NEWSLETTER #02
APRIL - JUNE 2025
"I have neither gold nor silver, but what I have I give you."
Acts 3,6
Perhaps this phrase best sums up the events of the last few months, and certainly the Mission itself.
Undoubtedly, as you will read, we have a lot on our hands, but the need is still enormous.
Every time we visit a family, or have the opportunity to get to know people in depth, the heart breaks and widens in equal parts, and the feeling of being a drop in the ocean invades us.
The truth, in the face of so much pain, we feel empty-handed, we don't have "gold or silver", but of course, what we have... we give.
What you are about to read below is a list of a lot of activities and projects that we have undertaken or strengthened this last time, projects that aim to touch the body, mind and heart of people.
It may seem like a lot of things, but the most important part of our mission continues to be what cannot be counted or touched, but only seen and felt, the hugs, the smiles, the people who find some peace in the storm, the processes of change, the families who welcome us, the hearts that open up, and as they break, they heal.
"When it seems that nothing happens, everything is transformed by irradiation."
EASTER MISSION
At the beginning of April, during Holy Week, we carry out the Easter Mission, a moment of encounter for the whole Ignis Mundi community, which is joined by people of different ages and countries. The focus of the Easter Mission is to live the Holy Week, to accompany our parish community and to go out to announce the Love of God who saves us to all those who live in darkness.
We visit our neighbors in the mornings, which consists of going to visit our neighbors and having a moment of encounter in their homes. Incredible things always happen in these encounters.
In the afternoons we have different workshops and this year we also did a "Dignification of Homes", helping a family of 9 members to improve their living conditions.
In total we were about 80 missionaries.
TRAINING & ACCOMPANIMENT
IMPULSA
IMPULSA is Ignis Mundi's educational project that seeks to "push" students to have a positive educational experience and support different needs in the academic field. We currently offer different programs:
IMPULSA estrella: individual support program for academic performance tools, mainly reading, writing and mathematics for children who need one-on-one tutoring (4 students).
IMPULSA pre-readers, readers and 6th grade: group support program to provide tools for academic achievement in reading, writing and mathematics (10 students).
IMPULSA English: inspired by the Trinity College methodology, it is a conversational English program for students from 5 years of age and older (45 students).
IMPULSA TEA: program of attention and accompaniment for neurodivergent children within the autism spectrum. Biweekly sessions focused on behavioral and reading and writing skills with a special education specialist (3 children).
IMPULSA estudio: focused on teenagers in school. Study support during exam weeks, with study techniques, organization and tutoring for questions (10 students).
PSYCHOLOGY
More than 20 people have been assisted in this area in the last quarter.
This July we started a workshop for women victims of sexual abuse, undoubtedly one of the great scourges of our time, and our neighborhood.
BRAVE GENERATION PROJECT
Generacion Valiente is the project against bullying that we have been developing since last May with Fundación Peniel.
A total of 20 adolescents and 10 children, who, together with their parents, will be trained in bullying prevention from different angles.
PRO-WOMEN AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROJECT, BIBLE CLINIC
In alliance with the Clínica Bíblica de San José, we have started workshops for women and young people, which will cover physical health, mental health and financial education. A total of more than 20 women and another 20 young people are already benefiting from this education in values and quality provided by professionals in medicine, psychology and social work.
MUSIC
In the music area, we currently have about 15 students in guitar. Young people who enjoy playing and learning an instrument in a healthy environment.
SCHOOL OF ART
The month of May began our Art School. This first block of two months, dedicated to 15 adults, was a few weeks of intense work and learning, not just painting, but learning about color theory, perspective and acrylic techniques. The month concluded with an exhibition of the works that we all enjoyed very much.
SPORTS
TAEKWONDO
The big novelty this year has undoubtedly been Taekwondo. It was no coincidence that during Easter Week we received a surprise visit from a family from Nicaragua who immediately fell in love with the Ignis Mundi project. A family that also lives the mission of helping hundreds of young people to get off the streets in Nicaragua, in this case, through Taekwondo.
We were approached to start helping out here at the Guido. The first week more than 100 people signed up, and now we teach Taekwondo 6 days a week, mornings and afternoons. It has been a revolution.
SOCCER
In soccer, more than 100 youngsters and children are coming to train. Every day from Monday to Saturday, the field is full of training sessions and games, and a lot of life. On weekends and mornings it is open for free play, and the truth is that it fills us with joy to know that the children, youth and adults of the neighborhood have access to a field like this, free of charge and with all the security of being in a peaceful place. Thanks to our teacher Esteban, who helps us to lead this project with his constant contribution.
