OPjourneyMexico december 1

December 1 nine travelors arrived from  the US  arrived in Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico for their Journey of Solidarity as Dominicans recognizing the 500 years of Dominican preaching in the Americas.
Those on the journey are from Sinsinawa, Pam Mitchell, Jeri Cashman, Robi Huddleston, Liz Sully, Miriam Brown, Candy Krepel an associate and Paul Krepel her husband, Giulii Zobelein OP from Mission San Jose, CA and Joy Peterson PBVM, Sinsinawa Promoter of Justice and Peace. Kathy Long OP Sinsinawa, Renessa Tang Pack, a Dominican Volunteer International and Aline Ussel OP, Rosa Perez OP from Incarnate Word Dominicans in Mexico welcomed the group along with  the CCIDD staff of 15.

On Friday, December 2 the group experienced a deep immersion in the reality of Mexico. El Pregon young adults engaged the group in a profound presentation giving a panorama of the pain and oppression in Mexican society.  Impunity, electoral fraud, corruption are trying to destroy the Mexican society and turn youth away from any possibility for a future of hope. Young men are kidnapped and forced to turn against their conscience and their families to kill and perform acts of violence against others. Fear is instilled in many throughout the country by organized crime groups like the Zetas who were trained in the USA as well as drug cartel groups. However there is resistance; there are many who are working in community organizations to name the victims of violence and stand with their families and loved ones as an act of courage and resistance. These young activists shared from their hearts the struggles in which they are engaged to provide a Mexico with a new direction.

Later in the afternoon the Journey in Solidarity group met and dialogued with a group of folks in a human rights organization in Cuernavaca. We shared back and forth in the World Cafe format at five distinct table conversations. Our focus was to express the significance of the preaching of Antonio Montesinos and former Cuernavaca Bishop don Sergio Mendez Arceo as mentors for us today. The conversion of Bartolome de las Casas and his ensuing work in the Americas especially in Chiapas, Mexico with his long years of defense of the rights of the Indigenous was a key question at the second round for the solidarity Cafe. Those who are in the struggle, the suffering ones are the current profetic voices before us today.

Our evening closed with shared comments on what solidarity means for us. It calls us to be with those who suffer, not to leave people alone, to engage with others in the struggles for justice.

On a lighter note the group enjoyed the sunshine and warmer weather here, met the CCIDD staff, and enjoyed the Mexican menus. We imagined with John Lennon's singing what the world can be. it is good to be here.

Keep us in your prayers as we journey as neighbors, Mexicans and Americans, Domincan sisters and brothers across borders.
In solidarity,
kathy long for the group