I arrived in Mexico City on Tuesday, July 27th. I am always amazed flying here. Mexico City is one of the most populated cities in the world, with 25 million people living here. The traffic, day or night, is always terrible.. The city is an incredible mix of many very poor neighborhoods, with other areas of the city with some of the best restaurants and most expensive shops in the world. Deacon Pat Graybill, Gerardo Castillo, Chelo Manero,me, and several others all piled into one van and drove for three hours(one hour to get out of the City!) to Puebla, Mexico.
The deaf Catholics of Mexico priests, and pastoral workers meet yearly in different locations in Mexico. Last year, the meeting was in Oaxaca at the southern end of Mexico. The meeting has many different purposes: strategic planning, prayer, learning, setting priorities for ministry, training. This year, Wed-Thurs (7/28-29) delegates and pastoral workers would meet. Then, July 30-31st, any deaf Catholics who wanted to come would join in. There are 31 states in the country of Mexico. Eighteen sent representatives to the gathering.
We arrived late, in a rain storm, on Tuesday evening at the Quinta(Inn) of San Ramon, a retreat center in a very poor neighborhood. We were greeted by pastoral workers and interpreters we knew. Also, several of the young people who had been on the Deaf Youth Encuentro three weeks ago were also there.Our rooms were simple; no air conditioning and sometimes hot water. We were so tired from travelling, we did not care and happily went to bed.
The next morning, I woke up early and went for a walk. Very few people on the streets. The housing was very poor; the streets very dirty. San Ramon is like a holy oasis in the middle of human suffering. Great poverty; people trying to survive. After a simple breakfast of fruit and stew, we went to work. We had a long meeting in the morning to discuss the work of the next three days. Then, we all gathered for a wonderful Mass in a beauitful, simple chapel. Then, the meeting formally began. DEACON PATRICK GRAYBILL of New York presented his history of a deaf pastoral worker, and his present work in New York. He signed in ASL (American Sign-Language); Gerardo and Chelo voiced in Sapnish; the Mexican interpreters signed in Mexican sign-language.
My presentations were next.I also signed in ASL, turned off my voice, and let the interpreters voice my talk into Spanish for the Mexican interpreters. My first presentation about the situation of ministry with deaf people in the world. A lot of people followed up with questions. Then, after a short break, my second presentation was on the two Conferences re:Deaf People in the Church that happened in the Vatican last November and recently in June. After a break, we attended and participated in a Conference on World Youth Day in Spain 2011. Dinner followed. Then, the interpreters had an almost two hour meeting. I had time to meet and try to converse in sign-language with people from various areas of Mexico. The deaf people from Oaxaca, very far south, use a sign-language that includes signs from the Indian languages of their region. Not sure if I made much sense to them, but we laughed, took lots of pictures, and enjoyed each others' company. The day finally ended about 11pm!

One of the basic teachings of our religious faith is, "Practice what you preach." This means that if we "preach" something, "Love your neighbor as yourself, ","Forgive as God has forgiven you," then we must "practice" that teaching. How? By living in our daily lives what we say we believe. Apparently, people in the government of Illinois do not believe that; they don't "practice"(live) what they "preach"(command).
In Illinois, the state, county, and city governments order all citizens to pay their bills on time. You must pay your property taxes by a certain date. You must pay your water bills, too. By April 15th every year, you must file your state income taxes (along with your federal ones, too). If you do not pay what you owe and pay on time, the government can fine you, charge you a penalty, even take away your home or put you in jail. However, the State of Illinois does not believe it must do what it orders all of us to do. What do I mean?
The State of Illinois owes schools, hospitals, counseling agencies, rehabilitation organizations billions - billions - of dollars. The State of Illinois was supposed to pay many of these bills back in January. It is now almost August and the State still has not paid what it owes. So what has happened? People who have problems - mental health, substance abuse, special education, training for jobs, care for children - are not getting the help they need. Why? Because the agencies that want to help them have no money. WHY? BECAUSE the State of Illinois is not paying what it owes. Does this bother the State Representatvies and State Senators? No. They are all on vacation till after Labor Day. people with disabilities, including deaf people, are suffering in Illinois. Children with disabilities, including many deaf children, are suffering in Illinois. They are all suffering because the people in the State of Illinois government will not pay what the government owes, even though the government demands that all of us pay on time!
This Fall, these same government people are running for Governor, State Representative, State Senator. They want you to vote for them. Tell them you will not vote for them until they pay what they owe to our schools, fire and police departments, special education programs, mental health and substance abuse programs. THEY DON'T PAY WHAT THEY OWE; THEY DON'T GET OUR VOTES!

