Editor’s note: Sheila McShane is the director of Clinica Maxeña at the diocesan Guatemala Mission. This is her annual Christmas letter.

Friends and Family,

As the spirit of Christmas approaches, lights and small decorations appear in the marketplace and in homes, plans for Christmas parties are highlighted on agendas, hope and peace surge in our hearts. The birth of Jesus at Christmas reminds us all of his presence in our world.

I have just returned from a journey to the homeland of my parents, Ireland. It was a joyous time for me and also a time of reflection and rest. I could not help but notice the contrast in the environment between Ireland and Guatemala: Ireland with beautiful green trees, clean water in the ocean and rivers, food and laughter in the homes, no visible garbage on the streets. During 2010 in Guatemala, storm Agatha brought natural disaster to our surroundings, destroying water sources, highways and some homes. The sea and rivers are contaminated with garbage and the water is murky and overflowing. Hunger and malnutrition are a daily reality in our clinic. Cupboards are bare, children are ill with respiratory and gastrointestinal disease. There are neither Christmas presents nor trees with ornaments. Guatemala City is in fifth place in the world for violence. Many homes suffered loss of family members or grave injustice.

There is still hope and joy in our hearts! There are dreams of a better and more just tomorrow. As you celebrate the birth of Jesus, we ask for your prayers. As you make your Christmas list, we ask you to give a gift to those with less. We ask that you put the Guatemala mission’s Clinica Maxeña on your Christmas list. I enclose some ideas of gifts that would bring joy to those we serve. Thank you! Christmas joy from the staff of the Clinica Maxeña.

Gifts may be given online at www.diocesehelena. org or sent by check to Diocese of Helena Guatemala Mission, P.O. Box 1729, Helena, MT 59624. Notations that gifts are specifically for Clinica Maxeña will help the routing.

Sheila Ann McShane

What can be purchased with your gift

Christmas gifts for the poor served by the diocesan mission in Guatemala:

• Five consultations with doctor $10
• One ultrasound $40
• Medicine $100
• Infant formula $30
• Support for AIDS patients $50
• Onil stove $100
• Agriculture project $100
• Hospital transport $10
• Diagnostic tests $20
• Emergency operation $100