When Fr. Flavian started AGAPE, it was quite an unpretentious adventure of sharing a Christmas meal with some street folk in the parish hall of “La Santísima Trinidad” church in Sonsonate, El Salvador. AGAPE would evolve from these humble foundations to become the most dynamic charitable relief service for the indigent population of this tiny Latin American country.

In the past 45 years, Fr. Flavian’s dream to serve the needs of the poor in El Salvador has grown in its complexity: it now includes elder care, healthcare, education, and communications (Radio Luz, Radio AGAPE Occidente and AGAPE Oriente and AGAPE TV channel 8). We’ve initiated “Solidarity routes” during the pandemic to distribute food to interior and isolated communities. AGAPE also feeds thousands of hungry families who show up at our door, providing them monthly rations of whatever we have to offer.

I mentioned education and communication above. Besides nourishing the body, Fr. Flavian knew all too well that education on all levels – from preschool programs to technical institutions – would be key to creating an environment of dignified development. He dreamed the dream of education and now we have those specific levels of higher learning, with accreditation. The numbers have grown, and the government now provides scholarships. Fr. Flavian even received something he never dreamed of: a University named for him. 

Communications was another favorite area of Fr. Flavian. He started to nurture communities not only with programs of art and culture, but also with programs of moral, ethical and Franciscan values which strengthened the souls of the Salvadoran family. As society became more digitized, television and social media became important. Those who have any handheld device (a cell phone or a tablet) can now “tune into AGAPE TV.” The digitized world continues the dream of the founder, even if he could not foresee it.

All the things that I am sharing with you, our devoted patrons, loyal readers, and contributors to the Franciscan Mission Associates, are the projects which you have supported through the years by your kindness and generosity. They were the dreams of Fr. Flavian, and now they have been realized through the efforts of those associated with AGAPE and the help of the Salvadoran establishment and beneficiaries of this great work like you.   

With confidence in Divine Providence and your loving support, I would like to mention another dream that Fr. Flavian had, the dream of a hospital in AGAPE. He spoke about it for many years, but unfortunately never lived to see that dream come to fruition. After Fr. Flavian’s death, I, as president, have had the honor to expedite the development of the hospital.

We had an added stipulation that it be not only a medical center, but an educational institution. We have recently signed an agreement with medical professionals that will assist AGAPE in the realization of this dream, the dream both of Fr. Flavian and of his successor, your humble servant. Our hospital will educate nurses and doctors for the future. I surely hope to see the realization of this dream that Fr. Flavian did not live to see. Dreams do come true, even if we don’t see it.

How grateful we would be if you would consider contributing to help us achieve this dream. That gratitude comes to you not only from me, but from all the poor we serve at AGAPE. Our prayers are with you.

AGAPE is the Agape Association of El Salvador, one of the IC Province missions that your donations to Franciscan Mission Associates (FMA) supports. AGAPE was founded in 1978 by Father Flavian Mucci and has grown into a human development institution.

AGAPE contributes to meeting the needs of the most unprotected sectors of the country through services in education, health, food, evangelization, environment, social assistance and promotion of values—all guided by ethical principles and Franciscan Christian values. AGAPE carries out care programs that, combined with productive projects or activities, generate resources for its sustainability and increasing its social impact.