PORT ST. LUCIE\u00a0 |\u00a0 The Ryan Center for Young Children, a ministry of Holy Family Parish in Port St. Lucie, was gifted a large crucifix by parishioner and local police officer Ben Gaspar two years ago. The 36-inch-tall cross had been placed on his brother-in-law\u2019s casket, and no family members wanted the crucifix since it made them sad after the untimely loss of a young man.<\/p>\n
Students at the preschool for 2- to 5-year-olds fell in love with what they called the \u201cbiggest Jesus,\u201d which hung in the center\u2019s vestibule, said Ellen Bradley, the Ryan Center\u2019s director. Now, the crucifix is filling a need thousands of miles from Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Holy Family recently formed a St. Joseph\u2019s Mission Ministry to undertake missionary work locally and globally, she said, parishioners Roberto Anduray and Diana Matute Anduray said they knew of a small mountain parish in Honduras that had suffered devastating losses from a flood, with their church and its contents destroyed.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey, along with Howard Postel and Bonnie Lay, began a roundup of sacramental items that could be carried to this impoverished parish,\u201d Bradley said. \u201cThey needed a crucifix of good size, though, and we happened to have one.\u201d<\/p>\n
She explained the situation to the school family, and they agreed that the crucifix should become part of a new church. \u201cWhen Howard arrived days later to pick up the crucifix, he was moved as the children kissed \u2018biggest Jesus\u2019 goodbye and wished him a safe journey,\u201d Bradley said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Accompanying the crucifix and other items to Honduras, Postel was concerned that there would be problems going through customs and various checkpoints. But the crucifix passed unscathed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoward told me that the entire trip became focused on getting the crucifix to the people, who didn\u2019t expect it and who were surprised and delighted to tears when it arrived,\u201d Bradley said. Its arrival became a cause for celebration in the impoverished mountainside community, with a Mass celebrated immediately and so much joyful thanksgiving, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe parish schoolchildren sent in return the only gift that they could: prayers for our health and a simple thank you card with the handprints of each child,\u201d Bradley said, adding that the Ryan Center\u2019s children were overjoyed with photos from the mission trip, but shocked to see the stark, dirt-floor classroom of their counterparts in Honduras.\u00a0<\/p>\n