St. Joan of Arc will host a delegation from Tierra Nueva II, our sister parish, in 2009. The trip to Minnesota will cost more than $1000 per person. Since most full-time workers in Guatemala make less than $7 dollars a day, it is impossible for our brothers and sisters in TNII to contribute much of their own money to fund their trip. In keeping with our mutual goals of solidarity with TNII (instead of charity), we are working with them on a project to raise money together for their trip to St. Joan's.
On Saturday and Sunday, November 22nd and 23rd we will sell candles, cards and other things handmade by the people of Tierra Nueva II, following each Mass in the gym vestibule and in the Church.
It is our hope that you will purchase the candles for gifts or home use during the holiday season, and use the cards for your holiday greeting. This project will not only help fund the delegation to Minnesota, but it is our hope that the candles and cards will help us remember our brothers and sisters in Guatemala throughout the holiday season, and prepare ourselves to welcome them when they visit us in 2009.
One of the delegates from Seritquiche gave birth to a baby girl while on a delegation to Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Valley City, ND. SJA Sister Parish volunteers helped out. View a report.
St. Joan's Sister Parish members Louise Eidsmoe, Leslie Knoblauch, Rick Nelson and Ann Maczuga traveled to Postville, Iowa as part of a trip coordinated by the Jewish Community Action Center from the Twin Cities. The group went to pray and walk in solidarity with the Guatemalans and Mexicans there who were arrested in the ICE Raid on May 12. View a report on the trip.
The problem of violence specifically against women in Guatemala is very serious. St. Joan's parishioner, and past delegate to Tierra Nueva Dos, Claire Branigan has researched this issue as part of her studies at Grinnell College.
Read the report on her research and browse several links to additional information on this issue.
We have nine delegates confirmed for the trip:
We began our orientation sessions on April 6th. We're on our way!