A Glimpse of Mission History

The San Lucas community has survived many national disasters, including earthquakes, tropical storms, and mudslides. At some of these most difficult moments, the Mission has stepped in to provide emergency response to these natural disasters. Sometimes visitors to the Mission were unable to leave and ended up spending additional days and weeks helping with disaster relief. Fr. John and his ham radio were often the only connection to the outside world, relaying requests for essential supplies and getting updated information from other radio operators.

While the Mission can’t control natural disasters, it does build housing to be earthquake resistant, mitigates flooding danger by building retaining walls where necessary and reduces the deforestation which leads to mudslides by building hundreds of fuel-efficient stoves every year.

The photos below show some of the outcomes of these natural disasters and speak to the tremendous power of the Mission to provide critical support in times of crisis.