I have had some time to think about the Deaf Youth Encuentro held in Mexico, July 3-10th. These are a few thoughts from that experience.
1) We had deaf young people from the USA, Mexico, Venezuela, and Trinidad/Tobago; also a deaf priest from Spain. Four different sign-languages. Yet, these young people were able to figure out how to communicate with one another and work with each other in about a day. We live in a world where hearing people cannot seem to find ways to understand one another. The hearing world can learn a lot from deaf people!
2 Most of the young people told us stories about being "mainstreamed" into local schools. In most cases,the individual deaf young people were the ONLY deaf person in the entire school! Often, there were no sign-language interpreters. This is the situation that most deaf young people in the world face EVERYDAY! Many young deaf people NEVER have an opportunity to attend school. For that reason, many young, smart deaf quit school at age 14-15 to find work in a factory somewhere.
One deaf young man from northern Mexico told me that he works in a factory in his home town. The factory makes American products that are sold here in the USA. He described his job. He does maintenance & job "set-up" on several product lines. If he had that same job in the USA, it would pay $22-25/hr with benefits. The American company pays him $1.25/hr and the same rate for overtime hours without benefits. I know that product the company makes. It's price has not changed since it moved to Mexico. Who's making the difference in cost?(Certainly not the young man and all the other Mexicans employed by this "American" company.) And people in America wonder why people in Mexico want to work in the USA!
3 One night, because of a bad storm, we lost all electrical power. No lights; no power to pump water. For eight hours, we had no electricity, no running water for drinking, toilet, or bathing. The next morning, some people were grumbling about "this terrible problem." I reminded folks that we were inconvenienced for a short time. The people who live nearby on the local farms and in the small village must deal with this throughout their lives..
In fact, most of the world lives with shortages, outtages, "no power/clean water/sewage treatment" (in Iraq, there is still only electricity 4 hours/day). Look at the continuing situation in Haiti. Living in America, we are truly out of touch with how the vast majority of people on this planet live (survive). Our air-conditioning, big screen tvs, refrigeration, easy access to the internet, or fresh water have cut us off from any appreciation for what so many others can only dream about for themselves and their children. Having lost some convenience and comfort for a few hours, what had been a frustrating night turned into a lesson about gratefulness.

Don't get old. In thanking everyone, I did not thank one of our important team members, LAUREEN LYNCH-RYAN(Washington, D.C.) She worked very hard throughout the week, but had a good time doing that. I also, in my haste, left our GERARDO's last name, CASTILLO. He was the person who coordinated all the work with our interpreters: two spoken languages (English and Spanish); four sign-languages: ASL, Mexican, Venezuelan, and Spanish(Spain).

For those who wish to view a video of Fr. jaime Guttierez, deaf priest, at the mass and other photos (fotos), go to: www.virgendeguadalupe.org.mx/breves.htm, the scroll down to: 3rd Encuentro de Jovenes Catolicos Sordos and enjoy!

Before I finish my report on Mexico, I wish to thank JIM SMITH. Jim is the fellow who generously gives his time and talent to keep this web site and our other electronic services up to date and functioning. We all owe a great deal of thanks to him!

As I had previously written, we were getting ready to travel as a group to Mexico City on Wednesday, July 7th, to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is hard to explain what this sacred place means to people who are not Mexican. The people of Mexico believe (as I do!) that the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego,an Indian, at this spot in 1531. You cannot go into a Mexican home, anywhere in the world, without seeing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. People come from all over Mexico (all over the world!) everyday to visit and pray at the Basilica.
For our Mass, FR. JAIME GUTTIEREZ, the deaf priest from Spain was the Celebrant and homilist. We came out with him and our interpreters, spread out to interpret for our deaf group, for Deacon Pat Graybill(Rochester, NY), and for Fr. Jaime. Four years ago when we were there, we had to struggle with the ushers to let the interpreters (especially the WOMEN interpreters) get anywhere near the altar. This time, the staff at the Basilica were much more cooperative.
It had to be strange for the three thousand people in the basilica to watch Fr. Jaime celebrate Mass in sign, but hear a female voice, that of his interpreter Loreto. However, he gave a great homily. At the end of it, the three thousand people broke into applause(a very rare happening at a Mass in Mexico!). For me, I simply thanked Our Lady of Guadalupe for making the entire week possible! (Mass has been celebrate don this site since 1540; this was the first time in history a deaf priest celebrated Mass at the main altar!)
After the Mass and time to tour the grounds, we loaded everyone into the busses and went to La Feria, a sort of poor person's Great America. The young people had a ball; us older types watched the World Cup game! Back on the busses for a long, two-three hour drive back to Rancho Viejo through a rain storm. Everyone was happy to go to bed.
Thursday is our traditional day for physical challenges: people riding a "zip line" over half a mile of forest; "trust" exercises; team building including a project to make something to protect an egg being thrown like a discus. The young people absolutely enjoy this. Then, disaster!
That night, there was a horrific rain storm with blasting winds and more rain than I had ever seen. By 11pm, we had no electric power; no running water; generators could not cope. Everyone was hunkered down in their cabins, but without any lights, showers, or working toilets.
The next morning, because of lots of hard work by the Rancho Viejo staff, we began to get power and water back. It was a powerful lesson. Some of the young people complained about the conditions. However, I reminded them that this is how 80% of the people of the world live EVERYDAY! IT WAS A GOOD LESSON FOR ALL OF US!
The rest of the day: each of our four "groups": had prepared a very involved skit portraying a Gospel passage. We had started out,at the beginning of the week, with a group of young people who barely knew one another and had to struggle through a variety of sign-languages. Here they were, at the end of this week, one group after the other with imaginative, creative performances. We spent the afternoon evaluating what the week had meant, celebrated it at a beautiful Mass, had a great dinner, an exchange of gifts, and a bonfire blazing in the darkness of a Mexican night!
Next morning: packing, final hugs and good-byes, MANY TEARS, and we all headed home.
During the week, while the young people were working, we had all sorts of OTHER things happening: meetings for the Pastoral Workers from the various countries; meetings each night for the sign-language interpreters; a staff meeting each day (sometimes more than one) to make sure everything was proceeding on course.
I am most grateful to all of those who supported this effort. In a special way, I must thank; CHELO MANERO SOTO(Mexico City); DEACON PATRICK GRAYBILL(Rochester, NY); IAN ROBERTSON (Miami, FL); MARY ANN BARTH (Edgewood, KY); GERARDO (Washington, DC); the ESPARZA FAMILY of Rancho Viejo, Mexico for an extraordinary week. And, of course, our Lady of Guadalupe, who protected us and made the week the success it was!

