Pastoral and Spiritual Care

• If you have a child to be baptized...
• If you know an adult or older child seeking baptism in Christ...
• If you would like to celebrate your marriage in this church...
• If you know someone who is sick and would like a visit or to receive Holy Communion...
• If you would like to talk to a priest about a concern or unburden your conscience...

We are here for you.

• Eucharistic Ministries
  
• Altar Guild
• Subdeacons & Acolytes
• Lay Readers
• Catechumenate
• Ushers
• Choir
• Nursery
• Coffee Hour

Father Womble and friends at Coffee Hour

 Mary Gayle Nash, Altar Guild Director

• Casa Maria
• Fowler Fund
• Guatemala Project
• Humane Borders
• Primavera Foundation
• Social Action Committee

Ila Abernathy in Guatemala

• Godly Play
• Rite 13
• High School
• Adult (Bible study, Greek classes, etc.)
  

Thanks to everyone for doing their faithful best in these difficult times! There are some parishioners out of work—please pray for them. Most are blessed with continued employment or retirement income. Our stewardship is always based on what we receive each month to live on.

St. Michael's Guatemala Project / CPR-Sierra, Guatemala

The Maya of the CPR Sierra

[Communities of Population in Resistance of the Sierra]

The CPR Sierra are primarily Ixil and Quiché Maya subsistence farmers from the Ixil area of northern Quiché, Guatemala, one of the areas hardest hit during Guatemala's long and violent internal conflict. The conflict escalated in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the Guatemalan military, by its own count, destroyed 440 Mayan villages. Over 200,000 civilians were killed or "disappeared," scorched earth campaigns ravaged rural communities, and families became refugees in their own homeland.

In the Ixil area many internally displaced families fled beyond roads and into the remotest mountains, where they began to organize as the CPR Sierra. They were subjected to years of bombing, artillery attacks, army incursions. and crop destruction. They estimate half their number died of hunger, bombardments, massacres, treatable diseases, and exposure.

Although the mountains were culturally "home." few CPR families had clear title to the lands to which they fled. Under terms of the Guatemala Peace Accords (December, 1996), they were entitled to recognition as peaceful, self governing indigenous peoples   and to land settlements, development options, and other compensations as civilians "internally displaced" by the conflict,

From 1998 until 2000 the CPR Sierra were involved in a massive diaspora to relocation sites as far distant as the hot, disease riddled Pacific coastal plain near Champerico, Retalhuleu. A remnant remains in the Sierra, and others have returned to communities of origin (primarily hamlets of Nebaj). Presently the CPR are situated in 4 major, geographically separated relocation sites and 14 additional small communities. Cohesive social and leadership structures which evolved during the war years are stressed, as the scattered communities attempt to respond to new conditions and yet maintain the purpose and unity that helped them survive the war.

Far from the "holy mountains that defended us" during the conflict, relocated CPR families are struggling with physical and cultural survival, complicated by local prejudices, different crops and climate, lack of natural resources, adverse weather (first El Niño, then Hurricane Mitch, then local drought), and a declining economy. The remnant mountain communities are weakened, isolated, and extremely impoverished.

As Guatemala grapples with economic problems and a culture of violence in the aftermath of 36 years of war, 1,800 CPR Sierra families   in the distant resettlements, the mountains of the Ixil area, and communities of Nebaj   continue to seek the elusive "vida digna" (life with dignity) promised by the Peace Accords.

CPR Sierra resettlement & other sites

Sites, 1980s to 1998 (culturally "home")   Areas Xeputul, Caba, and Santa Clara - 9 small, isolated communities

Resettlement sites in municipality of Origin (Nebaj) - 4 small housing locations without significant land for cultivation

Resettlement sites (major relocation), 1998 to present
    Triunfo, Champerico, Retalhuleu
    Nueva Esperanza, Patulul, Suchitepequez (finca "Tesorito")
    Union Victoria, San Miguel Pochuta, Chimaltenango (coffee finca "El Salvador")
    Union 31 de Mayo, San Miguel Uspantan, Quiché

The Guatemala Project, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

St. Michael's Guatemala Project is an informal. non sectarian partnership with the CPR Sierra that began in 1993, at a time when the communities were still blockaded by the Guatemalan army. During an evolving relationship, the Project has affirmed the CPR quest  for recognition as peaceful indigenous peoples, for dignity, and for land. working directly with Mayan community leaders. Partnership areas include health and health education, delivery of basic medicines and supplies identified by the CPR, advocacy, the arts and culture, and communication that encourages increased awareness in the United States. Emphasis is upon mutuality, cultural exchange, indigenous self determination, and self sufficiency.

