SAN ANTONIO • Since 1987, VIDES West USA has provided service opportunities worldwide for volunteers by promoting education, social justice, solidarity and generosity in giving of themselves to help other young people and women, especially in developing countries.
    To mark two decades of service, as well as to commission a new group of volunteers headed across the globe, a Mass was held Aug. 4 in the chapel of the residence of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters).
    Celebrant at the liturgy was Auxiliary Bishop Patrick J. Zurek. In his homily, the bishop reviewed the recent meeting of Latin American bishops in Brazil. He said a side issue that arose at the event was an idea to develop a continental mission for Latin America.

    According to Bishop Zurek, at a gathering of Texas-Mexico border bishops one month ago, the bishop of Nuevo Laredo suggested, “Why should the idea be limited to Latin America?” The ordinary then urged the bishops of Canada and the United States to petition to be involved in the effort.
    “The sisters sponsoring VIDES get the idea of a continental mission,” said the auxiliary bishop. “Mission groups are going to other countries, young people are going out to continue the work of Jesus Christ.”

    In “The Church in America,” Pope John Paul II called for groups such as this, Bishop Zurek explained, adding, “We could use groups like this in our city.”
    He continued, “So much we prize in this life is for vanity. The Lord doesn’t expect us to be impoverished. He expects those who have more to give to those who have less.”

    The bishop cited an extraordinary example of generosity in recalling that the impoverished Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, which twins with the Archdiocese of San Antonio, gave $12,000 to relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina, just six years after that country itself was devastated by Hurricane Mitch.
    “Take the generosity of your time and give of it to bring the Gospel message of what we do to others. It’s an extraordinary event,” stressed Bishop Zurek. “It is exactly what ‘The Church in America’ calls us to do. The good news is for all the people of God. It is the richness we strive for.”

    The bishop quoted St. Paul, who said, “In baptism, we put to death the things that are earthly.” He added, “In baptism we are putting on Jesus, and putting on a new mindset.”

    Bishop Zurek concluded by saying, “I applaud the sisters for having that vision. This is a tremendous program going on in tremendous ways. A conversion is already there. The lesson here is for us to do the same with our families, where we work and where we recreate. Jesus has to be part of our life, part of our dialogue and part of our actions.

    Prior to the conclusion of the Mass, Sister Gloria Mar, FMA, director of VIDES West USA, presented gifts to supporters and benefactors of the program, as well as handing out “passports” to the volunteers headed to mission projects.