UNIVERSITY MISSION TO SUCRE 2011 REPORT

by Natalie Bayci

The Commissioning Mass for the Mission was held on June 6th at 11 a.m. with Bishop Imesch at the Cathedral.  They departed for Sucre on June 7th and arrived on June 8th.  A welcoming committee was there to greet them with a large sign saying, “Bienvenidos.”

After lunch at the Casa, we visited each site where we would minister.  We were able to get an idea of some of the needs.  The next day we began our mission.

Cristos de Las Americas Hospital – each day two of the nursing or pre-med students with our nurse, Donna Martin, worked here.  They were able to assist with surgeries, pass medications and visit patients.  They also met a dentist there who invited them and others of the mission to come to the barrios on our day off to pass out tooth brushes and paste and demonstrate proper brushing of teeth.  We purchased  200 tooth brushes and tooth paste and he will continue doing this in the barrios and also at Casa San Antonio soup kitchen.

PSICO – Four to six students were here daily.  Kevin O’Donnell and a couple of students had  a project to paint two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  It was a challenge because the bathrooms were constantly in use, equipment was at a premium and the ladder that reached the tall spots had a way of disappearing.  Karen Dizon with the assistance of others created a beautiful mural in the psychiatric section.

San Martine Day Care Center-  three or four students were here each day.  They have added a few workers but they have also added a large amount of children.  There are over 120 children here. This year every child was provided with a pair of shoes and an outfit.  We also paid for a Fisher Price play area for the small children who cannot survive on the regular playground with the big kids.  Sandra Flores placed the order in Santa Cruz.  It will be delivered in two months. On June 15th we had a birthday party complete with clown, decorations, goody bags and refreshments.  We also provided them with 100 kilos of rice, sugar and pasta, 40 kilos of powdered milk plus oranges.

Ta Ta Juan Dios Orphanage – 2 -3 worked here daily.  They did not have the number of volunteers as in the past.  There are 55 here – 12 infants, 20 toddlers and the balance pre-schoolers.  Sister Clementine told of all the difficulties they have had with their space heaters.   She asked for assistance in replacing 3 of them, which we were able to do.  We also provided rice, sugar, pasta, powdered milk and oranges.

Alto Aranjues Day Care Center – two worked here daily.  They have 30 preschoolers and a few school aged who come in after school.  We were able to provide them with 2 high chairs, cleaning supplies plus a bag of rice, sugar, pasta and 40 kilos of powdered milk plus oranges.
They also had a birthday party.

 

Casa San Antonio Soup Kitchen – students from PSICO. Ta Ta Juan and Alto Aranjues worked here during their siesta.  They served 100 street children and about 10 elderly people.  Everyone received a pair of shoes and a bag of school supplies.

 

The Casa and San Martine were provided with a year’s supply of vitamins thanks to Samantha Garvanovic’s church and CVS  pharmacy.  School supplies were donated by the Cathedral of St. Raymond School.  Shoes were donated by St. Ann parish in Channahon and Lincolnway East teachers.

Professor workshops at University of San Francisco Xavier were conducted by Dr. Georgeen Polyak from Benedictine in Public Health and Dr. Richard Lyons from Illinois State University in Agriculture. 

The Exchange student program is growing.  All three Catholic universities are on board.  Some changes have been made to insure that students from low income families will be selected. They are going to form a panel that will interview students via Skype.  University of San Francisco Xavier has promised to pay for the Toefl test and also assist students from low income families in obtaining additional help to qualify for the test.  I feel this will take the pressure off  the staff in Sucre who are put on a spot to select from families of more means.

We began each day with Mass.  Our evenings were spent processing, dialoguing with students from the University of San Francisco, meeting with University staff,  meetings with Brother Ronald, celebrating birthdays , meeting with people from the various sites and much more.  They were 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. days.  Great group!

 

 

 

 

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