The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-14

 of checkers and I was wishing had a club to crown some of the people, kings.
 Vanishing Dogs
 How I finished by sermon will never know. Now to get ALL the dogs and put them out. I knew some of the women were hiding them. An, there is one pup now. A god kick at him and that will show the people once more by hatred of dogs in church. started to chase it. A man began to help me. It would have been better if he listen- ed to the Mass. He made lounge at the pup win his hat. The hat slipped out of his hand and from nowhere a large dog appeared and grabbed the sombrero. Padre, my new hat he crieds paid no atten- ton to him as I chased the other dog. But the dog disappeared. Where? I guessed 1t was under the shawl of some Indian: So watch ed the shawls. Then I saw a shawl move. Without saying word I walked up to the woman and let go a mighty swat with my prayer book on the moving object. Then screams such as you never heard before were heard First from the BABY. That object was no pup but an infant sleeping peacefully probably the only one which slept through my sermon. Then the mother What she called me in Spanish and Quichua I will never know. was too excited to get what said. Now I think they have changed my name from Matador de perros' to Murderer of innocent children. !"
 In spite of their love for dogs in church you can't be angry with these Indians. They are the most lovable and at the same time the most colorful characters imaginable. You see the men walking down the street with a felt hat on their head but not shoe on their feet. The women are even more picturesque, with their multicolored skirts. The Indian woman of the Quichua tribe wears all at once six different skirts of as many different colors. Her features are attractive hut many times thick coat of dirt hides the features from view. A shawl bedecks her shoulders and this shawl very aften Is the means of transporta- tion of her infant child. Topping off the dress of the Indian woman is her white stove pipe hat which is always immediately clean.
 Home Remedies"
 An added bit of dressup is worn by the Indian woman who is sick. This consists of leaves from the trees. These leaves are plastered aver the area of infection, the fore head, if one has a headache, th6 chek, if tootache is the cause of the pain. Often you see the whole face mass of leaves with openings cut for the eyes to see. This means the poor woman has so many aches she doesn't know what is causing the pain. It will take us time to up- root these superstitions and show these people the value of a little 
 We. can't be. too hard on these people. Thirty (3D years without a priset yet they had the faith in God to build church in hopes that some day they would get one. Then in 1922 the Maryknoll fathers came What wonders have been worked! Through Gods grace thousands are to Mass and the sacra- ments. In my short stay here we have baptized over 100 babies many of whom have already gone to heaven. We have three hundred children in different parts of our parish under instructions. Most of all the peopel have God in their midst. He has become part of their lives.
 All you good friends have an enormous share in these fruits. God inspired you to help this mission You responded. Now your reward is waiting for you at His throne
 I know it is difficult for you to have happy Christmas with some one near and dear away from home. However, remember that if God s own Son were not away from home thrat first Christmas where would we be today?
 For your kindness to my Indians here the htird Mass on Christmas day will be offered for your inten- tion. In turn, say little prayer for the parish of Santa Ina, Calacala, Bolivia.
 Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. God bles you and yours.