50th Anniversary Reunion and Celebration
in Celaya and Apaseo
At the end of July 2013 more than 30 Amigos traveled to Celaya and Apaseo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Amigos' project. After arriving at Mexico City on Thursday, many of the group met in Queretaro and explored the sites of that beautiful and well preserved, colonial city.
On Friday evening, the celebration began with a "cena de bienvenidos" (welcoming dinner) at the Hotel Mary in Celaya. The group was joined by several Amigos' couples who live in Mexico: Monica and Rene Castaneda, Kay and Dr. Florencio Cabrera, Dan and Julia Early, Antonio and Patricia Andrew de Andrade, and John and Martha Whelan (John was in the Boston U. Amigos group which went to Mexico in '69).
Photos of the Friday dinner can be seen in the tab labeled, "Photos Bienvenidos".
On Saturday the Amigos hosted a fiesta/comida at an outdoor restaurant in Apaseo, attended by the current Amigos' scholarship students and several graduates of the Program.
Special guests of honor included: Ignacio and Coletta Estrella with two of their sons, the director of the Scholarship Program, Rosalia Cabrera, accompanied by several family members, Lupita Frias, Angela L, Rosa M, Salvador and Phyllis Guerra, Salvador and Lety Arellano, Dr. Florencio and Kay Cabrera, and the Martinez and Torres families.
During his talk at the comida, Dr. Florencio said the following:
"Fr. Joe (O'Looney) had a vision of a project to open the eyes of young people like yourselves to counteract the materialism which the United States represented (and still does). You came to Mexico and you realized that the world was not only the United States. You came to live with the poor and with many people willing to work to improve conditions here. You came to learn in the flesh the message of the gospel, 'that man does not live by bread alone', and you left us, besides material projects, a message of love, that love that was served with affection, tenderness and passion. You returned to the United States and took with you evidence that materal things are not the way to happiness. You continued working with the poor and needy in your own country and you saw that in the simplicity of living Christ's message, you found hapiness."
Photos of the fiesta/comida can be seen in the tab labeled, "Photos Fiesta".
Sunday began with Mass at the chapel in La Villita celebrated by Fr. Jeronimo, Rosalia's brother and a dedicated supporter of Amigos since the earliest days. Mass was followed by a visit to the large government run school that took the place of the small school the women on the first project in Apaseo started in 1963. Several graduates of the original school were on hand to visit with the Amigos. La Villita is known to many Amigos as the location of the infamous "hydraulic project" - (see Dan Onorato's story , "Water for La Villita" under the "Our Stories" page in this website).
The Amigos then gathered at the Cabrera family home, and were joined by the scholarship students and several alumni of the Program. The graduates spoke about their gratitude for the help they received from the Scholarship Program, and about their careers and family. The current scholarship students then individually spoke about ther studies, thier academic aspirations and their heartfelt thanks for the assistance given them by the Program. As one of the Amigos said after hearing the students, "I'm not sure who has benefited from the Scholarship Program more: the students or those of us who experienced their profound gratitude for the support we have all provided. I only wish you had experienced it for yourself".
Another hightlight of the gathering with the students was the presentation to Rosalia, of a clock with an inscription, a ceramic tile depicting St. Francis, and a book on the Life of St. Francis, by Leonardo Beouff. A translation of the inscription on the clock reads:
To the Professor and our Friend
Rosalia Cabrera Munoz Ledo de Tapia
with enormous and warmest gratitude
for her outstanding service and commitment.
present and over the course of many years,
with the scholarship students of the
Fr. Joseph O'Looney Memorial Scholarship Program
fullfilling her duties as an outstanding colaborator and director.
Presented by the Amigos Anonymous
Apaseo el Grande, GTO. 28 July 2013
Photos from this day with the scholarship students can be seen on this website at the tab,"Photos Students Day"
Following these three memorable and heartwarming days with old friends, mentors, young students, and young professionals helped by the Scholarship Program, many of the Amigos traveled to nearby San Miguel de Allende, visiting a newly discovered pre-columban settlement, and later went on to spend a day or two in Guanajuato. The group, guided by Jack and Donna Walton, wrapped up the trip by exploring Mexico City for a couple of days.
in Celaya and Apaseo
At the end of July 2013 more than 30 Amigos traveled to Celaya and Apaseo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Amigos' project. After arriving at Mexico City on Thursday, many of the group met in Queretaro and explored the sites of that beautiful and well preserved, colonial city.
