FORT LORAMIE — The public is invited to St Michael’s Hall, 33 Elm St., Fort Loramie, Sunday, Aug. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for a buffet style breakfast with pancakes, sausage, eggs, fruit, fair trade coffee, yogurt, juice and more.
The event is sponsored by Ss. Peter & Paul, Newport and St Michael, Fort Loramie, Outreach Commission. The recommended donation for adults is $6.50 and children 12 and under free. Displays with information on mission opportunities both globally and locally will be available.
The Mission Breakfast fundraiser will conclude the “2016 Summer Solidarity Project” with proceeds to benefit “El Programa de Ingles,” “The English Program” in San Cristobal, El Salvador. Parishioners of St Michael, Ss. Peter & Paul and surrounding communities, traveled to El Salvador in June to learn about the culture in Central America and to visit with the Newport Fort Loramie Pastoral Region sister-parish in San Cristobal (Saint Christopher), in the department of Cuscatlan.
This twinning relationship began with introductions in 2013 and a visit accompanied by CRISPAZ, Christians for Peace in El Salvador. Several visits have taken place to El Salvador over the years. The pastor of San Cristobal made a visit to the Newport Fort Loramie Pastoral region in August 2015.
A Sister Parish Relationship is manifested in a commitment of solidarity between two parish communities – in this case two pastoral regions. It is one way of responding to our United States Bishops call to “mark the new millennium by making our families and local communities of faith signs of genuine solidarity – praying, teaching, preaching and acting with new urgency and creativity on the international obligations of our faith”.
Parish leaders in San Cristóbal were asked why learning English is important. The response: “The community of San Cristobal is mostly rural and low income; most of the population is engaged in agricultural work which is the only source of income. There are many young people who have no professional development opportunities. For this reason the program of teaching English is to benefit children and young people of school age and adults who are interested in learning English. This helps young people in their study at school. To learn English means there are better opportunities for professional and personal growth, and an advantage when searching for a job.”
In 2015 two computers equipped with “Rosetta Stone – English” were donated to this English program. The donation gave birth to this pilot program resulting in great success. Currently 18 students are sharing two computers. The sister parish teams continue to develop the program. The goal is to supply 10 additional computers downloaded with Rosetta Stone. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Mission Breakfast will benefit “El Programa de Ingles.”