"3. Fr David Beaumont

He started his mission by riding a donkey into the remote areas of northern Mexico and getting to know the four native tribes. Capuchin friar David Beaumont has spent the last 20 years as a missionary. It took Fr Beaumont four years to learn the languages of the tribes: the Pimas, the Guarijíos, the Yaquis, and the Mayos. He has since written four different catechisms in each tribal language and compiled dictionaries.

The biggest obstacle he faces is that his mission is based in one of the biggest drug-harvesting areas in the world. Growing cannabis and heroin is a lucrative, billion-dollar business, and the native people might live in shacks or mansions. A challenge is to promote the harvesting of crops such as corn and beans, so that the local people can become self-sufficient. Among the poor inhabitants alcoholism is rife. As a consequence, wife-beating is an attendant woe. Escaping their troubled home life, the native children flock to his side. He has started a soccer league for children and teenagers. Fr Beaumont has started programmes for treating alcoholism, and has acted as a spiritual father to thousands of families when the biological father was either absent or too inebriated. But Fr Beaumont is in the middle of starting a programme for men that will encourage them to take up the traditional tribal role as providers and protectors.

Much of his hard work came to fruition in March 2010, with the inception of the Beaumont Foundation, which is named in his honour. It has a particular aim in giving immediate aid to the poverty-stricken people of the lower Pima Region."

Click here to read the full article by Mary O'Regan

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Capuchin Missionary Brings Message of Peace to Mexico

Priest seeks peace in the Sierra Madre

In the 20 years since Fr. David Beaumont came to serve the Pima Indians of Yecora,
the region has become one of most dangerous drug-growing areas in the world.

(Click here to read the full story)

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Women's Retreat at San Lorenzo

"Hunger and Thirst for the Living God"
By Patti Snyder
Old Mission Santa Ines

The 16th Annual San Lorenzo Women's retreat was held February 18-20, and was the first time I attended the retreat. As we were welcomed on Friday night, I was surprised to see the joy among the ladies, arriving from many different cities, renewing friendships formed during past retreats.   When Father David Beaumont welcomed us in the chapel during a Taize service, I thought, "He has the look of Christ". As we enjoyed the meditative hymns we reflected on Father's message that those things in our life that we hunger for can be summed up as love, and the perfect love is given to us by God!

(Click here to read the full story)

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Father David Beaumont, A Missionary in Mexico

An Interview by Patty Snyder and Marilyn Coyle
from the San Lorenzo Seminary Women's Retreat
February 2011

  Last updated June 16,  2011