Suzanne Ludekens

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, June 1, 2007

Suzanne Ludekens Atención Editor has been hospitalized since May 19. She has undergone two surgeries at the hospital in Celaya to correct a perforated ulcer. As of now Suzanne is in stable condition but will require special care during her convalescence. A

fund has been opened to assist with this extended care. Suzanne’s co-workers, friends and family appreciate any and all support. Please contact Miguel Kegel at 152-1210 or at gm@bibliotecapublicasma.com.  Please join us in our prayers for a safe recovery for Suzanne.

Obituary for Jack Sisto

October 1931—May 2007

Following a nine month battle with cancer, Jack Sisto died on May 23, 2007 in San Miguel. He was 75 years old. Jack had lived in San Miguel for 20 years.

Born in Boston, Jack grew up in Massachusetts. After graduating from Brown University in 1953, he served in the army and was stationed in Korea. Upon his return to the states, he began a 40 year career in international banking,working with Hanover Bank, First National Bank of Boston, Irving Trust Company and Security Pacific while living in New York, Boston, Miami and Beverly Hills. In 1987, he and his wife Stephanie (recently deceased) fell in love with San Miguel while on vacation and made it their permanent home.

Some long-time residents of San Miguel may remember that Jack spent several years managing the SPA. He loved animals and worked hard to solve the street dog problems of the time. But, he may be remembered most for his love and passion for the game of croquet. A 30 year veteran, he brought croquet back to San Miguel and was instrumental in forming and leading three clubs while living in San Miguel. As one of its most enthusiastic ambassadors, he loved to teach and get people excited about the game. 

Jack was also one of the residents who played a key role in developing Hospital de la Fe in San Miguel. He served as Treasurer for many years and has been on the Board of Directors since its inception. He was committed to improving the healthcare that was available in San Miguel. He took pride in the fact that the hospital truly serves the community—the hospital generates the majority of its revenue from expatriates while the majority of its patients are local Mexicans in need of healthcare.

Jack’s great loves were Stephanie, his family, his croquet and bridge buddies, San Miguel, the Red Sox, crossword puzzles, his dog Cory and hanging out at the Jacaranda. Jack is survived by his children Tom, Dan and Terry, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. At his request, the family will be holding a private memorial celebration for Jack at his home in mid-June.

Coming of age for CASA
By Barbara Erickson

Any taxi driver in San Miguel knows where to go if you simply say, “Take me to CASA  please.” The taxi driver might ask if you want the hospital or the guardería (day care center)

or the escuela de parteras (midwifery school) but they all know the way. Many people in San Miguel know of CASA and have had some contact with this Mexican nonprofit 

Begun in 1981, CASA is preparing to celebrate its 25th birthday by inviting everyone to get to know it better

Founder Nadine Goodman admits it is a bit daunting when local 40 year olds introduce their children and even their grandchildren and announce they received their first sex education class in school some 25 years ago from her.

The CASA staff is often visited by young women and men who are studying at university and who were preschoolers in the organization’s first day care center that opened in a rented facility in 1985.

CASA has provided medical services to hundreds of thousands at their hospital.They offer free HIV testing, distribute condoms, provide general family medicine and even childbirth services with the help of the midwifery team.

Many of the people of San Miguel and the surrounding ranchos know CASA from personal experiences, but don’t know the extent of the work done locally and on the national and international level. 

This community-based public health model serves more than 70,000 people a year in 19 Mexican states through its multiple programs of family planning, adolescent programs, child care facilities, libraries, education equivalency programs, medical services and radio programs.

The midwifery and physician team at the CASA hospital has provided more than a quarter of a million consultations and more than 7,000 babies have been born with the help of CASA midwives. The World Health Organization and the Population Fund of the United Nations flew five CASA midwives to Africa to share their successful model with 22 countries in December 2006. 

CASA has a weekly live radio program and their educational productions are broadcast throughout 19 states to a potential listening audience of 22 million people through a government-run network of indigenous radio stations. CASA made it to the big screen at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City this past month in the critically acclaimed film The Business of Being Born, produced by Ricki Lake and directed by Abby Epstein.
Ana Peña, probably the most knowledgeable person at CASA, began working there twenty years ago at the age of fifteen. Ana has worked in all of the different programs and received a scholarship from CASA to obtain her technical degree in accounting. Today she is the head of CASA’s Development Office, finding the resources that allow CASA to do its job. Ana is the Chair of the organizing committee for the 25th Year Anniversary Celebration and will be informing us over the following months about the simple and joyful celebration to be held on August 5 to which one and all are invited!

