Saint Willebrord Parish
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October 4th was a huge day in the lives of the family of Luis Sanchez, our deacon here at St. Willebrord.  Luis Alberto Sanchez, brother of Deacon Luis was ordained a priest in the diocese of Autlan, Jalisco , Mexico .  His first Mass was held in his home town of Cuquio , Jalisco , Mexico , a six hour drive from Autlan.  Besides the entire Sanchez family, Sister Melanie, Michael O’Callaghan, Randy Kostichka, Dennis Plansky, Father Don Rose, and Father Ken went to Mexico for the occasion.   

It was a very delightful trip despite the need to travel roads in the barrancas (mountains) that certainly scared all of the guests.  It was later agreed that it was easier to travel at night when one could not see the deep drop offs on the one side of the road.


Luis Alberto was ordained with one other young man.  It was a long and beautiful ceremony.  It was also very personal as his family was included as well as his past experiences as a seminarian.  Immediately following there was a lunch for all of the guests on the seminary grounds.  A Mariachi band played the entire time.  Before leaving Autlan 1000 coconuts were loaded on the buses in the baggage departments for the celebration the following day.  Then came the six hour bus ride through the barrancas to Cuquio.   It was a long day as we left for Autlan from Cuquio at 4:00 A.M. and arrived back about 10:00 P.M.

On October 6th Luis Alberto celebrated his First Mass in Cuquio.  It certainly was a community affair.   A local band met Father Luis Alberto at his mother’s house and led Father and many from his side of the town walking to the church for the Mass.   A bus load of people came from Autlan to prepare the church with beautiful decorations.  They worked through the night of the 5th to finish the job.  Another group of people came from Tule, a poor village where Luis Alberto served as a deacon.  They worked through the night preparing the coconuts for the following day.  They were cut in such a way that a person could drink the coconut milk with a straw.  The Pastor of the parish in Cuquio organized the food for the celebration.  He had different villages and groups from the town preparing such things as tacos, rice, soda and other elements of the meal.  They all brought them together for the fiesta.  It was a form of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.  The party was held in the town square and the whole town came.  There was also music from a local band.  Approximately 20 priests were there for the Mass and Father Luis Alberto Sanchez was initiated into his priesthood.  




The trip was a wonderful experience for all of us.  We were all welcomed with open arms everywhere we went.  Father Ken also celebrated Mass in  three of the villages from which many people who live here came.  They were thrilled to hear about their families here and welcomed us.  It was another form of welcoming the stranger.  How important that is in all of our lives.  

 

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