Ometepe Sister Island Project

Bainbridge Island has a sister-city relationship with the Island of Ometepe in Nicaragua which was started by an islander who wanted to impact an area in a positive way to offset the effects of the Contras in that country. Every spring for a number of years, Bainbridge High School has sent a student delegation to Ometepe on a service project. These projects have included building preschools, latrines, high school facilities and building friendships and good will. Any high school student is eligible to participate during the school Spring break each year.

In the spring of 1992, Katie Walton (one of St. Cecilia’s youth), visited Ometepe. As a part of her confirmation service project, she elected to establish a sister parish relationship with one of the churches on the island. There are thirteen parishes on the island and one priest. The parish of San Marcos was chosen for her to build a relationship with. When she went, she brought messages and prayers from our parish to theirs, as well as vestments and religious education supplies. This particular parish is in a rural community and has very limited resources but a rich spiritual life. As student delegations have visited since, the Walton family has tried to see that some supplies have been included for these people including Spanish religious education books, rosaries, and holy cards.

A group who could be an ongoing contact would keep this relationship alive as groups continue to visit the island about three or four times a year. The chance to establish such personal ties to a Third World community is unusual and beneficial to both sides. As they have written to us, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. For more information, please call Janie Walton (842-3723) or visit their web site .