APPEL: Medical missionaries serve the poorest of the poor in Costa Rica
July 10, 2018
Led by the calling of the Holy Spirit, 43 health professionals, spiritual leaders and support team members from the Medical Missionaries of Divine Mercy served 878 patients amongst the poorest of the poor in Grano De Oro, Costa Rica, April 21 to 28.
This was our fifth year at this location and there was a new level of trust, friendship and bonding between the community and team stemming from the outpouring of genuine love and care provided.
The indigenous Cabecars are learning about our Lord and Savior through the genuine love and mercy shown by our missionaries and spiritual team.
The mission provided first rate medical, pediatric, dental, vision, audiology, chiropractic and spiritual services to the Cabecar Indians and the local Costa Rican community.
Each day started with Rosary at 6:15 a.m. and Mass following breakfast. Registration and mission services began at 8 a.m. and continued until 5 p.m. An evening healing Mass was held several nights and culminated with an overflow crowd for the “community Mass” prior to the fiesta finale on Friday night. Monsignor Mario Enrique Quiros Quiros, Bishop of Cartago joined us on Friday and thanked and blessed the missionaries for their ministry to the poor.
The mission receives participation and ancillary dental, vaccination and pharmaceutical services from the Costa Rica Health Ministry. We were also supported by local private dentists.
We have been well received. Our mission was facilitated by “Club de Paz,” provider of residential and food services, and our special friend Maria Elena Carvajal of the Wyndham San Jose Herradura Hotel.
The mission is made possible by the financial participation of the missionaries themselves and the generosity of the parishioners and friends of St. Laurence Catholic Church in the Sugar Land and their Social Concerns ministry.
Herb Appel is the chairman of Medical Missionaries of Divine Mercy.