By Fr. Curtis Gaston Poyer
Former Director for Social / Social Justice Ministry in the Diocese of Tampico, Mexico, 2004-2023
PART 2
In 2004/2005 I became incardinated into the diocese of Tampico, Mexico. At that same time the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church was published and received in many dioceses all over the world. Chapter twelve of that document, from # 521 to 574, is dedicated entirely to the relationship between Catholic Social Teaching and social pastoral action, in which all baptized are called and have an obligation to participate, especially in organized ways and always directed towards the common good, and to the creation of a more authentic culture guided by moral principles. Summarizing the entire section, social/social justice ministry can be defined as the humanization of all social institutions and the evangelization of all social realities in their very different contexts around the globe. The document emphasizes the obligation of all Christians to work for better political, economic, social options and real solutions to the dehumanizing and degrading realities and forces of our time.
I was appointed as social/social justice ministry coordinator for the diocese in 2004. With the help of some very willing diocesan priests, laity, and religious, we had the daunting task of bringing together, enhancing, expanding, and networking various ministries, which were, at that time, fragmented, sometimes not sufficiently expressed, poorly defined, and lacking in proper formation. Following the method and lead of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, especially the Mexican Episcopal Commission for Social/Social Justice Ministry, we envisioned our new diocesan social/social justice commission as an organic whole, made up of a network of: ministry to the sick, physically and/or mentally challenged, aged, and dying; prison ministry; ministry to migrants and refugees; employment services and the promotion of workers’ rights and duties; ministry to reduce addictions; ministry promoting the social and environmental responsibilities of companies, businesses, industries, schools and parishes; ministry promoting better conditions for farming and agricultural workers and their dependents; ministry promoting more democratic transparency in government and political parties and social participation; Cáritas / Catholic Charities and Emergency and Disaster Services; and, the Diocesan Institute for Catholic Social Teaching and Social Ministry Formation. We also envisioned and overarching group of human rights personnel who would help to defend and promoted human rights and duties in all the different ministries mentioned above, and who would network with governmental, NGOs, and other organizations so that our efforts would not be duplicated.
Mexico comprises of thirty-two states. The diocese of Tampico comprises of eleven municipalities and is located in the southernmost part of the State of Tamaulipas which borders on the State of Texas in the USA. This diocese is bounded in the south by the State of Veracruz, in the west by the State of San Luis Potosi, in the east by the Golf of Mexico. To the north of this diocese is the diocese of Ciudad Victoria, the capital of the State of Tamaulipas. The eleven municipalities had, in 2004, a total population of about one and half million, and that figure is still the same today. The same geographical size as Trinidad and Tobago! The diocese was, and still is, about 80% catholic. The city and municipality of Tampico is bonded together with the cities and municipalities of Ciudad Madero and Altamira. The three cities – Tampico, Ciudad Madero, and Altamira, form one socio-economic zone in the southern most part of the State of Tamaulipas and known for its educational opportunities in the northeastern region of Mexico.
Ciudad Madero has one of the six oil refineries in Mexico. In recent years, fluctuating oil and refined product prices, higher maintenance and running costs, and the oversizing of personnel, forced the federal government to step in and prevent shot-downs. The east side of Ciudad Madero borders with the Golf of Mexico and tourism has grown over the last few years because of this geographical fact. Tampico is well known for its commercial activity and also has some important tourist sites. Altamira has both important industrial and agricultural activities. Even with all these positive descriptions, the area was plagued with all sorts of social problems: appalling lack of necessary infrastructure with low federal and state assistance; 40% unemployment; low wages; high public transport vehicle maintenance costs; steeply raising utility service costs above and beyond average wage earnings, with poor utility efficiency; and, fastly growing drug-abuse and crime rates, with vastly inadequate and inappropriate criminal justice and rehabilitation systems. Sounds familiar?
TO BE CONTINUED.
