In the outskirts of Mexico, residents face numerous challenges such as crime and political corruption. Despite these obstacles, they remain resilient and manage to hold on to hope and faith, even in difficult times. This was evident when I spent a week in one such neighbourhood and met the priest of the local church.

The church, which has long been a central hub for the community, was in danger of collapsing due to an earthquake in the area, known for its seismic activity. When I spoke to the priest, he was improvising ways to hold a Christmas mass the following Sunday. I followed the residents over the next week to see how they dealt with the situation and to learn from their resilience.

Although Catholicism is in decline in this part of Mexico, the spirit of the residents proved resilient and they continued to have faith in difficult times. They came together and found ways to gather, despite the circumstances. They drew strength from their faith and held on to hope for better times.

The recent major earthquake in Mexico City has hit this community even harder, but even now the residents remain resilient and continue to seek ways to come together and hold on to their faith. They show that it is possible to hold on to hope and continue to have faith, even in difficult times and in spite of the decline around them.