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November 20 , 2006 • VOL. 44, NO. 20 • Oakland, CA
Alameda parish
welcomes pastor
of sister parish in El Salvador
St. Philip
Neri Parish in Alameda received a very special visitor last month –
Father Jose Adonay, pastor of their sister parish church in Asuchillo,
El Salvador.
He was making his first visit to the Bay Area to strengthen the bonds
that have existed between the two parishes for 12 years. The Alameda parish
first became involved when the SHARE Foundation of San Francisco put out
a call to help El Salvador, a nation deeply harmed by civil war and natural
disasters.
Since then the parish has offered financial support for such new projects
as construction of houses, a potable water system, and education.
The most recent work was the construction of a small chapel destroyed
by earthquakes in 2001. Father Vincent Cotter, pastor of St. Philip Neri,
traveled to Asuchillo for the consecration.
But that was not the only time that Father Cotter has visited the area.
“I have gone on five occasions and every time I realize that the
needs are very great and that truly we can help to change that reality,”
he said. “They are very good people, very believing and they need
someone who lends a hand to them.”
In previous years members of the Asuchillo community have come to the
Bay Area, but this was the first time that their pastor made the trip.
“I had to come alone because the rest of the committee was denied
visas to enter this country,” said the priest with sadness. “But
I feel very happy to be here and to know all of those good -hearted parishioners
who have given donations for the improvement of our community”.
Father Adonay said that Asuchillo is a very poor rural town, with great
needs and affected by the violence that reigns throughout the country.
Alameda Mayor Beverly Johnson presents Father Jose
Adonay with a proclamation of the Friendship City status between Alameda
and Asuchillo, El Salvador.
“Our
young people are dying in the war between gangs and by the crime. The
boys who are alive decide to emigrate towards the United States in search
of better opportunities,” he said. “El Salvador is becoming
a country of children and old people.”
Nevertheless, he stressed that he returns to his community knowing that
here in the United States are people who always keep them in their prayers
and reach out to help them.
One of those parishioners is Kris Matarresse, coordinator of the committee
that aids the Asuchillo parish. The group is collecting funds to begin
a project of scholarships in El Salvador so the children can attend Catholic
schools.
“A family in Alameda pays about $300 a month for tuition in a Catholic
school. In Asuchillo, with $400 a child can study for the whole year with
transportation and food included,” she said
She hopes that by January the group can finance the education of 5 to
10 students and that this number will increase with time. “We have
a group of volunteers and nuns who are going to guarantee us that the
children receive a suitable Catholic education,” Matarresse said.
During his visit, Father Adonay attended several City Council meetings
in Alameda because the council members approved an ordinance to give Asuchillo
“Friendship City” with Alameda.
According to Matarresse, this means more support for Asuchillo and the
opening for a cultural interchange, but she clarified that the city will
not designate public funds for that community.
Those who will continue working to collect money are the parishioners
of St. Philip Neri.
If you wish to make a donation, you can send a check payable to St. Philip
Neri Church and specify that the money goes to the Asuchillo Scholarship
Fund. These donations are tax-deductible.
