NEWSLETTER | #04
OCTOBER 2025 – FEBRUARY 2026
“Through the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will visit us,
to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our steps on the path of peace.”
Benedictus
Sometimes it seems that darkness prevails over light; the news we hear, what we read, everything seems twisted and broken. It happens here too: wounded people who are unable to get their lives back on track, pain, loneliness, and despair.
Faced with this overwhelming reality, from this corner of the world, we ask ourselves, what can we do?
We cannot put an end to drugs, that evil that seems to be spreading unchecked throughout the world, destroying families, societies, and generations, but we can embrace those people, offering comfort and support to their families, and we can build preventive spaces so that many children and young people do not need other "gangs" and can grow up healthy.
We cannot end sexual abuse, the pandemic of our century and our neighborhood, but we can listen to its victims and give them support and encouragement so that they can break the chains of the past and decide to move forward with dignity toward the future. We can also educate and empower healthy young people to plan their lives outside of this toxic and destructive cycle.
We cannot put an end to school dropout rates, but we can work very hard to ensure that many children approach knowledge from a different angle and are more eager to learn.
We cannot dilute loneliness in a sea of individualistic people marked by family fragmentation, but we can build a place where we learn to form healthy bonds, and where everyone feels rooted and loved.
In between, we devote our lives to serving and enlightening those who live in darkness and guiding them along the path of peace and prosperity. We know there will be setbacks, but we will continue to move forward without fear.
MIAMI MISSION | NOVEMBER 2025
For a week, we welcomed almost 20 young people from Miami to carry out a week of mission work in Los Guido. These generous young people from Misión Mundi USA want to do their bit for our mission by supporting the Dignifying Homes project, which aims to restore dignity to families and spaces through small renovations, building work, tidying, cleaning, and decorating. In this case, they helped us to dignify the home of a single mother who, after her separation, had returned to her mother's house and built herself a room on the roof. It had no walls, no floor, and no light. The young people from Miami did a wonderful job, not only rebuilding the room by putting up walls, a ceiling, and a floor, but also bonding with the family, who collaborated throughout the process.
The other space they helped to improve was the parish classrooms where, among other things, the Senior Citizens Ministry, of which we IM missionaries are a part, is held. The space, especially the bathrooms, was in very poor condition and even dangerous for the elderly and other users of the facility. It was painted, decorated, new chairs and tables were donated, and a beautiful mural was even painted at the entrance to the classrooms.
In addition, they met with young people from the community and shared with missionary families about life at the center and about themselves.
A wonderful experience that will be repeated in June this year.
BRAVE GENERATION PROJECT
For several months, in collaboration with Fundación Peniel and other foundations, the Generación Valiente (Brave Generation) Project was developed. This was a joint effort to address and prevent bullying among young people and children in Los Guido. For months, participants received training in different areas, including entrepreneurship, self-esteem, art, leadership, and resilience. The project concluded with an entrepreneurship fair, where the children were able to sell the products they had made with the support of Business Kids. Three participants won the prize of going to participate in and learn from a successful project, Masitas, a small Costa Rican company that makes products for children. It was a wonderful experience.
The fruits of the project include the loyalty of the boys and girls who participated in such a long project, lasting five months; the commitment of their parents to their children's education; the growth of their self-esteem as they saw themselves capable of starting small businesses and making them profitable; the sense of family among the boys and girls who participated; and the joy of having met different foundations that supported the project.
INAUGURATION OF THE IGNIS SKATE RAMP
Skateboarding is an urban sport that attracts many young people and children. Being able to practice it in a healthy, drug-free environment is a dream that is becoming more and more of a reality.
We still have some work to do before our skate park is ready, but thanks to the generosity of a group of friends who wanted to pay tribute to their deceased friend, a skateboarding enthusiast, we now have our first ramp. And it's wonderful to see it full of life from day one.
We continue to be moved by people's generosity, the joy with which they donate their money and time, and their commitment to the mission.
DIGITAL LITERACY COURSE – HUBB
This past February, 10 young people and adults completed the first digital literacy course at our Ignis Mundi Hub.
