After a twenty four plus hour day of travel from Rome to San
Pedro Sula and three hours in bus to Santa Rosa de Copán, I arrived home in Santa Rosa de Copán on
Friday.
Saturday morning I woke up early to get to Dulce Nombre, to
see if they needed help in the new catechists training session. I dropped by
and gave them holy cards from Assisi.
I ended up, though, spending most of the day with Padre
German Navarro, the pastoral administrator, in two distant communities.
As almost always, it delights me to be out in the
countryside; in addition, it was great to see Padre German in action.
Padre German with the quinceañera and her mother |
We first went to Piedras Coloradas where Mass would be
accompanied by a quinceañera
celebration; a young woman in the community turned fifteen. This was only the
second quinceañera celebration I’ve seen in the countryside in five years and
this was rather subdued, with no attendants, compared to the other. This
village is poor, but the family wanted to celebrate this day for their
daughter.
Before confessions and Mass, Padre German sat down with the
community leaders to talk about a problem that had arisen. Sitting on a step in
the church he helped them seek a solution to the problem.
After spending a little time at the meal that the family
offered to the whole community, we went to Aldea Nueva (which Padre German kept
calling “Tierra Nueva”).
Again there were confessions and Mass in the tiny church.
Before Mass, I talked with Mario from the community in the sacristy which was
filled with concrete blocks. He proudly told how the community had fundraising
activities to buy a thousand blocks to help build a new, larger church. They
only need 500 more. He also told me that the Protestant owner of the place
where they bought the blocks gave them 50 blocks free.
Mass in Aldea Nueva |
I was impressed by the initiative of the community, raising
funds for their new church, not always looking for help outside.
Sunday was a day of rest, cleaning, writing, and getting
things arranged. Most of this week will be in Caritas, but I’m looking forward
to renewing my ministry in the parish. It’s what gives me animo.
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