Twinning Program

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A brief history of St. Mary Immaculate Conception’s Twinning relationship with the Parish of San Gaspar, Taulabe, Honduras.

With the help of the School Sisters of St. Frances from Milwaukee Wisconsin, we formed a Twinning relationship with San Gaspar in 2002. In February 2003, we took our first trip to San Gaspar wondering what we could do as a Parish to help our brothers and sisters in Christ. The first year we met Padre Tito and many other wonderful people. We came home with many ideas but not one clear idea as to what we could do.

On our 2004 trip we visited many schools both in the city of Taulabe and in the mountain villages surrounding Taulabe. We knew when we came home that education could be the key to help them become self-sufficient.

So it began. We returned in February 2005 sponsoring 3 youth. In July 2005 Padre Tito and a group from Honduras came to West Bend for their first visit and to make a Mission Appeal. That group that Padre brought along became the committee at San Gaspar overlooking the youth that were being sponsored. Later that summer the School Sisters of St. Frances approached us and asked if we, as a parish, could and would be willing to take on the responsibility of sponsoring 10 youth that they had been sponsoring. It was a commitment that they had for several years but could no longer keep due to difficultly in raising funds. This just happened to be the direction that we wanted to go, so we offered this opportunity to the parish at our first annual sponsorship drive in October 2005, and needless to say we had a tremendous response. Enough families said yes to sponsoring the youth of Taulabe that we went back in February 2006 sponsoring 15 youth.

During our visit in 2006 we met all the youth being sponsored bringing letters and pictures from their sponsors in West Bend. We listened as Padre Tito told the youth of this wonderful opportunity that they have been given, the gift of education. Padre Tito went on to say thanks to the entire parish of St. Mary’s for supporting the youth of Taulabe. He says that we are their Hope for a better tomorrow. The youth range in age from 12 to 28 years old. The youth are hand picked by Padre and the committee meets with the youth on a monthly basis to check on their progress. One of the main benefits of our sponsorship program is that 100% of the proceeds goes directly to sponsoring the youth. There is no middleman! During the summer, representatives from San Gaspar came to speak to the members of St. Mary’s at the annual Mission Appeals.

Our October sponsorship drive was more successful then the previous year and we are now up to 35 youth being sponsored.

During our 2007 visit we met many ambitious students who are eager to learn and are so grateful for this gift. And as the saying goes…anything is possible with God.

Si se puede - It can be done!

Amigos Unidos

During our last annual visit to Taulabe, Honduras, we were invited to meet with the principal and faculty of the local elementary school. Realizing that there were many families who were not sending their children to school, these educators took it upon themselves to visit the families. With a video camera in hand, they interviewed the parents and took pictures of their homes. What they found stunned even these teachers who live in the same community.

Beautiful little five, six, and seven year olds didn't go to school because they didn't have clothes to wear, they didn't own a pair of shoes, and their parents didn't have the money to buy pencils and paper to send their children to school. Being malnourished and hungry, it would be very hard for these little ones to concentrate and learn.

As a result of their study, the teachers were moved to do what they could. Each one of them sponsored a child for the school year, buying them a uniform, shoes and school supplies. But there are so many more children who need help.

The Twinning Committee of St. Mary's Parish has organized a branch of the "Amigos en Cristo" called "Amigos Unidos” (translates to "close friends"), through which we hope to help many children begin their education. The cost of keeping a child in elementary school for a year is between $30.00 and $35.00.

Since we do not want this program to interfere with our scholarship program for the secondary students, we have decided to sell "fair trade" coffee, applying the profits to the little ones. We will also hold bake sales several times a year. To those interested in helping, but don't drink coffee, or can't get to the bake sales, we welcome any donation you can possibly make. There is no commitment to continue donating, nor do you need to give a certain amount. We accept any amount at any time! Know that you will truly be taking the hand of a child, and accompanying him/her on the path to a new life.

Coffee Order Form

Calendar of Events

Amigos en Cristo

St. Mary’s Parish will be selling Fair Trade Coffee at Farmer’s Market on the following dates:

August 8

August 15

August 29

September 5

September 12

September 19

September 26

October 3

October 10

October 17

October 24

October 31

Pictures From Our Visit. To view, click on a picture.