Day 2

Day 2 began with a visit to the offices of Holy Cross Family Ministries where the group learned about Rosario en Familia, a movement founded by Venerable Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. who often said, “The family that prays together stays together.” They learned how the offices promote prayer of the rosary throughout all of Mexico while also offering family therapy, grief support, and other ministries to the local community. 

This year's immersion group was especially inspired by the many ways in which Rosario en Familia encourages building community and celebrating the Catholic faith through fun and creative projects that both young and old can enjoy.  One example includes a yearly recycled-materials rosary competition.  Families are invited to create rosaries out of recycled materials around their home and then share their creations with one another.  The teachers in the group excitedly brainstormed ways in which they might be able to do something similar back home at Holy Cross School and Parish in South Bend, IN.   

The group then walked from Rosario en Familia to Casanicolás Migrant House, run by a local diocesan parish.  The Congregation of Holy Cross served a major role in helping raise funds to construct the original building many years ago and Casanicolás currently meets the basic needs of migrants from various Southern and Central American countries, many of them traveling through Mexico with young children, with the dream of a safer life in the United States.  They come with many physical, spiritual, and psychological needs and Casanicolás works to provide necessary services with the help of psychologists, lawyers, and many volunteers.  (Link to their website) For many of the participants in the immersion program, this was an especially impactful moment of the trip in which they were able to ask many questions about the complexities of a migrant's journey and the legal processes involved in immigration.

Sometimes, especially when traveling, you need a Plan B.  

When the famous viewpoint in Monterrey called El Mirador del Obispado was closed for the day, the group headed to a different viewpoint, much higher up, in the middle of Chipinque Ecological Park.  The views of Monterrey from the mountaintop were spectacular and the group enjoyed some time away from the city, surrounded by nature.  Plan B turned out to be a perfect way to spend the afternoon! 

Later that evening, after Mass (which included a beautiful wedding with violin music and a soprano singer), the group headed to the home of parishioners from La Luz parish to celebrate una noche mexicana.

They relaxed and shared in fellowship and laughter while eating traditional Mexican food, listening to and dancing with a mariachi band, and playing games like pin the tail on the donkey and lotería, a traditional Mexican bingo game.

What a great way to end Day 2!