Helping Mexico to get out of the mud

 Parishioners of the La Purisima Mission in Socorro are honoring their patron, Saint Michael,the Archangel (San Miguel Arcángel) this weekend.

On Saturday, the square around the mission was full of men, women and children of all ages participating in the religious celebration. Four groups of Matachines (traditional religious dancers) enlivened the festivities, and added a special touch that characterizes Mexican religiosity.

The Socorro Mission is just five miles away from San Elizario, a town that, like Socorro, has recently seen the influx of many people fleeing from the violence in Ciudad Juárez. It is a reality that has not escaped the attention of the Catholic priests in the area.

Rev. Robert Dueweke, director of the Tepeyac Institute from the El Paso Catholic Diocese, spoke about this phenomenon during his completely bilingual sermon yesterday.

He began by telling the story about how Saint Michael became the Socorro Mission’s patron saint. It has been said that a statue of Saint Michael was being transported on an ox cart when suddenly it was trapped in the mud. The inhabitants of Socorro made some attempts to move it, but there was no way to get the statue out of the mud. People interpreted the problem as a sign that the saint wanted to stay at the Socorro Mission.

Dueweke used the metaphor of getting stuck in the mud to talk about the need to help each other. “We can liberate ourselves and get out of the mud if we help somebody else,” he said.

Then he spoke about the people of Juarez. “There are too many people escaping from the violence in Juarez. They need so much help because they are stuck in the mud of the violence, they have come without anything--no money, no house, no family,” he said. “We are obligated to help them. When I free somebody, I free myself.”

It was a moving message, especially when he said that in solidarity, people create a new justice. 

When talking about Mexico, I’m usually a pessimistic person, but I felt grateful for Dueweke’s words and I’m sure many people inside the church felt the same way.

Mexico needs all kinds of help now, but sometimes just listening to encouraging words can provide some kind of relief and a sense of hope for the future.

Comments

[Tom]

My nonviolent suggestion for solving the problem of violence in various locations in Mexico is the "general Strike".

When the people have had enough, they stay home for a day or two. The people cannot be forced from their homes to their jobs. Paralyzing commerce is the only tactic that can force long term stability. This can be done every month or as necessary to change conditions in a community.

In Juarez, it would be even more effective as it will freeze international trade.

[El Paso]

Hm, I wonder how effective Tom's solusion would be. It seems that all commerce is already dead there. I wonder how people survive at all.