In early 2025, members of the Lumen Institute journeyed to Cuatro Ciénegas, a remote yet vibrant town in the Mexican state of Coahuila, as part of a collaborative mission led by Fr. Daniel Brandenburg and organized in partnership with Catholic World Mission. This pilgrimage was not only a moment of spiritual enrichment for those who traveled but also a continuation of a long-term commitment to strengthening the bonds of family and faith in the local community.
Cuatro Ciénegas, recognized as a Pueblo Mágico for its rare ecological wonders and cultural heritage, faces daily socioeconomic challenges. With an average monthly salary of just $300 USD, many fathers must leave for extended periods to find work, returning to their families only every few weeks. As a result, fewer than 31% of children grow up with both married parents. Despite these hardships, the people of Cuatro Ciénegas demonstrate remarkable resilience, hospitality, and openness to spiritual and communal renewal.
The visit was part of Plan 2040, a comprehensive vision to support the community through faith-based initiatives in health, education, and family life. One of its central pillars is the St. Joseph Initiative, which seeks to accompany and empower men to become strong, present fathers and devoted husbands, recognizing that the stability and spiritual leadership of fathers are vital to the flourishing of families.
Throughout the mission, Lumen members listened, learned, and walked alongside families, offering mentorship, hosting family workshops, and participating in community celebrations. Rather than offering solutions, the group joined in a shared journey of growth rooted in mutual dignity and Christian hope. Conversations centered not only on practical support, such as healthcare access and education, but also on the deeper question: How do we draw closer to God and one another as families?
Participants from both the U.S. and Mexico came away deeply moved by the encounter. Local parents reflected on how Plan 2040 had already begun to transform their homes, not just through material support like food and vaccinations, but through renewed understanding of unity, prayer, and the role of the father. Lumen members, in turn, experienced a deepening of their own call to servant leadership and spiritual fatherhood.
The Cuatro Ciénegas mission stands as a quiet but powerful witness to the Lumen Institute’s broader commitment: forming leaders in virtue and helping build a civilization of love—one family, one relationship, one act of accompaniment at a time.
Read a first-hand account from Bill de St. Aubin about their experience here.
