About Maya Missions
We serve the Maya people in the rural communities north of Merida: Noc Ac, Cosgaya, Sierra Papacal, Dzitya, and Komchen. We are known in Mexico as Ayudar es Compartir, which translates to Helping is Sharing.
Our Mission is to unite people beyond differences of geography, culture, and language to share resources and uplift each other through service and education. We strive to enable opportunities and positive change.
Why? The Maya people are rich in cultural tradition, yet their communities are often economically under-resourced without access to services or basic needs we frequently take for granted. Education and health care require money and transportation which often means Maya families go without. By investing in the youth and others in these villages, we are creating long lasting change.
Our Team in Mexico
Ayudar es Compartir is our non-profit organization in Mexico which implements the programming and works in the villages.
The leadership team is led by Jesus Rosales and works closely with the Maya Missions Board of Directors to develop and administer programs which address critical local concerns, while aligning with the vision and mission started many years ago by Sr. Terry and Fr. Bill.
Our team members are caring and compassionate people from the area, well connected with the communities there, and demonstrate strong leadership and commitment to our vision. We also benefit from the help of other volunteers in the area who are passionate about building a better world for those in the communities we serve.
Our Board in the U.S.
Maya Missions has a board of directors in the United States, led by Abby Hurst, Executive Director.
This board is responsible for establishing the mission and vision of Maya Missions, for communicating with supporters in the U.S., for funding the programs in Mexico, and for ensuring the long term viability of the organization and the programs that serve the Maya community.
Our Board in the U.S.
Maya Missions has a board of directors in the United States, led by Abby Hurst, Executive Director.
This board is responsible for establishing the mission and vision of Maya Missions, for communicating with supporters in the U.S., for funding the programs in Mexico, and for ensuring the long term viability of the organization and the programs that serve the Maya community.
Where We Serve
Our History
Sr. Terry Maksym, a Maryknoll nun, began working in this area in the early 1970’s and was inspired by the warmth, generosity, and resilient spirit of the Maya people. She came to know and love the people in these communities and wasn’t afraid to confront tough challenges head-on to help bring about positive change. Sr. Terry continued her work with the Maya and with Fr. Bill until her retirement in 2010. Her commitment to service with love and compassion inspires us still to this day.
Fr. Bill Auth, osfs first visited Mexico in 1981, where he met Sr. Terry and she invited him to come to the Yucatan. Sr. Terry and the Mayan people changed the trajectory of his life. After some Spanish studies, he ended up in Komchen, a small village north of Merida. He lived in the sacristy of the little church and loved the people. For the next 10 years he traveled to Mexico for one month each year, worked on his Spanish, served in the community and built relationships in the nearby villages. In 1991, Fr. Bill moved to Mexico and Maya Indian Missions incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in the United States. Fr. Bill has spent the last 30+ years in service to these communities; uplifting, empowering and sharing became his life work.
Today, the work of Maya Missions continues to make a positive impact, thanks to the strength of the local team in Mexico, the guidance of Fr. Bill and the U.S. Board, and the wonderful support from our friends and supporters who give generously to help enable this work to continue.
Thank you for helping make this world a better place!