Because we had very little email access in Mexico and I returned to three funerals in Chicago, I am behind on my report re: Mexico. I will have a full report in this blog by the weekend.
Please pray for the families of those who have recently died.

Starting Saturday, 30 young deaf from the USA, Mexico, Trinidada/Tobago, and Venezuela along with a team of 19 people have been
at Rancho Viejo, Valle de Bravo, Mexico. These young deaf people are amazing!!!! Enthusiastic, energetic, and open to God s Word. We have four sign languages, and at times three spoken languages going on simultaneously. The weather is not great; the accomodations are very basic; no one cares, we are so happy to be with one another. The food is wonderful, common Mexican food which is healthy and delicious. Last night in the midst of a rain storm, Fr. Jaime from Spain celebrated Mass. Today, the groups of young people have developed some amazing skits about Gospel stories. They have left us so called mature adults in tears at their faith.
Tomorrow, we will journey to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for Mass.. I will offer mass for all of you who have made this week possible.

I flew from Chicago to Mexico City on Thursday, July 1. We bumped a bit near the hurricane, but arrived safely. On Friday, July 2nd, our team (interpreters and youth staff) had meetings most of the day. We have four sign-languages for the coming week: ASL, Mexican, Venezuelan, and Spain. It takes time to work out who is interpreting for whom, how to schedule everyone, which groups need which staff, etc. This morning, I will stay at the hotel to greet the young people flying in for theEncuentro(gathering). This afternoon, we all board busses to take us to the camp, RANCHO VIEJO, VALLE DE BRAVO, MEXICO. Please pray for the safe travel of everyone, and that this week we will help these young people deepen their Faith.

During the last few years, there has been a great deal of publicity re: the sexual abuse of young children by Catholic priests. Because of this publicity, many states have passed laws that demand people report neglect and abuse. Also, other laws have lengthened the time that victims can bring their cases to courts seeking justice and/or money. However, there seems to be a misunderstanding. The states did NOT pass laws saying that the laws ONLY applied to Catholic priests or the Catholic Church. These laws apply to EVERYONE!
If someone in a family sexually abuses a child and you know about this, you have to call the police. If you do not do this, then the police can arrest YOU! Why? Because you knew about a crime and did nothing. 75% of ALL sexual abuse takes place in families. If someone in the family is sexually molesting a child, YOUR duty is to protect the child, NOT the abuser!
If you work(or are a volunteer) in a school, a summer camp, a gym,a travelling team, a social club and you suspect a child is the victim of sexual abuse, you MUST call the police. If a child tells you a story about someone touching them sexually or threatening them to shut up and you do not report it, then the police can arrest YOU! Why? Because you did not report the endangerment of a child.
If you are involved in a church, mosque, synagogue - any religious group - and someone sexually abuses a child, has child pornography, etc. you MUST call the police. If you do not, later on the child, as an adult, can sue YOU. Why? Because you knew about the crime and did nothing! People have sued the Catholic Church for hundreds of millions of dollars. Why? Because Church leaders knew about sexual abuse and did not report it. If they sued the Catholic Church, they can sue ANY religious group.
If you are Jewish,a Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Mormon, Baptist, whatever, and you suffered sexual abuse as a member of that religion, you have the right to sue that group for the abuse you suffered.
No one - NO ONE! - has the right to sexually abuse any child, at any time, for any reason.