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| Children color booklets used for teaching by volunteers with the Latin American Mission Program (LAMP) in Mexico. (Contributed photo) |
MADISON — It has been 50 years since the first volunteers went to Mexico with the Latin American Mission Program (LAMP).
To mark this anniversary, there will be a Mass at 12 noon celebrated by Bishop Robert C. Morlino on Sunday, April 6, at the Bishop O’Connor Center, 702 S. High Point Rd.
A catered dinner will follow the Mass at the Bishop O’Connor Center. All past LAMP volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend the anniversary celebration.
Organized in 1964
Midwest LAMP was organized in 1964 in response to an apostolic exhortation of Pope John XXIII.
On June 22, 1964, 45 pilgrims left Madison on the first LAMP pilgrimage. Their aims were: to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City and to take an active part in missionary work in Latin America.
The group was headed by Bishop Jerome J. Hastrich, then auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Madison. He contacted Bishop Estanislao Alcaráz of Matamoros,Tamaulipas, just across the border from Brownsville, Texas.
LAMP was also invited to work in the Diocese of Ciudad Victoria by Bishop Tirado Pedrazá.
This was the beginning of almost 50 years of volunteer missions to Mexico to teach religion, provide health care missions, and donate Rosaries, clothing, and medicines.
‘Short term’ program
The first group of pilgrims returned to Madison to establish a “short term” missionary program to help the Church in Latin America during summer vacations.
Spanish classes were initiated in several cities in the Diocese of Madison. People of all ages and interests began to educate themselves in the Mexican culture and language.
Fiestas and dinners were held to promote interest and raise money. People began to gather clothing and medicines to help the poor people of Mexico.
Casa de San Martin
A temporary headquarters for LAMP was rented in Matamoros. This was the “Casa de San Martin.”
Two volunteers remained there to conduct classes, distribute clothing and medicines, and establish rapport with the Mexican people.
The following summer, the first “vacation” program was held. Groups of missionaries went to Mexico for two, four, or six weeks to work with the Mexican people in Matamoros and Ciudad Victoria.
They also went into the outlying areas, as well as the distant mountain villages, such as Palmillas and Bustamante, where living conditions were primitive.
Priests, Sisters, Brothers, seminarians, teachers, nurses, students, cooks, and physical workers — all did what they could to help their Mexican neighbors spiritually and physically.
The mission teams were under the guidance of LAMP President, Msgr. George Hastrich.
Home missionaries
Many home missionaries also contributed with Rosaries, religious articles, clothing, medicines, and funds to help with the mission work.
In the beginning years, many volunteers also helped by clipping coupons that were redeemed for items and funds that helped support the missions.
LAMP classes were held to teach the Mexican culture and to teach Spanish to the new volunteers.
LAMP training classes originally were held at the Chancery Office on Wilson St. in Madison and then eventually moved to the St. Martin House, which eventually became the Catholic Multicultural Center.
More than 1,300 volunteers
In 1967 health team work was begun in the poorer areas of Ciudad Victoria by student nurses from St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison.
Since that time in 1964 to the present date, LAMP has sent more than 1,300 volunteers to Mexico. They have worked in 130 mission areas. Many persons have been instructed in the faith and many sacraments have been administered.
Due to the dangerous conditions in Mexico, LAMP is no longer sending mission teams. LAMP is continuing to send donations and Rosaries to the Matamoros Diocese for the seminarians, priests, and other groups.
Anniversary celebration
If you would like to share your photos and memorabilia of your mission work with LAMP in Mexico and visit with fellow LAMP volunteers, you are invited to come to the 50th Anniversary Celebration. You can also send a report of your memories and they will be shared with others.
Reservations for the catered dinner are due by March 29. Contact one of the following.
• Mary Schaller, 303 Edward St., Verona, WI 53593; 608-845-7028; [email protected]
• Pat Crabtree, 230 Ellendale Rd. #233, Edgerton, WI 53534; 608-295-8744; [email protected]
• Pat (Finnegan) Ishizaki, Madison; 608-221-0528; [email protected]
Mary Schaller has served as executive secretary of the Latin American Mission Program (LAMP) and has been a LAMP volunteer in Mexico.