While CASA has certainly reached many more people than anyone perhaps ever envisioned, Ana tells us what CASA was really about when it started and what it is about today:

“CASA helps everyone and is not interested in what your religion is or your political persuasion or if you are a man or a woman. What is important is that anyone and everyone can find at CASA a warm and safe space where they feel listened to and where they come to realize that their problem has a solution and they are not alone. Basically at CASA there is respect for all people.”

To learn more about CASA visit us on the web: www.casa.org.mx 

To get involved call Elsbeth Friedli at 152-2813 or by email elsbeth@prodigy.net.mx. 

Tio Lucas to reopen

Tio Lucas restaurant is to reopen on Wednesday, June 6 and cordially invites friends and clients to a celebration cocktail party from 6–8pm. Tio Lucas is located at Mesones 103, at Hernández Macías.










Patronato Pro Niños picks 07/07/07 for annual auction date


Benefit auction and dinner
For Patronato Pro Niños
Sat, July 7
Salon Acuario
US$100
152-7796

Saddle up! The theme of this year’s auction is “Boots & Brooches” and it promises to be a boot-stomping, stiletto-tapping night of western glitz and glamour. If seven is your lucky number, then Patronato Pro Niños (PPN) has just the ticket for you on the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year in this century.

The high-wattage event on Saturday, July 7 begins with cocktails and a silent auction from 5 to 7pm followed by a seated dinner and live auction. All of the fun takes place at the Salon Acuario, which will be decorated to look like Dynasty meets Dallas. The address is Cardenal 4 in Residencia La Luz off of Salida a Querétaro.

US$100 per person entitles you to hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, a gourmet dinner accompanied by wine, excellent company and the opportunity to bid on great prizes in the live and silent auctions. Tables of 10 may be reserved for an additional US$200. Auction items donated this year include European, Caribbean and Mexican getaways, elegant jewelry, collectors’ art and sculpture, home décor accessories and furnishings and much more. It was never like this down on the ranch!

Proceeds from “Boots & Brooches,” the non-profit organization’s seventh annual auction and raffle, will enable Patronato Pro Niños to provide ongoing medical and dental healthcare to thousands of children in the San Miguel area.

To order tickets, call Lily Castañeda in the PPN Development Office at 152-7796 and she will arrange to have them delivered to you. Patronato Pro Niños accepts cash, checks and credit cards. For a donation to be tax deductible in the US, checks must be made payable to For the Children International, PPN’s US-based 501 (c) (3).

Reserve the date 07/07/07 for San Miguel children. This event sells out each year, so it’s important to make reservations as soon as possible and not miss out on this once-in-a-century evening of glittering excitement. When you buy a ticket, you can bet everyone wins. Take a chance!









A little taste of Science Camp at the Biblioteca


Science fair
Sat, June 2, 10am–2pm
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
Free admission 

Science Camp San Miguel invites you to attend their annual Science Fair for kids and adults in the courtyard of the Biblioteca next weekend. Created to increase public awareness about the importance of science education, Science Fair hopes to ignite curiosity in the young to explore the world around them. 

At the Science Fair visitors can participate in projects and interactive experiments similar to those that will be offered at Science Camp San Miguel later this summer. Some of last year’s campers will be on hand to introduce many of the activities including the opportunity to look at cells through a microscope. Other experiments involve magnetism and the use of force, air pressure, and realia… natural artifacts like skulls, bones, rocks, shells, nests and more including a vivarium with animals in their natural environments. 

Everyone is welcome!

Science Camp San Miguel is held July 9–August 3.

For more information visit their website at www.sciencecampsanmiguel.com or call (415) 185-2142. Applications are available online.

On a more spiritual note…

An entertaining collection of actual mistakes, mispellings and mistatements found in church bulletins and announcements:

The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7pm there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at the Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Don’t let worry kill you off - let the church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang, “I will not pass this way again,” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack’s sermons.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Attend and hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility. Potluck supper at 5 pm - prayer and medication to follow.

The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the church basement on Friday at 7pm. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8pm in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday:

“I Upped My Pledge—Up Yours.”