As he wrapped up his last full day in El Salvador on Feb. 16, Bishop Edward Malesic traveled to Teotepeque to visit San Pedro Apostol Parroquia (St. Peter the Apostle Parish), another faith community served by the Cleveland Latin American Mission Team. Father John Ostrowski serves as pastor. (See photo gallery above.)
The bishop enjoyed lunch with some parishioners and staff before celebrating a livestreamed Mass. Click here for a link to the parish Facebook page, a recording of the Mass and more photos.
Three Franciscan Sisters, all from El Salvador, serve in the parish at Teotepeque. The bishop chatted with them to learn more about their ministry.
Bishop Malesic blessed a house in Teotepeque that was built with funds provided by Operation Rescue, a nonprofit based in Amherst.
Operation Rescue, founded in 2014, is committed to assisting the impoverished people in El Salvador. It works to raise living conditions to basic humanitarian standards, provide shelter from the elements and it offers employment opportunities that will lead to an independent and sustainable lifestyle. Many shelters used by Salvadorans have no running water, dirt or mud floors and no solid walls or roof, according to Operation Rescue. The organization set a goal of building 100 homes in El Salvador.
The house blessed by the bishop belongs to Elizabeth and Lorenzo, who live there with their four children.
The bishop also got a look at a new church that is being constructed in the town of Mizata. Mizata is the second large city and parish, named Nuestra Senora de Candelaria, that is served by Father Ostrowski, who also served the parish in Teotepeque. Construction on the new church began a year ago and progress continues at a slow, but steady pace.
After another busy day, the bishop enjoyed dinner with Father Steve Vellenga, director of the diocesan Mission Office and pastor of St. Mary Parish in Painesville who served as his travel guide, Father Paul Schindler and Father Ostrowski, diocesan priests serving with the Cleveland Latin American Mission Team in El Salvador.