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David Kalke (CHL 2001) and the Community of St. Martin announce the opening of its Sister House in Michoacán, Mexico and the start of the Nuestro Hogar project
Thursday, May 8, 2008
A simple Mass was held on January 25th in San Martin, Michoacán, to mark the opening of the Community of St. Martin's work in this rural province. The Rev. David J. Kalke celebrated the opening Mass attended by about 20 local peasants. Diego Medel, a Delegate of the Word, and Patrick Schuttee, a new Brother in the Community, also participated. The day commemorated the Conversion of the Apostle Paul, and the celebration focused on developing new ways for preaching the Gospel through acts of love, justice and mercy. "New languages and tactics for evangelization are needed as we keep alive the spirit and creativity of the Apostle Paul and St. Martin," Kalke said.
The first project of the Community will be to open Nuestro Hogar, a retreat center for HIV+ persons. The opening of the retreat center is projected for early March. The retreat center will be able to house up to 20 persons. It is also available for use by international groups wishing to find a quiet spot for a retreat or a service-learning project.
Nuestro Hogar, "Our Home," will open its doors in March. "This is a very exciting and necessary project," says Delegate of the Word, Diego Medel, a native of Michoacán. "In this conservative rural area there are few services for HIV+ persons and almost no prevention programs. Yet HIV is a reality and people need care."
Nuestro Hogar will serve as a retreat center for HIV+ persons and staff from AIDS Service Organizations in Guadalajara. Using interactive techniques and other methods for popular healthcare education participants will learn how to deal with grief, nutrition, spirituality and other themes that will help them live better and longer with HIV.
In the second year of its work, Nuestro Hogar, will do outreach work to persons with HIV in rural, poverty stricken areas of Michoacán. Person will be connected continuums of care and medical services.
In addition, HIV prevention work will begin targeting youth and HIV infected persons. With few programs available and in the context of a conservative religiousare, these programs will be vital in slowing the HIV rate in this rural area.
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