Today is Labor Day – the Day of the Worker – here in
Honduras, as it is in most of the world. I’ve got the day off from Caritas and
I didn’t get around to arranging a visit to a rural village; so, I’m reading,
writing, cleaning at home in Santa Rosa de Copán.
My days have been fairly busy – though I always wish I had
more to do.
Thursday and Friday was the diocesan assembly of the Social
Ministry, in Intibucá – a three hour drive from Santa Rosa. The assembly was
mostly devoted to the Third Pastoral Plan of the diocese which was completed
last year. The plan is quite ambitious though it reaffirms the ministry of the
diocese in base communities with a strong option for the poor. I ended up
taking notes for the whole meeting as well as giving a presentation on how to
use the booklet for base communities on Catholic Social Teachings which I put
together last year.
It was a fairly good experience though I found myself a
little frustrated by the poor effort one person, a professional, made in leading a discussion on
the current situation in Honduras. But some of the participants – coordinators
of the social ministry in their parishes – were quite incisive in their
responses to some of the issues we treated during the session, especially
Rufino and Denys.
Saturday I went to Dulce Nombre to show my support for two
events going on there. I had thought I wouldn’t be able to get there but the
Social Ministry Assembly, which was supposed to end on Saturday, ended early on
Friday afternoon.
Fr. Henry preaching at the Mass for youth. |
The big event was a gathering of the youth in the parish.
Young people from eight towns or villages came. They started out with a walk from outside Dulce Nombre to the church where Fr.
Henry presided at a Mass. I arrived in time for Mass but missed the walk. After
Mass there was a soccer tournament on the parish soccer field.
Futbol on the parish's futbol field. |
Friday and Saturday morning a workshop had been scheduled
for choirs. César, a seminarian in his pastoral year before ordination, led the
workshop. Sadly only about eight people came. César gave the participants an
understanding of the reason for the various songs in the liturgy and taught
them a few new hymns and new melodies for the ordinary parts of the Mass. I was
impressed by his competence as well as the interest of those involved. I was also surprised that he was going
to be ordained sometime in the next two years. He looks so young. (But then, I'll be 65 in one month!)
César (standing) at the music workshop |
Sunday I went out with a commission of members of the parish
council to a community where there have been problems. Only about 10 of the 16
base communities are functioning and some base communities have been reluctant to pay the
monthly quota of 50 lempiras ($2.60) to the parish.
The commission included Sor Pedrina (one of the Oblates of
the Love of God in the parish), Professor Arnaldo (a retired school teacher who
is the parish council coordinator), Marcia (coordinator of the liturgical
ministry), Efraín Vásquez (an
extraordinary minister of Communion) and me.
There was concern from the people in the community that we
were going to impose something on them.
But we had been sent by the Parish Council to listen and to appraise the
situation.
It helped that Arnaldo started out by explaining why we were
there. Then all were invited to introduce themselves and their ministry n their
base communities.
Some problems emerged, including some people who were
coordinating two or three communities.
After all had spoken several of the visiting team from the
Parish Council spoke.
The most impressive was Efráin Vásquez, who is probably in
his thirties. He revealed a profound analysis of the problems in the community
and offered a reflection based on a scripture passage, Romans 12. He advised
the people to find ways to involve in positions of responsibility even the
most humble members of the community. I was overwhelmed by his wisdom and
eloquence. My guess is that he does not have a lot of formal education, but he
sure has wisdom. His measured speech undermined any fears of the people in the
community, laid bare some of the problems, and opened the way for the community
to find their own solutions to the problem. Amazing!
Fr. Jon Seda giving Efraín Vasquez a pyx in February 2012 |
I have been concerned recently by what I see as a lack of
critical analytical skills among many – including some professionals. But the
example of Efraín, Rufino, and Denys gives me hope.
Now, how to find ways to help others develop their
capacities for critical analysis?
This week is mostly in Caritas, with a workshop Friday
and Saturday for people from the parishes on writing grants. I’ll be attending
part of it and perhaps talking about the different possible sources for
funding.
Saturday I may go to the town of San Marcos Ocotepeque where
Lyly who works in Caritas’ project on Participation will be leading a session
for members of the social ministry in the villages of the parish on Catholic
Social Teaching so that they can more easily use the booklet that I wrote. We met briefly on Monday and I gave her
some suggestions. But it might be good to go there – though I am not looking
forward to the awful “international” highway (if you can call it that) south of
Santa Rosa which is an absolute mess. Many dirt roads here are better than this
major highway.
Cover of the booklet for base communities on Catholic Social Teaching |
Next week I’ll be gone for a five day training session on
Transformation of Conflicts, a follow up to the two sessions I attended last
year. Caritas Honduras sponsored the training, led by facilitators from Caritas
Colombia, using – for the most
part – the methodology of the US Mennonite John Paul Lederach, who
teaches at the University of Notre Dame.
I’ll leave Saturday for the meeting in Siguatepeque – about
four hours from Santa Rosa. I’ve arranged to stop on Sunday noon to visit with
Sisters Nancy and Brenda, the Dubuque Franciscans who minister in Gracias.Visiting with them always refreshes my soul and my body. Nancy is a great cook!
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