THE PROBLEM
For years Family Missions Company has had full time missionaries in General Cepeda and has been leading short term mission trips down there. Each year the missionaries see a similar problem, a culture and a faith that is lacking men of God and a serious problem of alcoholism and prostitution. This lack of men of God is trickling down upon generation after generation. Young men not living out their faith, not having a role model, often means men not hearing the call to the priesthood. Lack of priests means lack of the sacraments, which means lack of the Church. This year our missionaries there are trying something new.
THE SOLUTION
In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 9 we see a story where the disciples were unable to heal a young boy. Jesus comes and heals the boy, upon which His disciples reply, “Why could we not cast it out?” and Jesus responds, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” It has been our experience that the men of General Cepeda, Mexico have built up strong walls around their hearts, have bought into lies that religion is only for women and have fallen prey to alcoholism and prostitution. It’s time for the walls to come down and we need your help!
THE INVITATION
We are inviting friends, families and anyone who has ever been on mission to General Cepeda to join our missionaries in a week of prayer and fasting beginning March 12th and ending on March 19th, the Feast of St. Joseph. The intention is strictly directed at the men of General Cepeda and the surrounding ranchos; that the walls of pride and addiction would come crumbling down and their hearts would be open to the love and mercy of Jesus and the fullness of life he brings.
“Filled with this certainty, and moved by profound concern for the destiny of every man and woman, I repeat what I said to those families who carry out their challenging mission amid so many difficulties: a great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer. Jesus himself has shown us by his own example that prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil (cf. Mt 4:1-11). As he taught his disciples, some demons cannot be driven out except in this way (cf. Mk 9:29). Let us therefore discover anew the humility and the courage to pray and fast so that power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit: the walls which conceal from the sight of so many of our brothers and sisters the evil of practices and laws which are hostile to life. May this same power turn their hearts to resolutions and goals inspired by the civilization of life and love.” Blessed Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae