TexLaMex, June 2005, Page 3

The Catholic Indian community that gathers at Dolores Church each month had a picnic out at Steiner Lodge.  Father Harold Essling was the perfect host helping to get things ready, giving boat rides, and making sure things moved smoothly.  Father John Korcsmar and Brother Thomas Krieter were also there.

We all had a wonderful time.  The only sad thing was that Geordi told Fr. John that he will be moving to Florida.  We will miss Geordi.

On the next day Father John dropped in on a group called Inmigrantes Latinos en Acción.  It is a group formed of immigrants so that immigrants can help immigrants.  There were 12 or 15 people they.  They have a project called La Monarca, which is named after the famous Monarch Butterfly which travels so many miles between the U.S. and Mexico and always returns to the same place in Mexico each year.

It was very interesting to hear the stories of the people who are part of the group.  Some are from Monterrey; some are from San Luis Potosi, but spent time in Monterrey before coming to the U.S.  Some are from different parts of Mexico, and there was one from Venezuela and another from Columbia.  Hearing their history was most interesting.  Just by chance, the very next day the Austin American Statesman did a story on how people struggle to get here.  You can read it at: http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/06/13vidas.html.  Unfortunately, a good time is not always had by all.

Fr. John Korcsmar flew over to Fort Lauderdale to see Fr. Jack Birkmeyer.  He is presently in a rehabilitation hospital, but since he is not professing with his therapy, he will have to be moved into a nursing facility.  He needs to be helped from bed to chair and needs help in order to stand up.  While John was there, Jack's sister, Millie, was the perfect hostess.

While John was in Fort Lauderdale, he rented a car:

Mrs. Korcsmar should be proud of her little boy, Johnny.  His name is up in lights.