Region of México
The story of México, the newest mission of the United States Province, begins with Father Frederick Schmidt, who after 37 years of ministry in Texas, came to the rural village of Ahuacatlán, San Luis Potosí, in 1972. Fifteen years later, in 1987, Father Jack Keefe was asked by the Southern Province to be pastor of a large urban parish in the Archdiocese of Monterrey. Under his leadership, the parish of Santo Tomás Moro flourished and in 1996 was divided by the Archdiocese. Holy Cross assumed the poorer half, which became Parroquia Nuestra Madre Santísima de La Luz, and Father Peter Logsdon was named Pastor. Today La Luz continues to be the center of Holy Cross in México, even as the Holy Cross mission expanded in 2010 with the acceptance of a second parish, Parroquia San José, in Central México.
During the beginning stages of the mission, Father Daniel Panchot arrived from Peru in 1992. He opened the formation house, Casa de Formación, and established Holy Cross Family Ministries in the country. Three ordained Mexican priests of the Congregation – Fathers Marín, Paulino, and Alfredo – are fruits of his labor. Also, the principal formators, Father Len Collins and now Father Tom Zurcher, have worked hard to continue this good work.
Though some of the old guard are taking leave and younger men are stepping forward, the vision of serving the poor through parish work, educational initiatives and missions continues strongly. This vision shines brightly and gives us our distinct identity as Holy Cross in México.
