plaza in 1964. A friend invited me to join the Working Boys' Center and there I began primary school; I didn't like studying, was rebellious, constantly escaped back to the plaza with my buddies. With a lot of patience and with a firm, but loving, hand Father John motivated me to want to become a new man.”

In 1980, after completing his grade and high school education, Carlos joined the team of directors of the Working Boys' Center Movement. In 1990 he obtained a Kellogg International Leadership Fellowship as part of the first group in Latin America.

“Feeling affection is the basis for changing attitudes and taking charge of your own life; for me, this is what makes the Working Boys' Center different. The love, the respect and the solidarity along with the discipline and the rules are values that are promoted here every day.”

Ecuadorian Soup Supper – November 2008

The Ecuadorian Soup Supper in November at St. Mary’s Howley Hall Gym and support for the Working Boy's Center through craft sales and donations were amazing successes.  Thank you!!!   St. Mary's response to our new partnership relationship was overwhelming.  You showed incredible enthusiasm, care and concern for our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters at the Center.  A total of $8800 was raised!!!  All of that money will be used to directly support the mission of the Working Boy's Center to educate and care for families who are trying to work their way out of poverty.  St. Mary's showed what it means to be part of a community - in our own parish and across continents.  As we move forward with this new partnership, please continue to pray for our friends in Ecuador.