ABOUT OUR TWINNING PROJECT WITH MEXICO

ORIGIN
Father Barry and Bishop Rodrigo met and became friends many years ago. Since then they have worked in very different directions to serve the Lord. Over the past few years our Justice and Peace Group have been discussing ways of setting up a link with another Parish or village in a more economically-deprived part of the world. As discussions developed Father Barry remembered his friendship with Bishop Rodrigo and explained our situation and our willingness to help him.Bishop Rodrigo was delighted with the suggestion that we could arrange a mutually beneficial partnership and thus the Parish of Santa Ana in Matahuela, was suggested as an ideal 'twinning'

Bishop Rodrigo with Father Barry, Jan Diss (Chairman of our Parish Council) and others of the community on their visit to Mexico


BISHOP RODRIGO AND FATHER CARLOS VISITED ESHER in 2004

Bishop Rodrigo and Father Carlos (then the Parish Priest of Santa Ana) visited us in September 2004, and we hosted several meetings, including an 'Open Evening' for all Parishioners. Those who attended will have already heard how different our life experiences are from theirs, but how enriched we could both become from this 'twinning'.

WHERE IN MEXICO?
Bishop Rodrigo's Diocese alone is bigger than the land mass of Ireland. In the remote Parish of Santa Ana, the Priest drives more than 3000 kilometres a month (often giving lifts to Parishioners on the way), to reach the hamlets and remote outposts of his 'flock'. Indeed, sometimes if the Priest needs to contact Bishop Rodrigo, the nearest telephone is some 25 kilometres drive away!

Nevertheless, as Father Carlos said:

'my people do not have much, but they have their Faith'.

HOW OUR PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPED INITIALLY WITH THE PEOPLE OF SANTA ANA
After all the festivities, we suggested initially that we could assist Bishop Rodrigo’s Diocese by funding the services of an Information Technology expert for one year, as well as helping to provide computers for some of his Diocese. Simply by helping the Bishop, priests and parishioners to communicate with each other more easily will be a great help.We have had a few social evenings to raise some money for other needs such as spectacles for those who need them. We held a Christmas Shopping Night and also a Mexican Quiz Night. Also proceeds of from our tombola at The Claygate Flower Show will go towards other every day needs of these less privileged people.


Children of our Parish preparing a poster for the people of Santa Ana

The poster received in Santa Ana


BISHOP RODRIGO MOVES DIOCESE
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop Rodrigo to be Bishop of Tehuacan. This is a Diocese four times the size of Matehuela, with a Mass going population of just under one million. Bishop Rodrigo was installed in his new Diocese on 13 March 2006.

UPDATE ON THE PROJECT (DECEMBER 2006)
In addition to the funds we have raised since the project began, we are very grateful to a parishioner for donating a substantial amount of money to really get the project on its feet. There are now two big groups in Matehuala working on big projects. The funds are drawn from Caja de Ahorro (Savings box). A group of trustees have been allocated to the funds.

A NEW RESTAURANT
One group is about to open a Restaurant to encourage local food producers to aspire to the right quality of produce needed to sell to restaurants. It is hoped that this will help local companies get started and ultimately result in helping them expand their businesses of local produce.

PLASTIC RECYCLING BUSINESS
The also have initiated a plastic recycling business.

GOAT KEEPERS
In the Parish of Charcas, 14 people are involved in helping Goat Keepers. The project will bring together goat keepers from surrounding communities in the country to learn how to keep their goats and produce high quality cheese that can be introduced to the markets and restaurants in the big cities.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND FUNERAL CHAPEL
26 people are working in the Parish of El Sagrado Corazon to open an Alternative Medicine Centre and a Funeral Chapel. These ideas are the wish of this particular community.

Groups of people are also involved in working with the local parishes of Santuario de Guadalupe and La Paz. Over 100 people are now involved with these types of community projects.