
	Pastor's Desk
	Parish Information
	Mass Schedules Direction
	Bulletins
	Homilies
	Baptismal Preparation
	Marriage Preparation
	Parish Registration
	Parish Council
	Parish Commissions
	Becoming Catholic
	Special Links
	Contact Us

Working Boys Center

Family Unity International, Inc.
"A FAMILY OF FAMILIES"

The Working Boys Center just celebrated 40 years of transforming over 5000 families. These families were committed to helping each other meet the tough obligations involved in achieving success in poverty-stricken Ecuador. WBC has programs in career orientation, job education and job placement, small business preparation and loan management, savings accounts and family budgeting. Facilities at WBC include: day care, kindergarten, grammar school, 3-year technical school, and adult literacy at three locations. Three good meals daily plus medical and dental attention motivate participants in the change from being a poor people to be agents of prosperity.

Letters from Past Visits:

Connectedness Felt While Visiting The Working Boys' Center

by Marlene Cory

Of all of the memorable moments and experiences during my recent trip to the Working Boys' Center in Quito, the one that made the biggest impression on me, and which will remain in my heart forever, was the experience of participating in Mass each day with the Ecuadorian children, their families, the workers and the volunteers at the Center. The children's singing was astonishingly beautiful and full of spirit! In spite of the extreme poverty in which they live, the people were full of joy and reverence at Mass. I felt blessed to share the sign of peace and the Eucharist with them. I was overwhelmed with the thought that, here I was at the equator, sharing the same bread that my family and friends at St. James were receiving at home. This feeling of connectedness is what is meant by the motto of the Center, "Una Familia de Familias" ("One Family of Families”)

Hair Curiosity In Ecuador

by Muriel Pelant

Long time parishioner Muriel Pelant was among the St. James' group that visited the Working Boys' Center early last month, and she passes along this insight:"There were many exciting moments in our visit to the Working Boys' Center last month, but the best part for me was meeting the many friendly eager children! They ran eagerly to shake my hand, and greeted me with huge grins and twinkling eyes – eyes that almost immediately traveled to my short white hair! It took me some time to understand their curiosity. It seems that Ecuadorian grannies are to be envied, because they seemed blessed with coal black hair from birth to beyond God's calling!”

On Saturday, November 8th, our group went by bus to Otavalo, a town 1 1/2 hours north of Quito . Even before I left the United States I had heard of the famous Indian Market there, that draws busloads of tourists on Saturdays, the biggest market day. The ride took us up and down curvy Andean roads. Some areas had sparse vegetation while others were lush and green. We drove by many greenhouses where different kinds of flowers are grown for export, especially roses. Ecuador exports one million cut flowers a day, the second most important industry after bananas. At a rest stop where we sampled freshly baked pastries, we witnessed a farmer ploughing his field with two oxen. When we arrived at Otavalo, the sun had come out and warmed the air. At first we were overwhelmed by the many stalls selling Ecuadorean crafts. The vendors, especially the women, wore their native costumes. The displays of colorful shawls, bags, blankets and knitwears were neatly arranged. As we were strolling through the market, we saw a tiny woman carrying a big linen bag out of which she pulled a live chicken that she tried to sell to one of the shopkeepers. When the sale did not materialize, she just stuck it back into the bag. We wondered what else might be in there. On our walk back to the bus, an Ecuadorean music group was playing tunes from the Andes , rounding out a most beautiful day that left many good memories.

Marita Madden