The Zamorano Retreat Center will be situated near the town of Zamorano in the beautiful valley of the Yeguare River, with its lush farmland landscapes and surrounding mountains. Zamorano is only half an hour east of Tegucigalpa, located perfectly for retreats in the central part of Honduras.
The new campus.
(Lodgings are on the left. The chapel is on right.)
The center will serve more than 120 people and be able to hold diocesan meetings, Cursillos, Happenings, Alpha (1) and other events. On the far side of the campus, small cabins will be available for personal retreats.
Aerial view of the campus.
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(1) For those not familiar with these programs:
Cursillo, which means a ‘Short Course’ in English, is a weekend retreat of instruction and prayer to intensify or renew one’s relationship with God. Afterwards, the retreatants may continue to meet in their churches.
Happenings is similar to Cursillo, except that it is for teen-agers.
Alpha is a course on basic Christianity. People meet every week for a meal and some plain talk about God. At the end, there is a retreat.
With your help, we have started to assist kids who live in the campo (country) with their education. Education is free, sort of…. The publlic schools are free, but there are costs to attend.
The kids need help with transportation, lunches, books and pencils, uniforms and sometime a fee for maintaining the school.
The scholarships vary depending on the need and age. We also ask the parent to contribute as well, even if they can afford only a little.
There are more kids with needs. Some kids are not attending school this year because they can’t cover these costs. So if you are interested in helping, please let me know.
Alejandra Martínez Lopez and Milton Martínez Cortes loaded with supplies to start the school year. Mothers standing by.
Marvin Martínez Lopez ready with his school supply. Also mother and baby B.
Erica Martínez Lopez is studying to be a hairdresser.
It’s Christmas again in Honduras. It’s time for parades, fireworks and eating tamales.
The Christmas tamale is something new for me. A tamale is made from various vegetables, rice and meats, placed inside a masa (corn dough) dumpling. The dumpling, itself, is wrapped in corn leaves and steamed or boiled. It is an ancient food of the Mayas, Lencas and other indigenous people, and a tradition, which continues today. Its connection with Christmas is obscure, but everyone makes them this time of the year. They have become, in a way, a New World offering to the Christ Child.
Again this year, I went with Father Roberto on his tour of the countryside on Christmas Eve Day (December 24) to celebrate the end of Advent and the beginning of Christmas. This year we had several baptisms at both the Church of the Annunciation and at San Isidro.
And, of course, we brought presents for the kids of campo. I am always amazed at how much joy these simple presents bring to the children. You can see more below
Finally, I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas.
Also, if possible, please consider an end of the year donation, so that I may continue with God’s work here. (See link to the right.) Thank you.
I stumbled upon this story from Tales from the Magical Monastery (1), which has been helpful to me for my spiritual journey. It is told as a parable, and, in it’s peculiar style, raises questions about our response to Jesus’ coming to us in this Christmas season.
The story, told by Theophane the Monk , begins:
“I asked each of the monks I met this question: ‘What great blunder have you made?’
One answered, ‘There was a stone in my room and I did not love it.’
Another said, ‘They called me a Christian, but I did not become Christ.’
I asked the first, ‘What do you mean? I don’t understand. You didn’t love that stone….’
‘I just didn’t love it. I was so close to redeeming the whole world, but I looked down on that stone.’
I asked the second, ‘You did not become Christ? Is one supposed to become Christ?’
‘I kept putting distance between myself and him — by seeking, by praying, by reading. I kept deploring the distance, but I never realized that I was creating it.’
‘But,’ I insisted, ‘is one supposed to become Christ?’
His answer: ‘No distance.’ ”
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Christmas is about God’s coming to us. Born in Bethlehem, He offers us a great intimacy. Thus, he closes the great distance between heaven and earth. He comes to live with us.
But do we respond? Do we come to him? Can we love even the stone in the room?
Or do we just become complacent Christians from afar? Do we continue to live at a comfortable distance, Christian in name only, but not as Christ?
Can we renounce what keep us apart, in order to accept this great intimacy?
But are we supposed to become Christ?
No distance.
(1) Theophane the Monk, Tales from the Magic Monastery
Again this year we bought presents for kids living in the campo (countryside) around Tegucigalpa. These may be the only presents that some of these kids receive.
The kids at San Isidro dig into Santa’s bag to select their Christmas present. Fr. Roberto stands by to make sure that no fights break out. The kids, in spite of their excitement, were actually very well behaved.
e Mayas, Lencas and other indigenous people, and a tradition, which continues today. Its connection with Christmas is obscure, but everyone makes them this time of the year. They have become, in a way, a New World offering to the Christ Child. 
