CICM in
Mexico
Background of the Country
Mexico, officially known as the United Mexican
States, located in the Southern portion of
North America.
The Spanish arrived in the early 16th century,
leading to the colonization of Mexico until its
independence in 1821.
Mexico is the 13th largest country in the world
by land area.
Population: 129,122,797
Land area is 1,943,950 Km2 (750,563 sq.
miles)
Background of the Country
Federal Presidential Constitutional
Republic
According to the 2020 Mexican
government census (the most
recent), approximately 78 percent
of the population identifies as
Roman Catholic
Andrés Manuel López Obrador
President of Mexico
Background of the Country
Tacos
Its culture is renowned
for art, music, cuisine
Ruins - Chichen itza
Mexico is a popular tourist
destination known for its
stunning beaches and ancient
ruins.
Tamales
Mole
It was home to ancient civilizations
Olmec
Maya
Toltec
The first major civilization
in Mexico. They lived in
the tropical lowlands on
the Gulf of Mexico in the
present-day Mexican
states of Veracruz and
Tabasco. The name Olmec
is a Nahuatl—the Aztec
language—word; it means
the rubber people.
A Mesoamerican civilization
that existed from antiquity
to the early modern period.
It is known by its ancient
temples and glyphs. The
Maya script is the most
sophisticated and highly
developed writing system
in the pre-Columbian
Americas
A Pre-Columbian
Mesoamerican culture that
ruled a state centered in
Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico,
during the Epiclassic and
the early Post-Classic
period of Mesoamerican
chronology, reaching
prominence from 950 to
1150 CE.
Aztec
The Aztecs were a
Mesoamerican culture
that flourished in
central Mexico in the
post-classic period
from 1300 to 1521
CICM MISSIONARIES IN MEXICO
Jules Perpète
Born in Wetteren, Belgium on
December 31, 1936.
Religious vows on September 8, 1955.
Ordained priest on August 7, 1960.
Missionary in Mexico, the Dominican
Republic, the United States and
Belgium.
Died in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw (Zuun),
Belgium on January 20, 2024, at the
age of 87.
His journey:
Education: Secondary studies in
Wetteren and Ghent.
Enrolled in Scheut to become a
missionary.
Studied philosophy at the
University of Leuven before
theology in Nijmegen.
Missionary work: Mexico,
Cuernavaca (1969), Santo Domingo
(pastoral ministry).
Spiritual director in Washington for
five years.
Six years of parish pastoral ministry
in Texas and California.
Appointed to formation community
of CICM in Mexico as rector and
treasurer (1984).
Worked with pastoral team in
Mexico's working-class
neighborhoods.
Returned to Belgium in 2006 as an
animator of Scheut communities.
Key traits and experiences:
Deep love for the poor and
marginalized.
Active involvement in their lives,
shared meals, prayed, and helped
form communities.
Embraced simplicity and service,
did domestic tasks and helped with
water collection.
Discreet, rarely complained or got
angry.
Valued prayer, lit up when spoken
to in Spanish.
Legacy:
Marked by devotion to Our Lady of
Guadalupe.
Believed to be alive in spirit, close
to the poor and Our Lady of
Guadalupe.
CICM MISSIONARIES IN MEXICO
Germain
Louwagie
Germain was born in Poperinge,
Belgium, on July 21, 1933.
Took his first vows on September 8, 1953,
and was ordained a priest on August 3,
1958.
Served as a missionary in the United
States of America, the Dominican
Republic, Italy (Rome), Mexico, and
Guatemala.
Died in Guatemala City on March 25,
2022, at the age of 88.
Third of seven children of Oscar
Louwagie and Anna Vandewalle, with
two brothers and four sisters.
Studied theology at the Catholic
University of America in Washington, DC,
after ordination.
Held various positions in the United
States, including parochial vicar, pastor,
and Provincial Superior.
Elected as a member of the CICM
General Government in Rome from 1981
to 1987.
Served in Mexico City as pastor of
La Divina Providencia Parish and
held leadership roles in the CICM
Autonomous District Council of
Mexico.
Became Rector of the Provincial
House in Guatemala in 2004 and
later named Chaplain of the
Comunidades Católicas de San
Pablo.
Experienced health issues,
including severe heart failure and
acute pulmonary edema, leading to
his passing on the mission field.
Displayed mental sharpness
despite physical weakness during
hospitalization.
Remembered as a great missionary,
priest, human being, brother, and
friend to all.
CICM MISSIONARIES IN MEXICO
Joseph Giordano
Joseph (Joe) Giordano was born in
Brooklyn, NY, on April 4, 1943.
Son of Italian immigrants, Michael
Giordano and Anna Intranuovo.
Missionary service in the Dominican
Republic, Mexico, and USA.
Died in Arlington, VA, on November 29,
2021, at the age of 78.
Remembered as a complex personality
with a profound sense of service, ability
to listen, and discreet demeanor.
Held various roles within the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary (CICM):
Official accountant while studying at Washington Seminary.
Provincial Counselor and Treasurer of the CICM Province in the
Dominican Republic from 1974 to 1979.
Member of the Formation Team in the CICM Mexico Initial
Formation Program from 1979 to 1981.
Assistant director of the Latin American Program at the Mexican
American Cultural Center in San Antonio, Texas, in 1982.
Director of Promotion at Missionhurst and Provincial Superior of
CICM U.S. Province for two terms from 1983 to 1994.
Held various roles from 1998 to 2020, including Rector of
Missionhurst, Director of Promotion, Member of the Provincial
Council, and Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
Assigned as Superior of Dominion House, where he passed away.
Described as a true disciple of the Lord, facing
challenges with resilience and fulfilling his ministries
effectively.
Remembered for his dedication and service
Background of CICM Missionaries
The CICM established in Mexico in 1979 - when it
opened a formation house where confreres who were
destined to work in Latin America or the Caribbean did
their theological studies.
In the middle eighties some confreres of Guatemala
arrived at Mexico fleeing the persecution. Some got
settled at Zacatenco; others in Chiapas.
The purpose of settling in Chiapas was to work with
the Guatemalan refugees; however, because of their
condition of foreigners, they were not allowed to work
with them.
Background of CICM Missionaries
In 2003, the formation house moved from Ciudad de Mexico to Tlapan.
At present there are eight members of the CICM in Mexico.
They are distributed in two dioceses:
1. Archdiocese of Mexico
2. Diocese of Tlapa (Estado de Guerrero).
There are three missionary priorities:
1. The work in the periphery of the big city
2. Presence in the world of indigenous Nahua people
3. Prison ministry.
The goal of CICM in Mexico is inclined in helping the rural communities
to become productive and fight poverty. To provide food, decent
housing, medical care, and education for the children, and to see their
people come to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.
SPECIFIC MISSION
COMMUNITY AID AND
UPLIFMENT
enhancing productivity
combat poverty
thrive and improve living
conditions
IMPACT TO
THE PEOPLE
Their mission ended up giving
the people what the mission
promised:
Food
Decent Housing
Medical Care
Mission rooted in
community upliftment
Sustainable initiatives and
assistance
IMPACT TO
THE CHURCH
Contribution to religious landscape
Promotion of Catholicism
Provision of spiritual guidance, Active
involvement in parish life, education,
youth ministry, inter-religious
dialogue
Focus on restoring dignity of
marginalized communities
Addressing issues of poverty and
inequality
Mitigating social and economic
challenges
Mexican Folk
Song
"De colores" (Made of Colors)
is a traditional Spanish
language folk song that is
well known throughout the
Spanish-speaking world.
It is widely used in the
Catholic Cursillo movement
Thank You!!!