Meet the staff. A team beyond compare!

Pictured here is Father Robert Lacasse, OMI. Known to his parishioners as Padre Roberto. Raised and having attended schools in Lewiston, Maine, Padre Roberto is the founder of the Santa Cruz Soup Kitchen. It can be said he is the "Founding Father". During the school year he makes every effort to have lunch with the children at the soup kitchen. Next year Father Lacasse will be celebrating his 50th Jubilee as a priest. He hopes to come back to the Lewiston area to celebrate.

Also, sitting at the table with Padre Roberto is Sister Lida, the administrator of Santa Cruz Soup Kitchen. She is in charge of buying the needed food after she and Dona Benita plan out a menu.

Dona Bonita, serving beverages, is the Santa Cruz Soup Kitchen cook. She is also in charge of planning out the menu with Sister Lida and keeping inventory. She was instrumental in helping Padre Roberto furnish the soup kitchen.

Sister Rose, in the background serving the children has also been instrumental in helping Padre Roberto with the organizing of the soup kitchen. She helps Dona Benito with the cooking and serving.

Preparing for our visit to Cochabamba!

In 2006 we were invited by Fr. Roberto Lacasse to visit his parish in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It sounded like a great idea; soon to be a great reality. We are leaving for Bolivia on August 1st and returning to the States on August 10th. Hopefully, we'll post daily updates so you can follow along on our journey.

Little did we know the challenges we would face in coordinating such an undertaking.

After many months of planning and promoting the trip; we are nine traveling companions who have been bonding and anxious to share the memories of our upcoming adventures. Our group will be introduced as we move along.

Betty, God bless her, has tirelessly researched and coordinated what we had to do and get in order to be able to travel to Bolivia. She found we each needed a passport, visa, and several vaccines from yellow fever to typhoid and more. She also researched who was authorized to give these shots and provide travel papers.

Our biggest fear was not being able to get our visas on time. Until two years ago one did not need a visa to travel to Bolivia. Finding out what the Bolivian Consulate's office required and providing them with the necessary information was a challenge for us since for most of us this was a first. Fortunately, Madelyn, who has had traveling experience with these issues joined our group and has helped put our minds at ease.

Asking for donations of religious items from the Prince of Peace Parish churches the response has been overwhelming. This Sunday, the last Sunday before departure, we are getting together and sorting through the many items. We hope to have photos showing some of your donations.

Padre Lacasse has been busy on his end finding accomodations for us. It sounds like he has quite the itinerary for us.

This week will be busy packing, sorting and preparing.