Diana Tracy, a medical student at UC Davis, changes a wound dressing of a man who came to the makeshift clinic. Jeffrey Lowy Photo

By Voice staff

Families at the Parroquia de Santa Maria de Guadalupe in Mexicali, Mexico, had a double reason to celebrate this past December on the feast of their patron saint. Nine volunteers from the Holy Rosary International Medical Mission group in Antioch paid them a five-day visit, bearing 40 boxes of medical supplies, educational materials and toys, as well as the services of medical personnel.

Founded by Holy Rosary’s parochial vicar, Dominican Father Francis Le, and a group of parishioners several years ago, the Medical Mission is a nonprofit outreach which delivers free medical care and services to the poor and sick in impoverished countries. The Mission made two trips to Vietnam in May of 2006 and 2007. Mexicali was their first venture into Mexico.

The group of volunteers was headed by founding members Dr. Randolph Clarke, an Antioch physician, and his wife, Kathleen, a nurse. Both are parishioners at Holy Rosary. Other volunteers included a U.C. Davis medical student, a surgical technician, and several fluent Spanish speakers. All volunteers paid their own travel expenses.

Karen Kelly talks with two girls who received school supplies from the volunteers. Jeffrey Lowy Photo

The Clarkes raised $5,000 in community donations prior to their trip to help purchase supplies. They worked 12-hour days in a makeshift medical clinic set up in a vacant room at the church.

Kathleen Clarke said the trip had “a lot of overwhelming minutes, especially with the kids. Everyone left Mexicali as changed persons. I heard time and time again, ‘This is what it is like to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and be with the poorest of the poor.’”

Clarke said the Mexico team plans to return in May. She is currently looking for volunteer physicians. For further information contact her at (925)-755-0139.

Patients wait for treatment in a room in the parish church that had been converted into the clinic. Jeffrey Lowy Photo

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