One of the main objectives in our mission, Seguidores de la Cruz, is to construct and to continually fortify a culture of life and love. This is a hallmark of St. John Paul II’s theology. When we began our mission for family renewal, the bishop who enthusiastically invited us into his diocese accompanied us to the roof of a building under construction. The panorama afforded a clear vision for quite a distance, and he exhorted us to pray for more property. “I know you have no money. But ask the Blessed Mother to provide; families need a lot of space to develop and room to grow.” The Lord has provided us with a plot which covers about seven acres.


Diego and Manuel gravitate to their Sunday morning routine like clockwork. It has become a ritual. Here they are seated after Mass and their "Jovenes" course.

Before our Sunday morning Mass, many couples arrive with their families an hour early in order to set up classrooms, organize various services and details. Our school for families is a sizable enterprise. Children are instructed by their parents as to their responsibilities, especially focused on older children watching their younger brothers and sisters, sometimes teaming up with other families. The Jardin de Alegria (Garden of Joy) is always a favorite area when the weather allows, usually eight or nine Sundays out of ten.
Diego and Manuel have to be credited with inaugurating the ritual. These two met at the mission, coming from distant parts of the city. Their younger siblings didn’t require oversite from either one. For years, since they were about twelve years old, they have been drawn to friendship with one another; and for the better part of an hour before Mass they walk side-by-side rapt in conversation. Usually their pace is brisk on the winding sidewalks, with hand gestures accompany their lines of thought. Easily they must cover at least three and-a-half miles after forty-five minutes on their crisscrossing route. Their parents by now are also good friends with each other, having studied classes and teamed up to serve on various teams and activities. Other pairs and groups of friends are making their rounds now during this unstructured time. They have caught on to what I have observed as the ritual.


Juanita and Dulce rounding the corner are caught on camera, have picked up on to the ritual and have become good friends. They also met at El Rancho Nazaret, rather than at school.




Juanita and Dulce prefer a shorter route around the main meeting hall, so as to run into many other folks on their way. Here they encounter Fatima and take her on board.


The younger kids always gather on the Jardin de Alegia (Garden of Joy) like ants on an anthill.

Many of the kids find other ways to engage and pass the time before Mass begins. But the main blessing is that they do engage with one another in play, in groups or in services like choir and altar servers. But there is very minimal phone-centeredness.  Telephones are not absent from these older adolescents, but they are very noticeably NOT ever-present. A cellphone is now-and-then a center of attention, everyone looking on or taking turns and then commenting, but the comments and opinions matter as much as the video or other content. Very seldom is a person seen sitting in a group though totally absorbed in the phone while oblivious to the others around. The inter-family, inter-generational atmosphere which we foster in many of our activities is apparently preferred to isolation, even when the parents are not present and directing the activity.




This is definitely catching on.