During the next several days, I will travel with our Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Henry Fortier, several teachers and principals and a contingent of young adults to the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana in support of our sponsored schools in the mountains. In solidarity for this visit, we feature “Mission 2008: Service to San Juan de la Maguana.” 

Produced by One Shoe Productions, this DVD highlights footage from various building, medical, dental and educational mission trips. In the “Construction Mission” segment, we witness members of our diocese working alongside members of our sister diocese in the Dominican Republic. While we watch video and still photography, we read faith-filled testimonies about transformed hearts and improved life chances. A woman poignantly sings the English and Spanish lyrics of “We Are the Body of Christ” to the accompaniment of a single guitar. The Medical Mission segment opens with the tight beam of an ophthalmic scope encompassing the right eye of a young boy. We read: “The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both” and we listen to the prayerful lyrics of “Purify My Heart.”

This 15 minute DVD places us in the reign of God. Patrons may request the “Mission Office, Diocese of Orlando, Memory Book 2008” while ordering the DVD. From the “Yoga, Dance & Educational Mission” to “Surgical Mission II”, the Memory Book features photographs, stories, poems and letters. Order this DVD from the Media Resource Center at https://2022.orlandodiocese.org/en/ministriesoffices/media-center, or call Dan Hardester or Diane Gallagher@ 407-246-4895 (or 4897).

(Dan Hardester serves as Secretary of the Evangelization Secretariat and Director of the Media Center.)