Quite a day

Saturday was quite a day. 

I woke up early (5:20 am) to a chill morning (55 F on the terrace). After putting on the coffee and taking a warm shower, I sat down to pray in my prayer room. About 7:00 am, I had breakfast, washed some clothes and hung them up to dry, even though it’s cold and drizzly. I also did a bit of computer work. 

From my house on the morning of January 1

At about 8 am, I headed out to Dulce Nombre. I had an interview with a couple who will be married next week. These interviews are part of their final preparation – going through a number of questions with them and two witnesses to make sure there are no glitches and that they can freely and voluntarily share the sacrament of matrimony. 

Often these interviews are a gift for me, giving me a share in the lives of a couple who want to welcome God in their marriage in a special, sacramental way. Sometimes they are couples who have not been living together, but often these are couples who have lived together for several years and have children. In a culture where many couples just get together and have kids, it is a real sign of faith when a couple decides to share the sacrament. 

 This time, the interview was especially significant. I’ve known the husband since my first years helping in the parish. He was involved in some of the youth group activities. I also had the privilege of baptizing their child two years ago. 

After the interview, I went to the meeting of the extraordinary ministers of communion in the parish. They meet every month and I usually accompany them. This time, though, they accompanied me. 

This week I’ll be going to San Pedro Sula for a biopsy of my prostate. I had asked our pastor, Padre German, if I could receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and I requested that we do this during the meeting of the ministers. 

So, after the meeting was finished, we gathered around and celebrated the sacrament. Before being anointed on the forehead and the hands, we prayed the penitential rite and Father German read the Gospel of the healing of the servant of the centurion. I found myself close to tears, surrounded by the love of God and of Padre German and the communion ministers. In some ways, I felt like the sick man let down by his friends into the house where Jesus was (Luke 5: 17-26), surrounded I was by those who were present and by others who have supported me in this time and who have offered to help me. 

After this, the ministers had a gift exchange and then lunch and a cake. 

Rather than go back home, I stayed around the parish center since at 4:00 we celebrated the 17th anniversary of Father German’s priestly ordination.

I got home close to 7:00 pm, had dinner, read, and prayed. 

Sunday, I went to a rural village for a Celebration of the Word with Communion. In the afternoon, I went to San Agustín for Mass, serving as deacon and preaching.

Tomorrow, I’ll be preparing for my trip to San Pedro on Tuesday. 

I’ll close with this rather amazing photo that someone took yesterday before the Mass to celebrate the anniversary of Father German’s ordination.