The 2012 D.R.E.A.M. (Dominican Republic and Episcopal Churches in All of LowerMichigan) Project: The Michigan multi-diocesan 2012 goal is to complete the first floor shell of San Simón church & school in San Marcos, Dominican Republic, including the exterior walls and reinforced concrete roof. Lord willing, the Dioceses of Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Michigan will be able to raise the resources by the first part of 2012 to have the foundation and exterior block walls completed by the Dominican construction crews, allowing for our teams to travel in July of 2012 to build the form work, install the reinforcing steel, electrical conduits, and pour the concrete roof slab. The Diocese has the parcel of land approximately 2 acres which will become the two-story Iglesia Episcopal San Simón Church and eventually Colegio San Simón (School).
Background: San Simón was founded in the late 1990′s as an offshoot of Cristo Rey in Puerto Plata. The church first met in a home in the community. Currently, mission San Simón meets in a rented storefront attached to a family’s home. Recently, the diocese was able to purchase the lot for San Simón church and school project. The Diocese will use the “San Felipe” model church plan and a standard school plan for the construction of San Simón project. In the future the San Simón lot is large enough that a vicarage may be able to be built on it as well.
The priest in charge of San Simón is Fr. Bienvenido Lopez who is also the vicar of the larger Cristo Rey mission. Fr. Bienvenido is a dynamic young priest with great people skills, and has created a sense of spiritual hunger in the community. There are approximately 50 people in the congregation meeting in a space which seats only 20 people comfortably. The new church building will allow this congregation to grow, and the new school building will allow for education and vocational training in the community.
Especially in the developing world the poor always live in less desirable and more vulnerable locations. The lower parts of San Marcos frequently flood when there are major storms but San Simón’s lot has a main drainage canal on the east boundary. When completed, the reinforced concrete church and the school will be able to be used as a hurricane shelter and for the inevitable floods that will hit San Marcos.
As a team member, you will work with Dominicans in the construction of this new facility, sharing life and spirituality with brothers and sisters in Christ from the Dominican Republic.
As a team member you are expected to help in fundraising, and to participate in any preparation meetings and on-site team meetings.
If accepted as a team member you will receive information about working there, transportation, lodging and how to pack.
The three trips are scheduled for the following dates:
- July 14-21, 2012
- July 21-28, 2012
- July 28- Aug 4, 2012
To apply, go to the forms page, and download the application.