Over its 10 year history, the Project has offered support for the CPR's own health structures, delivered 4 wheel drive vehicles and supplies, brought CPR leaders to the U.S., and arranged for a display of handmade crosses "A Nuestros Mártires" at the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies, Philadelphia, where it won "best of show."

Presently the Project seeks to improve health and primary health care delivery by making small monthly incentive payments to CPR health workers who serve their isolated home communities as volunteers. As funds permit, the Project also helps with transportation for patients who can't be treated locally, pays travel costs for health workers in ongoing formal training, and helps purchase medicines and low tech medical supplies. Project administration is through the CPR's elected leaders, assuring oversight and strengthening local structures. The U.S. Coordinator joins lead CPR health workers in extensive community visits each year.

By 2001, the Project was assisting 24 local health workers in 14 of 18 scattered CPR communities. Support has come from St. Michael's, St. Mark's Presbyterian and the Tucson community in general, other solidarity groups, and grants from the national Episcopal Church and Arizona Diocese.

Donations (tax deductible): 

St. Michael's Guatemala Project
602 N. Wilmot Road
Tucson, AZ 85711

(520) 886 7292, fax (520) 886 8636
Coordinator:    Ila Abernathy
(contact info available on request)

In 1988, St Michael's was asked to join a group of sandwich makers called "Casa Maria" who met every fourth Friday in what is called the "children's resource" room today. From one to fifteen volunteers gathered at 7 p.m. and worked for about four hours making 500 lunch bags. The menu then was one peanut butter sandwich, one cheese and relish sandwich, two cookies, and fruit. This went on for several years. At that time, the room was furnished with children's furniture. Needless to say, at times this set up was very uncomfortable and congested to where the project was then moved to the parish hall for better conditions.

Casa Maria project was originated by St. Augustine Cathedra here in Tucson with 28 various churches of different denominations volunteering to support this project so that the homeless and the hungry could be fed every day of the week, month, and year.

In 1991, a meeting was called to meet at St Michael and All Angels Church to educate one another how to better the system and coordinate the menu. Each organization gave a report on the menu and the process used to complete the project. It was learned that most organizations made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and quite a number were making cheese sandwiches. It was agreed upon that peanut butter and jelly had to be eliminated in some cases.

Several years ago, the St. Michael's group decided to make the Thanksgiving lunch a little special. Parishioner Ila Abernathy felt a meat, such as ham, would be more nutritious. The ham and cheese with relish then replaced the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Then it was suggested an egg salad sandwich would replace the cheese sandwich. Today's menu consists of one ham and cheese with relish sandwich, one egg salad sandwich, two cookies, and a fruit such as an apple, organ, or a banana. Several times a few of the mothers of the church were asked to make homemade cookies. Enough cookies were made to put three cookies into each bag. Volunteers from the parish were asked to donate two-dozen hard-boiled (shelled) eggs to make up the egg salad sandwiches. When school is in session, students are asked to bring hard-boiled eggs which they are still generously doing.

Church volunteers who have either a truck or van deliver the 500 lunches, with about 100 or more extra sandwiches and soup, to the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen located on east 26th Street at 3rd. The lunches are served the next morning for lunch.

Casa Maria Soup Kitchen serves hot soup with a lunch bag which can be consumed there or taken away to enjoy later. Every Monday morning about 10 a.m., the cathedral has a priest visit and celebrate Mass on the patio. Two women with guitars play and sing for the service. After the celebration of the Mass, the two women play joyful tunes and some food bag recipients dance and have a social time.

Today, St. Michael's has streamlined the system whereby delivery is ready in just two hours. Although we call for volunteers for 6:30 p.m., we must always be ready to start work at 6:00 p.m. Approximately 30 dozen eggs are needed to make a suitable sandwich. About 30 volunteers are needed at each session to have a smooth and effective operation. It costs the meals program approximately $450 each month to supply the needs such as meat, cheese mustard, relish, sandwich bags, brown bags, bread, cookies, and fruit. All monies are contributions to the meals program and not from church funds.