We are currently scheduling trips to Las Mercedes. If interested in joining us, contact Alan Thiebaud at 972-747-9211
Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes
El Progreso, Honduras
To become part of the unfolding kingdom of God by building a family relationship uniting
Prince of Peace Catholic Community and Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes of El Progreso, Honduras, based upon our common Catholic faith, mutual love, interdependence, and solidarity.
Description of Programs
Las Mercedes' social justice ministry is divided into three areas: health, education, and social justice. The following are examples of how Prince of Peace participates.
The Nutrition Center
Prince of Peace raised $75,000 to help Las Mercedes build a Nutrition Center that currently houses about 25 children who are severely malnourished. Most of them are under 4 years of age, and would die without the help of others. After remaining in the Center for six to twelve months, most children are able to return to their families and their continued progress is monitored. Families are also provided assistance in care of their children, but many become ill again because of the lack of potable water and the extreme poverty in the area. Fifty percent of this center's costs are funded by ongoing donations from Prince of Peace
The Vaso de Leche Program
"Glass of milk" is a program in which malnourished children in three of the barrios ( 40 to 50 children in each barrio) receive breakfast five days a week. Mothers of the children help prepare the breakfast and receive nutrition and health care training as part of the program. Seventy-five percent of this program's operating costs are from Prince of Peace donations.
Kinders
In three barrios, Prince of Peace donations fully fund the operation of Kinder programs. Each Kinder has about 25 children and serves as a start to the child's education. In addition, the children in the Kinders may receive lunch.
Children's Home
Daniel Aleman Education Scholarship Endowment Fund
Prince of Peace donations help pay the salaries of some of the Las Mercedes staff in order to provide these programs that would otherwise not be available.
How to Participate
Participation can be done in any or all of four ways:
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Join the Sister Parish Committee.
- Meetings are usually held the second Thursday of each month at 7:00pm in the St. Katharine's Meeting Room. As a member you are kept up-to-date on the happenings at Las Mercedes. Also, you can help publish the newsletter, provide information and awareness of our Sister Parish , and participate in fundraisers.
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Visit Las Mercedes
- Groups travel at different times of the year from Prince of Peace to visit Las Mercedes. When we go there, we stay with host families, meet many parishioners and spend time with the children in the nutrition center and Hogar Suyapa. Our main reason for going is primarily to learn about life in Honduras and learn of their love of God.
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Provide Monetary Donations
- The monthly envelope pack contains an envelope for the Sister Parish. Monies collected help provide the services mentioned above.
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Sponsor a Child's Education
- Contribute to the Daniel Aleman Educational Scholarship Endowment Fund
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Pray for Las Mercedes
- Pray for Father Ramon and his staff as well as the parishioners of Las Mercedes. All prayers are welcomed for the healthy as well as for the ill.
About Honduras, El Progreso, las Mercedes
Honduras covers 43,278 sq. miles and is about the size of Tennessee. It has a population of almost 8 million people with 50% of them 15 years old or younger. Spanish is the official language. Eighty eight percent o the population is Roman Catholic. Honduras is mostly mountainous and the climate varies according to elevation. The poverty level in the mountains is extremely severe. The national unemployment rate is 40% and 80% of the country's population falls under the poverty level with many of those living on less than $1.00 per day. (Updated March 2006). The capital of Honduras is Tegucigalpa.
The city of El Progreso, in the Department (state) of Yoro, is approximately 40 miles southwest of San Pedro Sula. It is considered to be the third largest city in Honduras, with an area population of 210,000. El Progreso is on the Ulua River and was founded in 1927 as a banana trade centre. In the 1970's, it grew into a commercial and trans-shipment center for the Caribbean ports and the interior. Unemployment in El Progreso is close to 50% as of March 2006.
La Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes ( The Parish of Our Lady of the Mercies) is divided into three areas of focus: evangelization, liturgy, an social justice. The social justice ministry is divided into three areas: health (salud), education (educacion),
social justice (justicia social).
For More Information Please Call: 972-747-9211