St Anthony of Padua
Río Dulce, Guatemala
Our Sister Parish St Anthony is located near Rio Dolce in the Izabal region of Guatemala. The parish covers the entire Izabal region and extends into parts of the Peten region to the north. The parish serves 84 churches in as many communities with only two priests. Two ethnic cultures are served, Maya Indians and the locals of mostly mixed Spanish decent. The Mayan Indians speak a non-written language Q’eqchi. There are some 86 different dialects across the country. The Church is not only the center for Religious life but also serves and supports the community in all aspects and needs that would typically be governmental roles. Legal, Educational, Social Services, Health, community development, municipal water supply, food distribution are just a view examples of the types of services that the Church supplies.
Quad Parish Mission Statement:
“We, the members of the Quad Parishes, consisting of St. Mary’s of New Berlin, Sacred Heart of Franklin, St. Sebastian of Waverly, and Visitation BVM of Alexander, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, are committed to be disciples of Jesus through baptism in the Roman Catholic tradition. We will strive to make Christ more visible in our lives, our communities, and the world, through worship, serving others, and proclaiming God’s Word. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the love of God, with our time, talent, and treasures, in order to make our parishes a place for all who love God to call home.”
217-488-3545