HAITI: January 4 - 11, 2013:

We joined Friar Suppliers again this year for their annual mission trip to Carrefour, Haiti. Our team was able to construct 150+ latrines, adding to the impact of last years trip, which produced a remarkable drop in cholera. The medical contingent saw nearly 1200 patients, and about 500 families received food. This year the CFR Sisters added an evangelization dimension, visiting homes and praying with families, and there was another baptism, too! We also visited a new inland site, where we are helping poor families cultivate cassava, and where we may do future construction projects.

HONDURAS: Nov - Dec 2012, Jan - Feb & Mar 2013:

We made three trips to Honduras since our last update. In November and December, in collaboration with Missioners of Christ, we were involved with youth formation and a mission trip into the indigenous mountain region of Guajiquiro. In January, Missioners travelled to La Ceiba to help conduct a Pan de Vida (Bread of Life) Eucharistic youth retreat for Confirmation candidates. That visit enabled me to participate in local celebrations of the Day of Consecrated Life (Feb 2) and the solemnity of Our Lady of Suyapa, Patroness of Honduras (Feb 3). We returned again in March to join in the celebrations of Holy Week and to carry out an evangelization outreach to the many tourists who flock to the coast at that time called Jess en la Playa (Jesus at the Beach), involving music, dramas, videos, prayer and activities for children; it was extremely well received. With the support of Franciscan Mission Outreach, Missioners of Christ continue to regularly visit the boys and youth at the Granja Jess de Nazaret (Jesus of Nazareth Farm), and at Christmas distributed gifts collected by my home parish of Sacred Heart, St. Marys, PA.

FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + PO BOX 1086 + SECAUCUS, NJ 07096-1086 + TEL: 718-618-4511 francsicanmissionoutreach@gmail.com + www.franciscanmissionoutreach.blogspot.com

AFRICA:
South Sudan: Nigerian Missionary of St. Paul Fr. Chris has now been joined by his confrere Fr. Noel in serving at the House of Mercy (rebuilt by FMO) in Torit, South Sudan. Ugandan lay missionary Dennis Kiyimba assists them. They continue to use the Toyota Land Cruiser and other equipment and resources provided by FMO to evangelize remote rural communities. In December they traveled with seven youth to a retreat at Emmaus Center in Uganda. In January, with the help of Dr. Will Stallings of Virginia, FMO was able to provide a blood analyzer to St. Theresa Hospital in Isohe, South Sudan. Tragically, Bishop Akio Johnson Mutek of Torit died suddenly in March; the diocese mourns his loss and awaits a new pastor.

Zimbabwe and Ethiopia: With the help of a generous benefactor and contacts in Zimbabwe, FMO was able to offer substantial support to the Mutemwa Leper Community and Mother of Peace Orphanage towards a transformer that will allow them to pump water from a nearby reservoir. FMO will sponsor a priest and four lay people from the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa to attend a leadership seminar at Emmaus Center in Uganda and experience first hand the vitality of lay movements in that country.

UNITED STATES:
YOUTH 2000 New York: Franciscan Mission Outreach worked with the leaders and
team of YOUTH 2OOO New York to develop a new Face to Face format. The Eucharistic youth retreats now take place in a space surrounded by large banners featuring photographs of the faces of saints and Scripture quotes that correspond to the Face to Face theme. New collaborators include New Name Catholic worship team and speakers from Corazn Puro (Pure Heart) Latino youth chastity outreach. Face to Face launched in September to an overwhelmingly positive response, and has had several events since. FMO continues to offer spiritual formation to members of the local YOUTH 2OOO New York team, and is helping to organize a Y2NY Year of Faith summer pilgrimage to the birthplace of newly canonized St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Auriesville, NY on her feast day, July 14.

Other Activities: Franciscan Mission Outreach has been involved with parish missions at
St. Lukes Parish, Ocean City, MD, St. Rita and Holy Family Parishes, Staten Island, NY and Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Scarsdale, NY, as well as providing Lenten assistance at St. Faustina s Parish, Clermont, FL.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:
At the request of Bishop Michael Lenihan, OFM, most of our missionary activity this year will take place in the Diocese of La Ceiba, Honduras and will include evangelization efforts, spiritual formation, programs for youth and young adults, welcoming visiting mission teams, and developing outreach to the poor. We will also be collaborating closely with Missioners of Christ. Honduras: Apr 20 - Jun 30, Jul 30 - Sep 30

Our missionary efforts depend on your spiritual and financial support. Please pray for us! Tax-deductible donations to support the life, ministries and missionary outreach of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal can be made out to Franciscan Mission Outreach and sent to : Franciscan Mission Outreach PO Box 1086 Secaucus, NJ 07096-1086 Thank you! You are in our prayers!

Franciscan Mission Outreach is overjoyed at the election of Pope Francis: a Latino from a developing country, a man of humility and simplicity, a merciful pastor who desires a poor Church for the poor, a Church willing to go out to others to bear witness and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Please visit the FMO blog at: www.franciscanmissionoutreach. blogspot.com And make email contact at: franciscanmissionoutreach@ gmail.com