On Friday evening, the celebration began with a "cena de bienvenidos" (welcoming dinner) at the Hotel Mary in Celaya. The group was joined by several Amigos' couples who live in Mexico: Monica and Rene Castaneda, Kay and Dr. Florencio Cabrera, Dan and Julia Early, Antonio and Patricia Andrew de Andrade, and John and Martha Whelan (John was in the Boston U. Amigos group which went to Mexico in '69).
Photos of the Friday dinner can be seen in the tab labeled, "Photos Bienvenidos".
On Saturday the Amigos hosted a fiesta/comida at an outdoor restaurant in Apaseo, attended by the current Amigos' scholarship students and several graduates of the Program.
Special guests of honor included: Ignacio and Coletta Estrella with two of their sons, the director of the Scholarship Program, Rosalia Cabrera, accompanied by several family members, Lupita Frias, Angela L, Rosa M, Salvador and Phyllis Guerra, Salvador and Lety Arellano, Dr. Florencio and Kay Cabrera, and the Martinez and Torres families.
During his talk at the comida, Dr. Florencio said the following:
"Fr. Joe (O'Looney) had a vision of a project to open the eyes of young people like yourselves to counteract the materialism which the United States represented (and still does). You came to Mexico and you realized that the world was not only the United States. You came to live with the poor and with many people willing to work to improve conditions here. You came to learn in the flesh the message of the gospel, 'that man does not live by bread alone', and you left us, besides material projects, a message of love, that love that was served with affection, tenderness and passion. You returned to the United States and took with you evidence that materal things are not the way to happiness. You continued working with the poor and needy in your own country and you saw that in the simplicity of living Christ's message, you found hapiness."
Photos of the fiesta/comida can be seen in the tab labeled, "Photos Fiesta".
Sunday began with Mass at the chapel in La Villita celebrated by Fr. Jeronimo, Rosalia's brother and a dedicated supporter of Amigos since the earliest days. Mass was followed by a visit to the large government run school that took the place of the small school the women on the first project in Apaseo started in 1963. Several graduates of the original school were on hand to visit with the Amigos. La Villita is known to many Amigos as the location of the infamous "hydraulic project" - (see Dan Onorato's story , "Water for La Villita" under the "Our Stories" page in this website).
The Amigos then gathered at the Cabrera family home, and were joined by the scholarship students and several alumni of the Program. The graduates spoke about their gratitude for the help they received from the Scholarship Program, and about their careers and family. The current scholarship students then individually spoke about ther studies, thier academic aspirations and their heartfelt thanks for the assistance given them by the Program. As one of the Amigos said after hearing the students, "I'm not sure who has benefited from the Scholarship Program more: the students or those of us who experienced their profound gratitude for the support we have all provided. I only wish you had experienced it for yourself".
Another hightlight of the gathering with the students was the presentation to Rosalia, of a clock with an inscription, a ceramic tile depicting St. Francis, and a book on the Life of St. Francis, by Leonardo Beouff. A translation of the inscription on the clock reads:
To the Professor and our Friend
Rosalia Cabrera Munoz Ledo de Tapia
with enormous and warmest gratitude
for her outstanding service and commitment.
present and over the course of many years,
with the scholarship students of the
Fr. Joseph O'Looney Memorial Scholarship Program
fullfilling her duties as an outstanding colaborator and director.
Presented by the Amigos Anonymous
Apaseo el Grande, GTO. 28 July 2013
Photos from this day with the scholarship students can be seen on this website at the tab,"Photos Students Day"
Following these three memorable and heartwarming days with old friends, mentors, young students, and young professionals helped by the Scholarship Program, many of the Amigos traveled to nearby San Miguel de Allende, visiting a newly discovered pre-columban settlement, and later went on to spend a day or two in Guanajuato. The group, guided by Jack and Donna Walton, wrapped up the trip by exploring Mexico City for a couple of days.