A fresh new year in the Pio House! The year got off to a great start with a vigil Mass on the 31st ending in just enough time for us to get back up to the house to watch the sky light up with New Year’s fireworks at midnight from our porch. We finished the night off with some karaoke and some tamales which are a staple in Central America around Christmas and New year's. We woke up to some more somber news as the bishop of all of Belize, bishop Lawrence, passed away the morning of January 1st. He had been battling cancer for quite some time so although it was sad to say goodbye, it was reliving to see him no longer suffering. The funeral was a beautiful celebration of life attended by many from all over Belize and surrounding countries. Bishop Lawrence was extremely proud of the mixture of cultures in Belize so the funeral was said in four languages common down here; Spanish, English, Garifuna, and Mayan. It was great to see the country come together for the love of the late bishop and the Catholic Church.
The new semester for our students in the Pio House brought along a new house member, Ricardo! Ricardo is A JPII student from Detroit who is returning to Belize to finish his final semester at the junior college. He has been a spark to the house and we’re happy to have him! Fr. David Brokke also came down from Detroit to visit for a week. Fr. David is the vocations director for SOLT and it was great to see him meet with several students from the high school, junior college, and guys from the house about finding their ways to move towards their future vocations. Fr. Beau and Fr. David both came up to the house for one of our family dinner nights and Fr. Beau brought the Movie “Sound of Freedom” for us to watch together. If you haven’t seen it, it’s an amazing movie; very heavy and eye opening but led to many great discussions. We also were gifted with a visit from the Subiaco House which is a house for JPII female students ran by the SOLT mission. They came to our house and cooked us a phenomenal meal and spent time in great conversation and community. The guys are excited to practice their cooking and repay the favor sometime soon.
Benque legends Anna and Andrew Meluch came down this month as well! These two served a combined eight years down here in Benque at JPII junior college. They did so much, not only for JPII but for the Benque community as a whole. They got married this past October but since many of their friends down here could not attend, they came down to have a celebration of marriage with them. It was great to see their former students and many Belizean friends get to join in the beauty of their marriage. Anna Meluch started a house for JPII female students which was a huge inspiration to the Pio House, so I accredit a lot of the Pio House dream to her. It was an honor to get to host Anna and Andrew in our house for a Belizean black soup dinner.
It’s been a great start to the new year and I’m excited to see what other blessings, challenges, and joys the Lord brings our way this year. Thank you again for following this journey and I pray that the y’all have had a blessed start to the year and receive many more throughout. “Pray, hope, and don’t worry!” - St. Padre Pio, pray for us!
The Pio House 2024
From left to right: Nigel, Ricardo, Charlie, Marvin, and Andre
Some of the many tamales I was given during the season. Still need to rank them, take your pick based on presentation and perceived taste
Priests from all over the country gather for Bishop Lawrence's funeral
The newest Pio House member, Ricardo
Marvin and Fr. David in Eucharistic adoration
Subiaco House cookin' up some dinner
Anna and Andrew Meluch's marriage celebration at the beautiful JPII campus
Been hooked on these lil cookies known down here as "hard times." This naming is quite fitting for how this mission has been. There have been several challenges and hard times that have come along with it but through it all there is nourishment and sweetness, like in these moments I get to share with you. I hope you all have a blessed year and are able to find the sweetness in the hard times.
Comments