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Orphans in Zambia, Africa	Sister Mary Margaret and young Zambian women	Sister Janet Nall (right) with young Zambian mother and ill baby	A Zambian gathering

NAYARIT

Ixtlan del Rio

Sisters Rita Nealon, Therese Cunningham and Loretta Armand minister in Ixtlan del Rio.

The sisters minister in the following ways:

• Focusing on social service: healing the sick. . . being the "bridge between available resources and persons most in need.
• Adult literacy and Basic Education sponsored by the National Institute for Adult Education.
• Volunteer ministry at the Rehabilitation Center for physically disabled persons.
• Support and participate in events that promote the dignity of women. . . self-esteem workshop for women entitled: "Mujeres de luz"
• Initiated a branch of Câritas in Ixtlan del Rio
• Teach courses in the Adult School of Faith Formation
• Work with "Couples in Marriage Crisis".
• Participate in the organizing committee for the first diocesan synod
• Do pastoral ministry in the parishes.
• Initiated a lay missionary group called "Jovenes Misioneres"
• Journey with young women in vocational discernment
• Involved in the refounding process promoted by Conference of Latin American Religious

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Oaxaca

Sister Kathleen O'Connell and Sister Magdalen Kilbane

Sister Kathleen and Sister Magdalen bring the compassion of Christ to the poor in the pueblos in and around Oaxaca. They do the following ministries:

• Set up a house, Casa San Patricio, to house programs that are dedicated to the development of indigenous women, the Mixtecos and Zapotecos: reading, writing, typing, natural medicine, soya food preparation, sewing and crafts.
  
  
• Have developed a fund for the impoverished to pay for emergency medical, dental and hospital care. . . a financial aid program has been put in place to give financial assistance to students in return for services (yard work, painting, etc.)
  
  
• Organize catechetical ministry on the weekends.
  
  
• Minister to the sick and the elderly:
  • Bring communion to the sick and elderly
  • Attend family celebrations, novenas, rosaries, funerals and other popular devotions in the homes and streets
    
    
• Walk with and discern with those showing interest in religious life.

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Santa Maria del Oró

The chapel: A quiet space for prayer

We, the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Nayarit, have come to know through experience that the body-mind-spirit connection is essential to fuller living and we live out the charism of our congregation in the following ways:

• Social Pastoral Ministry
• Promote alternative medicine. . . includes healing therapies and the use of curative native plants
• Promote self-esteem building and human development
• Coordinate services at a Healing Center
• Visit the elderly, sick, poor and needy. . . promoting human dignity and striving to teach people how to be self-sufficient
• Minister in the Ranchos where alternative medicine teams also operate
• Support the laity involved in parish evangelization
• Participate in the Diocesan Vocation Program

Santa Maria del Oro is located near the beautiful "La Laguna"

Sisters Peggy, Marian and Beatrice

Sister Beatrice exercising with women at a Rancho

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Tepic

Sister Marian and the proud owner of a Habitat for Humanity home that is under construction

Sister Marian lives in an intercongregational community whose objective is: "To unite efforts as women religious in pastoral ministry among the indigenous in order that the large indigenous presence with the diocese be recognized and accepted as an integral part of the local church and occupy a special place and role in diocesan plans and projects."

The sisters:

• Work with artisans
• Work with migrant workers who follow the fruit, horticulture or crop harvests to season and location
• Learn the culture and the language
• Do sacramental preparation
• Organize bible study
• Organize a nutrition course
• Organize the wholesale purchase of yarn
• Promote the marketing of artesania
• Promote healthy recreation for youth and children
• Are involved with Habitat for Humanity and housing
• Are involved in promoting a "Heifer International Project".
• Formed "Kupuri" [a Huichol word meaning "the energy of God", or "life-force" or the presence of the Holy Spirit]. The objective is to develop sustainable, adequate economic alternatives to overcome poverty and improve the quality of life for families and the community. Kupuri will be a channel for new life for poor families.

Women and children bringing sand and water for the new habitat for Humanity home.

Sister Marian and the owner of sheep raised through "Heifer International".n

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