Article by lauren gerughty

Tijuana Ministry The Connections We Make

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athy Fanger is an instrumental member of the Tijuana Ministries. As leader of the Mother’s Program, she strives to bring comfort and community to a phenomenal group of women

photo from internet

in the harsh circumstances of extreme poverty. Her warmth and positive attitude are contagious. It comes with the territory of poverty that those impoverished will be burdened, but five years ago she came across the someone she remembers as “the saddest faced person I have ever seen in my life” (Fanger). She went to all lengths to show her as much kindness as possible, hoping that it would help alleviate the overwhelming sadness. Throughout the week there was no change in her demeanor; then, on

the very last day, as she was walking away with her mother, Fanger remembered how she “wanted to especially run after her and hug her and give her some sense of love and affirmation... When [she] did, she turned around for the first time and smiled” (Fanger). She doesn’t know what happened to this woman to cause such sadness, but just being able to give her that moment of happiness and many more in the following years is enough for Fanger. This is why she keeps going back, to bring joy to

the people who need it the friendships and spiritual mersion, and commitment most. growth by reaching across to promote human dignity” borders to bring God’s peo- (“Tijuana Ministry”). These central goals form he Tijuana Ministry is an ple together. By putthe foundaimmersion program that ting our faith travels to Tijuana, Mexico into action, tion of lasting every year to build houses we build “I talked too r e l aand community in one of the l a s t i n g much.

And I volunteer too most impoverished areas in and vimuch, you know it just in many North America. People take b r a n t a week out of their summer c o m ways is a ministry that meant a and go to Tijuana and fully m u n i lot to me a I’ve developed a real tionimmerse themselves in the ties in passion for it ” ships culture and lifestyle in order c ol l a b o among to achieve personal growth ration with volunteers and help those who are less San Eugenio as well as the lofortunate. Mexican immigra- Parish in Tijuana. tion to the United States has We provide opportunities cals in Tijuana. Critics often education, say that short term mission doubled in the last 20 years, f o r i m - trips are not worth the effort; and because of its close locaTijuana ministries works to tion to the border, Tijuana oppose those opinions by has become a “transition leaving a lasting positive imcity” for many families pact on everyone involved. looking to immigrate to the United States. The leven years ago, parisharea’s extreme poverty leads to poor living ioners at Saint Julie’s deconditions and a lack of cided they want to make a lasting relationships with difference, help our brothers anyone other than family. and sisters across the borders.

This marked the beginning of Their mission statement the Tijuana Ministries. Since addresses these needs: “We the the program expanded more volunteers have foster been able to build more houses a n d

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help more families. The mother’s and children’s program become more popular every year, and a teen’s program was added three years ago. Last year, five houses were built over the span of a week.

This year, there will be two trips, the first focused solely on construction. Locally, the program spans across numerous parishes throughout the Diocese of San Jose. With the goal of spread across the whole diocese, the ministry has moved administration to a new nonprofit called BASICS, or Brothers and Sisters In Community Service.

This will allow the program to expand to new parishes and people, inspiring overall growth in the ministry.

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ob Malone never thought he would have time for a mission trip. Then a little more than ten years ago a friend told him “one of the parishes St. Julie’s had a mission trip, immersion trip to Tijuana where they build houses” (Malone). It was something he wanted to do, but didn’t think he could take a week off of work, of life.

After going to some meetings he was completely convinced that he just did not have time.

He had decided that he was not going to be able to go; but his daughter, Katie, really wanted to go, and she convinced him. It started as an

opportunity to spend at least one uninterrupted week with his daughter. Since then he has become one of the core leaders, specifically in the spiritual and construction aspects of the program. Malone says this rise in ranks came because “I talked too much.

And I volunteer too much, you know it just in many ways is a ministry that meant a lot to me a I’ve developed a real passion for it” (Malone), and Fanger explains how he “has visions of reaching out beyond” (Fanger). This quality allows him to thrive in this ministry.

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he separation from life for a week, part of the reason he didn’t believe he was going to be able to go is a really important piece of the experience. Malone notes, “we try to do it without cellphones and electronics so that you’re really forced to be present to the people on the trip and the people who are there with, the people who live in Tijuana” (Malone).

This speaks to the central goal of community building, building strong relationships with people no matter your differences. The Tijuana Ministry is special because “we completely immerse ourselves in the people of Tijuana’s way of life and I think that really important because we don’t let the things that

surround us that encumber us in our everyday lives as far as forming relationships get in our way down there” (Malone). Empowering relationships are formed, without any distractions.

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alone credits the people of Tijuana as “Some of the most incredible people I look up to” (Malone). He specifically remembers Berta, a woman who had a house built for her and her family many years ago. She was a single mother. Married twice, she made both men leave after she saw how they were abusive to her children. In Mexican culture it is unheard of a woman to do something like that, which is an amazing testimony to her personal strength. He recounts the memory of building her house: “I remember we had to dig a sewer line, to hook the house up so we left and we said okay the next morning we’re going to hook the sewer line, we have to dig this trench, but we came the next morning, Berta had dug the trench for us you know that night” (Malone). She took this chance to show how seriously she took the opportunity and how hard she is willing to work for something she wants. Malone describes her perfectly when he says, “she is just an example of an incredibly dedicated parent 3

who would do anything for her children and her life exemplifies that just increabile concern and you know she in turn inspires us to be better parents and better people, and so you know I just look up to her so much because thought all her adversity she is just such an incredible positive role model for her children and for us” (Malone). Fanger touches on the importance of a strong mother figure in a home. She reminds us how a mother “is just an example of an incredibly dedicated parent who would do anything for her children and

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in the community every day and be inspired by their relationships with their children and each other.

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her life exemplifies that just increabile concern and you know she in turn inspires us to be better parents and better people, and so you know I just look up to her so much because thought all her adversity she is just such an incredible positive role model for her children and for us” (Malone).

Because of her w o r k with the mother’s program she is able to witness the amazing mothers

or the first time, this summer Tijuana ministries will be going down to Tijuana, Mexico for two weeks. The first week, in late June, will be completely focused on construction. They plan to work with a similar program called Corazon, known for their ability to build a whole house in one day. By working with them, Tijuana Ministries hopes to learn new techniques that will allow them to build faster and help more families. Week two will be in mid-July and it will be the usual children’s, teen’s, and mother’s programs in addition to the construction.

In total there will be seven houses built. With their recent shift to BASICS, the core team hopes to continue to expand the ministry and help more people – not only across the border, but locally as well.

Works Cited “Tijuana Ministry.� St. Julie Billiart Parish. St. Julie Billiart Parish. 2011.

Web. 24 April 2016.

Fanger, Kathy. Personal Interview. 2 April 2016 Malone, Bob. Personal Interview. 31 March 2016

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