Mexico Mission

Mexico Mission is aimed at addressing the needs of the fishing community located in Matamoros, Mexico (a city in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas).

Mexico Mission is aimed at addressing the needs of the fishing community located in Matamoros, Mexico
(a city in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas).

Mexico Mission

Vision

The Mar Thoma Mission, under the Diocese of North America, has been active in the Mexico- Yucatan peninsularegion for over 20 years. The mission’s overarching goal is the holistic development, spiritual engagement, and socio-economic upliftment of underserved coastal fisher communities in Matamoros, Mexico.

The coastal fisher people were facing malnutrition, economic deprivation, lack of educational and employment opportunities which forced the young men and women to make unreasonable choices in life – often leading to poverty. The unstable family structure and lack of education access ensured the poverty cycle to continue.

The Mar Thoma Mexico Mission was established over two decades ago to address extreme poverty, malnutrition, and the lack of educational and medical services in the two coastal islands of Ponte Norte and Fantasia, Mexico. The community struggled with low income, seasonal employment, and limited access to basic care. These socio-economic challenges often lead to cycles of poverty, with young people becoming vulnerable to drug trade, gangs, and life on the streets

Key Accomplishments

With the God’s providence, the mission sustained through severe politically unstable period of 2007-2014, having remained operational when many other U.S.-based churches terminated their operations. Our efforts have successfully transformed the lives of several families through our focus on holistic development:

Housing and Infrastructure

Our Housing Complex, Colonia Mar Thoma, provides secure and stable housing for over thirty families, offering access to electricity, clean running water, proper kitchen, and bathroom facilities. This project ensures decent living conditions and safety for residents, forming the foundation for sustainable community growth and healthier family environments.

Housing and Infrastructure

Nutritional Assistance (Manna Program)

Provides grocery and hygiene essentials periodically, along with a daily healthy breakfast meal and after-school snack for children and the elderly or disabled. This nutritional support helps eliminate hunger, improves health, and contributes significantly to economic stability and long-term well-being among residents in Colonia Mar Thoma and neighboring communities.

Nutritional Assistance (Manna Program)

Empowerment

Through job guidance and empowerment programs, residents were encouraged to seek stable non-fishing employment in ranches and civil construction. The resulting income and stability uplifted the community economically, enabling many families to qualify for and receive official government aid programs designed to support low-income families in the region.

Empowerment

Education

Successfully educated over forty students through high school or higher education levels, including a medical doctor and several university graduates. An on-site primary school operates in partnership with the Mexican Education Department. A computer center and library offer children from Colonia Mar Thoma and nearby areas essential digital literacy.

Education

Medical Assistance

Organizes periodic medical and dental camps while offering both financial and logistical assistance for advanced treatments. These services help ensure timely access to quality healthcare and improve community well-being, reducing preventable illnesses while promoting consistent medical care for children, adults, and the elderly living in Colonia Mar Thoma.

Medical Assistance

Spiritual Development

The Iglesia Mar Thoma de Matamoros, known as Jubilee Chapel, was consecrated in 2013. It hosts worship services in Spanish, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and frequent spiritual gatherings that strengthen faith and unity, encouraging moral development and community harmony among residents of Colonia Mar Thoma and nearby neighborhoods.

Spiritual Development

A resident evangelist and family are providing spiritual and community leadership for the residents. Efforts are underway to extend our mission to the surrounding communities build bridges for a larger community living.

Current Projects and programs:

Colonia mar Thoma Housing Complex

Security fencing and gates were completed for the Colonia Mar Thoma compound. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are added to 50 houses. Running water is brought in to every household. Centralized sewer system and flood control measures were implemented. Premises cleaning and approach road grading were completed. Applications are submitted for Electric connectivity.

School and Computer center

A primary school (grades 1-4) was started at the Colonia Mar Thoma compound in conjunction with the State education department (CONAFE). An education assistance program has been extended to 14 middle school, 9 high school, 5 graduate/vocational and 1 medical student.

Economic development

Support has been given to families for self-employment. Many families have started raising livestock and also started small scale industries such as baking, tailoring, and embroidery. Many adults were able to find employment in nearby ranches and government construction projects.

Basic health / Wellness

A primary health center (dispensary) has been added to the compound. We are working with the Mexican Department of Social Services to provide a Doctor’s services on a regular basis.

Spiritual Development

Spanish language VBS has been conducted in Colonia in 2012 and is scheduled for 2013. Christmas carol sessions are conducted during the Christmas season. Efforts are under way to start Spanish language Sunday school sessions on a monthly basis.

A new chapel “Iglesias Mar Thoma de Matamoros” or Mar Thoma Church of Matamoros construction is being completed. The Chapel is scheduled to be consecrated in October 12, 2013.

Mission Opportunities

Mission Support can be provided in several ways, including monetary donations to nutrition and education programs or direct involvement through volunteering in site activities, medical camps, and spiritual events. Opportunities are available for Diocese organizations to organize mission events, individually at Mexico or combined programs with southwest border mission (serve at both sides of US-Mexico border in single trip)

Need:

Continued prayers and support are needed as various efforts are in progress to enhance the effectiveness of the mission. Ongoing needs include the appointment of a full-time missionary with working knowledge in Spanish, improving transportation, repairs to housing units, etc…

Origin

A Mission of Shelter, Hope & Resilience

Mexico Mission was established in 2003 under the leaderships of Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos with the aim to work among the fishermen community in Tamaulipas, which is a group of islands about sixty miles off the eastern coast of Mexico. Houses were built to replace the temporary shacks that they inhabited. When these homes were destroyed by Hurricane Emily in 2005, a plot of land was purchased further inland in Matamoros. It was here that a housing development named as ‘Colonia Mar Thoma’ (which means Mar Thoma Community in Spanish) was inaugurated in May 2008 as a part of Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan’s Navathy celebrations.