BOXING
Boxing continues to be a huge attraction for many young people, it is wonderful to see them improve as athletes, but above all to see them grow as people. If we look back we are moved by how we knew most of the boys and girls who box, and to see them now, open, generous, cheerful and undoubtedly the most helpful and disciplined of all. We can always count on our boxers for any work we need, they, along with Allan and Zeneida, their coaches, are always ready to help.
IGNIS SK8
Ignis SK8 is the skateboarding school. Every week, our teacher Michael trains more than 10 children to learn how to ride a skateboard. We have already had several events, and experts in the world of skateboarding have accompanied us to promote this urban sport that has a large number of fans in the streets, with the aim of opening a new space for more and more people to find a hobby that keeps them away from drugs, violence, loneliness, abandonment.
IGNIS LATTE
Another of the great revolutions of recent times has been our solidarity cafeteria. Four afternoons a week it is open to the public thanks to a loyal number of volunteers. It is beautiful to see how people identify this space, not only as a place for training, sports, spirituality, but also as a place for meeting, leisure and enjoyment.
Entire families come to spend Saturday and Sunday afternoons, couples, young people, groups of friends. We have big dreams for this space, one of them is that soon, in addition to being a cafeteria, we will be able to use it as a social dining room for our athletes, since many of them come without having eaten anything all day, with the consequences that this has for their performance and health.
ORCHARD AND FARM
In addition to continuing to grow our different foods, pineapple, cassava, papaya, zucchini... The Ignis Mundi family has grown, we now have a small farm with 2 ducks and a rooster, a hen and 3 chicks. All this is entertainment for the children, which also helps them to promote care for nature, sensitivity for life, respect and gentleness.
GARDEN AND PLAZA DEL ENCUENTRO
On May 31, thanks to a group of friends of Ignis Mundi, a solidarity campaign was held to plant grass on the Mission grounds. During the whole first year we lived surrounded by mud and dust, surviving the great discomfort that this entailed. Thanks to this generous donation, not only is life at the mission much easier, the beauty of the greenery and landscape, of having paths and stairs... has invaded the grounds and with it, has made us all a little happier.
We also received a donation to plant a small flower garden for pollinators adjacent to the Mission house.
MISSION VOLUNTEERS
Undoubtedly, the most valuable thing we have are the people who help us, both with their financial contributions, or donations of all kinds that we receive; garden, for Ignis Late, for the chapel, furniture... as well as those who contribute their collaboration: Temporary Missionaries, volunteers and Ignis Mundi team. Within this team of collaborators, we are delighted to say that 100% are people from the Guido neighborhood: from coaches, cleaning, childcare, to maintenance. We could not be more grateful to each of these people.
We had the first training day for volunteers and collaborators, which was really a moment to share, get to know each other and above all to grow.
VISIT OF THE ARCHBISHOP
VISIT OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF SAN JOSÉ TO THE MISSION
On June 3, the Archbishop of San José visited us for the second time, and this time he was able to see the mission at a much more advanced stage.
For us it is always a joy that the Church is interested in what God is doing here. It is a confirmation that this Mission is a desire of the Lord.
MARCO CALZADA CUP
During the weekend of June 28th and 29th, the third edition of the Marco Calzada Cup was held . What began three years ago, as a modest tribute to our dear brother and friend Marco, has become an event for our neighborhood and beyond.
This year 50 soccer teams participated, about twenty volleyball teams also had a tournament, there was an evening of boxing, a skate exhibition, a cardio dance event, an entrepreneur fair, bouncy castles... the cafeteria was open morning and afternoon and more than 1000 people visited us during the weekend, where we not only paid tribute to Marco, but also celebrated family, friendship, joy of life, faith and community.
The weekend was crowned with a concert by our friends from Fuego.
A weekend where the heavens opened, where joy reigned above all things, solidarity, good work. We are really touched by so many gifts received these days.
"I have neither gold nor silver, but what I have I give you" may this phrase from the Acts of the Apostles accompany us always. May we learn to rest in order to be rest for others, may we learn to silence ourselves in order to listen, to care for ourselves in order to care for others, to embrace ourselves in order to embrace others, and to be in God in order to bring everyone to his Sacred Heart.
We are grateful for all that accompanies us in friendship, commitment and prayer, really without you this would be very difficult for us. The Mission is challenging, it is adverse at times, it shakes us and unveils us, but above all, it fills us, widens our hearts, heals our history, relieves our pain, drives us and renews us every day in Love.
