From September 20 through 27th, we will be having a visitor from our Sister Parish, Parroquia Santiago!

Meet Genesis Guadalupe Tapia Lumbi (first name pronounced Heh-neh-sees).

Genesis will be at all the Masses during the weekend of September 24th. Be sure to say hello!

Below you will find responses from our interview with her so that you can get to know here:

Tell us about yourself:
My name is Genesis Guadalupe Tapia Lumbi. I was born on September 12^th in the city of Boaco, Nicaragua. I am the third and last daughter of my family. My father passed away 13 years ago but they have been a fundamental part of my life. Ever since I was a child, I helped at the church with my family because Sundays and Holy Days are for God. I am in my second year of studies for a career in business administration and I work in our family business. Working and studying is not easy, but God is good, and He has called me to it. By also serving at my parish of Santiago Apostol, I have grown a lot. I have received my sacraments there and I serve as a lector and the coordinator of liturgy.

Who is your favorite saint?
I have many – Saint Jude (San Judas Tadeo), Saint James (Santiago Apostol) among them. I have consecrated myself to Mary and my favorite is Our Lady Help of Christians. She has been the queen of my home and has been with me all my life. I am part of a small group devoted to her and she has been my helper and counselor.

What is your favorite prayer?
Prayer to Mary Helper of Christians –
Teach me, oh Mary Helper of Christians, to be kind and good in all that I do; in my disillusions, in the neglect from others, in the lack of sincerity from those whom I believed in, in the disloyalty of those whom I trusted.
Help me to forget myself so I may think of the happiness of others; to hide my small sufferings so that I may be the only one who suffers them.
Teach me to use my sufferings in a way that soften me, not harden me, or make me bitter. May they make me patient and not irritable; may they help me to give grace and not tyrannical. May no one be less kind, sincere, friendly, noble, or saintly for having been my partner in this journey towards eternal life. Amen.

What do you like to do in your free time?  
I like to go to adoration. Being able to pray fills my heart with peace and tranquility.

Who has made a big impact in your faith?
Without a doubt, my mother. She is a woman with a lot of faith and a perfect example of the power of prayer. Before I was born, my mother lost a child, and she was going to have to wait two years before she was pregnant again. However, within 3 months, she was pregnant with me. She didn’t tell anyone about it, and she traveled to Mexico to ask Our Lady of Guadalupe for a healthy child. If Our Lady honored my mom’s request, she promised to name the baby Guadalupe. And so here I am, thanks to God and her intercession!

What other information would you like to share with our parish?
I’d like to share that it is never too late to say yes to our Lord. He is always there for each and every one of us. He is our best friend and someone who we need to give all of our plans to because without his will, not even a leave on a tree would move. May we remember that everything comes in His time, not ours. May we ask Him to grant us His gifts, especially those of peace and wisdom.

This interview was conducted over email and was translated from Spanish to English by Martha Garcia-Wegener, with all reasonable efforts to provide an accurate translation.

Our Catholic church is universal. It encompasses people of many countries and cultures within its diverse unity of faith. It is easy to lose sight of this as we become focused on ourselves. We acknowledge that we can learn and grow as a parish in establishing a relationship with a Catholic parish in another culture and part of the world.

The Parish Twinning Program is part of the Social Justice Committee, which strives to call people everywhere, and of every faith, to work toward the elimination of poverty, to speak out against injustices, and to actively shape a more peaceful and just world. 

The Parish Twinning Program began in 2011 between St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Parroquia Santiago Apóstol in Boaco, Nicaragua in the Diocese of Granada. 

Since the inception, three delegations have traveled to Boaco creating strong connections of prayer, support and generosity. 

Beautiful Boaco, a city of 29,000 nestled in the central region of Nicaragua in the mountains. The community is 500 years old, there are a variety of small businesses, farming opportunities and a wide variety of rural settings existing outside of the city proper. There is significant poverty with the majority of residents residing in small huts made of wood, tin and mud. There is 60% unemployment and the average wage is $1.00 - $2.00 per day.

The center of life for the people of Boaco is their faith. Their commitment to God and their church is evident in their welcoming spirit and devoted faith practice. The church is committed to all parishioners - a Catholic school program is offered for students elementary to high school, the parishioners are separated into 18 neighborhoods that provide education and faith sharing outreach opportunities, and the church supports a nursing home for elderly members who do not have family support. There are four outlying rural communities that are a part of the parishes community.

The goal of our Parish-Twinning Program is to build a strong long-term relationship with the parish and the people. To that end we have continued to support the parish financially, we offer prayers personally and as parishes, we communicate frequently and have established traditions for sharing God's love through the miles. This program has offered parish-wide involvement. Donations for our trips have been a part of our tradition with collections at the time of travel including: toiletries, sandals, clothing both purchased and hand-sewn by our team of volunteer sewers, pillow-cases gifts made at the women’s retreat by the participants, countless items of need. The Social Justice Commission committed 12% of its annual budget to support a variety of projects. We have been able to assist Parroquia Santiago with funds to complete the following projects:
 

• A roof completion of a church in rural area called Cerro Cuape for 700+ families who were celebrating sacraments in a parishioners back-yard prior to completion of the structure
• Provided support and sweat equity at the Parish Nursing Home complete with socialization and memories with residents
• Visits to the Catholic School with donations of soccer balls, school supplies
• Funds to help build a new church to replace a chapel on top of the mountain in the community of Aguacate
• Funds to build a 4-bedroom apartment dwelling for four nuns who were on staff at San Miguel
• Funds to remodel building next to Parroquia Santiago for educational center and food pantry

Three delegations from St. Elizabeth have traveled to Boaco with a schedule of trips every other year. In the 'off years' we have hosted representatives from the Parroquia Santiago as our guests and have enjoyed showing the warmth of our St. Elizabeth community.