Page 33 - Catholic Extension Magazine Winter 2019

Extension | Winter 2019 33

Santa Monica “The impact is great. Through
Mission in El Cenizo, our program, people see kind-
60 Texas, serves a poor ness and want to be kind them-
community, mainly
selves,” she said.
Hungry mouths and immigrants, to help “Serving people makes you
them manage their
souls fed weekly in struggles with dignity. want to be better every day,”
children’s class she added. “When you decide
to serve the Lord, you want to
be more like Him every day, and
“We want the children to know ulation lives below the povery line everything changes. Serving Him,
that the Church is there for them,” and face daily challenges. through these children, gives me
said Jaime. “When we meet their Amidst this great scarcity, Santa a joy that I want to share.”
basic needs, we put them Monica Mission, which Since 2002, Catholic Exten-
on a good path for their serves about one third of sion has given nearly $170,000 to
future. When they are 2019 u 2020 the town’s population, res- the Santa Monica Mission for this
being cared for, we see onates with spiritual abun- program, and salary support for
them gain confidence.” dance and unites fami- priests and sisters.
The women coordi- lies and neighbors. Under Bishop James Tamayo of Lar-
nate the children’s reli- the leadership of Father edo said, “The Santa Monica
gious education and youth Lumen Joel Pérez, it has created a Angels are a model of steward-
activities, events, fund- Christi spirit of hope. ship, sacrifice and service for the
raisers and special out- AWARD The Santa Monica people of Santa Monica Mission.
reach programs of evange- FINALIST Angels, who are always Their dedication to the Lord’s
lization and social services cheerful and positive, mission, in one of the poor-
at the mission — all with- greatly inspire others to est communities of our country,
out a formal budget. also be charitable. Since the food will inspire the faithful in all cor-
Santa Monica Mission is sur- program began, many parents ners of the nation to find ways to
rounded by a tightknit commu- are becoming involved in helping share their gifts of service and
nity of 3,500 residents, primarily with the religion classes. love.”
from Mexico and Central Amer-
ica. Nearly 70 percent of the pop-