The Lafise Foundation provided us with the necessary equipment, and thanks to the help of a private individual, we were able to find a teacher to give the course at the Hubb. We love having local people as partners in our mission, and Santiago, the teacher, is not only a neighbor, but also a student at the University of Costa Rica, which means he has a very positive influence on the students he teaches.
We hope to reach more people through these courses, which are essential for entrepreneurship, learning, and thriving in today's world.
YOUTH MINISTRY
Since last February, the youngest missionaries of Ignis Mundi have been tasked by our parish priest with accompanying and encouraging the parish's youth ministry. With the aim of bringing many young people closer to the heart of God, a Holy Hour will be dedicated to them each month, in addition to biweekly meetings to explore certain topics and forge bonds within the parish community. We hope that this will bear much fruit.
CHRISTMAS ON MISSION
In December, the mission center was filled with joy, color, and spirituality. A huge nativity scene accompanied us in the Plaza del Encuentro throughout the Christmas season, visits to families, participation in parish posadas, Advent and Christmas celebrations... it has been a very special time for everyone.
ALLIED WORKSHOP FOR RECOVERY
In collaboration with the IAFA (Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Costa Rica), we are conducting a workshop for family members and friends of people living with addiction.
It is proving to be extremely interesting and truly fruitful. We hope to continue collaborating with them along these lines. The workshop lasts two months, with weekly meetings attended by around 15 people.
TEMPORARY MISSIONARIES
The Ignis Mundi Mission is made up of families and lay people. Unlike other missions, at Ignis Mundi, we are all self-sufficient, which means that, living in the mission, at least one member of each couple has to work in the "world" to bring home the bacon. In addition, most of us have children, and we have to take care of them, devote time to them, attend to them... And, on the other hand, as we are still a small and young association, we have to carry out many tasks related to it and to the center itself: administration, fundraising, communication, maintenance... These tasks are invisible on social media and to the eyes of others, but without them we could not live.
That said, it is easy to assume that our time is limited, with outreach being the most important aspect of our daily mission, although each missionary has a specific task and project to carry out.
That is when temporary missionaries have become indispensable. They are our extended arm, 100% free to attend to daily and extraordinary needs: they visit families, accompany programs, supervise the playground, serve in the solidarity cafeteria, teach classes at Impulsa, support the pastoral care of the elderly, collaborate in maintenance tasks...
We cannot thank enough all the young people and adults, including families, who have visited us in recent months and left an indelible mark on us. Their presence enriches us and helps us to improve and expand our mission.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Thanks to the generous support of Fundación Caricaco, we have been able to hire an executive director, Nacho Alpizar, who was chosen after a selection process from among candidates of the highest professional and personal caliber. Nacho had all the qualities we were looking for and is also very much in line with our mission.
Since taking charge of Ignis Mundi's social work, she has been helping us enormously to professionalize processes, be more efficient in our tasks, improve the quality of our programs, and help the people who come to us. She has made our lives a little easier amid the hustle and bustle we find ourselves in.
And so, by doing and being, we allow the Light of God's Love to shine through, which, we can see, is the only thing capable of transforming and healing this place and this world.
We are deeply grateful for your friendship, support, generous donations, time, talents... everything you give us with such love. The mission needs everyone's participation.
We continue to entrust ourselves to your prayers, friendship, and embrace. We truly need it.
We look forward to seeing you soon here at your home, Ignis Mundi.
[ ABOUT US ]
LÓPEZ SAENZ FAMILY
We are Mariana and Juan, with our daughters Inés and Ester. We come from Mexico, from the city of Querétaro. Since we were teenagers, we participated in Church movements, which is how we met. From a young age, we had experiences of mission and work in rural communities and marginal urban areas of Mexico that deeply marked our hearts and where we realized the difficult reality of our country and the need to bring the Gospel. Our calling was born there and confirmed by a Kairos moment when the Lord invited us to immediately leave our lives behind and set out on a mission. At Ignis Mundi, we found our vocation in being able to give ourselves to the Lord as a family, working for those most in need. We are both educators, which allows us to serve by coordinating educational and sports programs. We are also passionate about music and participate in the choir and classes for young people. The most beautiful thing about living here is growing as a family hand in hand with the Lord, surrounded by nature, and seeing how God is working in many hearts and restoring hope to so many people.