History of the Mission

The Mission in Creel, Chihuahua, Mexico is led by Father Luis G. Verplancken, S.J. He was born in Guadalajara, Mexico whose family had immigrated from Belgium. He first learned about the Tarahumara Indians when he was in the seminary and was called to serve them as a vocation. He has spent over 40 years living and working with the Tarahumara people and is one of the few non-Indians to have achieved fluency in the Uto-Aztececan language, the Tarahumara native language. His moving photographs of the Indians and their region have been published in numerous magazines and books including the National Geographic.

Father Verplancken's philosophy is to help people help themselves, rather than to dole out charity. He emphasizes teaching the Indians how to raise crops and healthier animals, improve their nutrition and hygiene, and prevent diseases.

Father Verplancken serves as the Executive Director of the Creel Mission. Of the 39 staff members one is an assistant director, a priest, eight are nursing nuns, six are doctors, twenty are nurse-students and four are teachers. The other staff members, secretaries, gift store sales people, techs and maintenance crew are local people, many of whom are Tarahumara Indians themselves. The Mission has also attracted a number of American volunteers who help with short-term projects.

Major Accomplishments

Clinic of St Theresa

A modern full-service hospital built thirty five years ago by Father Verplancken offers seventy-five beds and the only one in the region serving the health care of the Tarahumara. Primary reasons for admittance to the hospital include malnutrition, intestinal and respiratory diseases. Other health services, provided on an outreach basis, include immunizations, prenatal check-ups and dental care. Last year 4,381 patients were provided health care. They came from 56 different villages, some very far away.

Boarding School

Ninety children attend the Mission Boarding school on weekdays, returning home to their families for the week-ends. While their tribal language is maintained, children are taught Spanish, as well as educational and vocational skills.

Water Wells

Polluted drinking water has always been a source of medical problems, particularly among the children. Much of their illness could be prevented by having clean drinking water. The well-drilling project of the Mission continues in an effort to bring clean drinking water to Tarahumara families.

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