Today, on the feast of Stephen, the first deacon, I’m
sitting in a café in Santa Rosa de Copán, waiting for my car to me fixed. This
past month or so, the pickup has been through lots of repairs. But that’s not
as important as what has happened the past few days.
Last Friday and Saturday I helped with harvests in the
parish coffee lands. About 200 parishioners, of all ages, showed up to
volunteer their time, harvesting close to 5000 gallons of coffee berries. (I’m
using US measurements. The “galón” they use to measure the coffee berries is a
five gallon bucket.) It was a super-abundant harvest, the second this season. In
about two or three weeks, we’ll have another harvest since there are still lots
of green berries on the coffee plants. (Typically there are three to five
harvests in each coffee field during the harvest season.)
I picked a little, but I mostly transported people to and
from the field and took some coffee to the place where the seeds were separated
from the pulp. I calculated that I drove five hours on Friday and six hours on
Saturday. No wonder the pickup is in the shop.
Sunday I preached at the 7 am Mass in Concepción, Copán, and
then went home to bake bread and cinnamon rolls.
Padre German had several Masses on December 24, Christmas eve,
with a midnight Mass in nearby Candelaria, Concepción. He asked me to preach there. I
tried to take a nap before Mass but no luck – too much anticipation and too
many firecrackers (some quite loud).
After getting to bed after Mass at about 2 am, I got up early
to go to the village of Grandillal, San Agustín, for a Celebration of the Word
with Communion. The celebration started late but it was so good to be there. After
the Celebration, they invited me to have pop and cake with the kids, but I told
them I had a long trip for a big lunch.
After traveling 45 minutes from Granadillal to Plan Grande to
pick up stuff, I headed to Gracias Lempira, almost two hours away. I brought
the bread and cinnamon rolls (which were a great treat.) There with the five
Dubuque Franciscan Sisters who are in Honduras, a sister from another Franciscan
congregation, another US associate of the Franciscans (who lives across from
them) and Padre Loncho, the pastor of Gracias, we had a feast. They even had a
vegetarian quiche for me.
The sisters are a real support community for me. I find
myself refreshed each time I visit with them.
Since I stayed overnight in their guest room, I joined them
at about 4:30 for Christmas caroling in the Gracias prison. The sisters have
been serving the prisoners since Sister Nancy arrived in Gracias. The director
delayed the lock-down half an hour so that we could have time to be there.
We visited the three parts of the prison – the sentenced,
those awaiting trial or sentencing, and the women. We walked in singing – to the
surprise of the imprisoned. The sisters had a sheet with the words and invited
them to sing with us. As we began with “Feliz Navidad,” I found myself almost
overwhelmed by emotion. How could they have a happy Christmas there. But the
sisters’ presence was welcomed with smiles and singing. I recognized a few,
since I had helped Sister Pat with a few Alternatives to Violence workshops in
the prison.
We got back to the sisters’ house about 6:30 and had a little
to eat. I was full and so a brownie and a cup of hot tea were enough.
Today, I joined the sisters for Morning Prayer, as I do
whenever I’m there. It was a great way to celebrate St. Stephen’s feast, with
women who truly live the diaconal spirit.
The next few days will be busy.
Today there is another group finishing the harvest in the
parish field. If my car is fixe, I may be able to help transport people at the
end of the day.
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Wednesday and Thursday we have the annual parish meeting for
evaluation and planning. On Friday I have a pre-marriage interview. Then the
weekend - and lots of firecrackers on New Years Eve.
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