Noticias ICERGUA |
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NOTICIAS: OCTUBRE DE 2009 |
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PERIPLOS DEL OBISPO Y ALGO MÁS
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OCTOBER 2. EUCHARIST IN THE COMMUNITY OF EFUSIÓN DEL ESPÍRITU SANTO IN SANTIAGO ATITLÁN. |
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The Community of Efusión del Espíritu Santo, as on the day of Pentecost, is experiencing strong growth. According to the faithful in the community, every Sunday a new family that joins the Community. The bishop made a regular visit to the Community on Friday, October 2. In the photo at left: preparation for the entrance procession. The ministers were well prepared, and the celebration took place orderly and harmoniously. |
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During the Mass, three confirmations were celebrated, as well as several first communions and a baptism. Right: in the center across the aisle, brother Cruz Toj, leader of the Community. |
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OCTOBER 2. MARRIAGES IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE PENTECOST, SANTIAGO ATITLÁN. |
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On the second of October in late afternoon, the bishop celebrated the Eucharist with the Community of the Pentecost in Santiago Atitlán. On the same occasion, three marriages of people who had recently joined the community were celebrated. The house of prayer was carefully decorated down the last detail. Right: the entrance procession. |
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Left: The parents and sponsors of the couple along with the bishop are participating in the epiclesis, just after the couple have expressed their consent to marry one another. In the Renewed Catholic rite, the Holy Spirit is who sacramentally creates the matrimonial union. For that reason the epiclesis is essential and indispensable for the sacramental validity of the rite. |
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| OCTOBER 3. ALLIANCE AND CONFIRMATIONS IN LA RINCONADA, TAPACHULA, MEXICO. |
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On Saturday, the third, the bishop made a pastoral visit to the first community in the Chiapas area to make an alliance with ICERGUA. The Community of La Rinconada in the municipality of Amatenango consists of about twenty families and 160 members. Every moment of the ceremony was beautifully prepared. |
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During the celebration there were baptisms, confirmations and first communions. Especially moving were the confirmations of three girls and four boys. Several of them had been victims of serious crimes in the past. Now the Lord has transformed them, and like Jesus Christ’s apostles they are ready to give their witness to the Gospel. |
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The People of God participated actively in the celebration. Left: Four of those being confirmed are presenting the ciborium and the chalice, and all the faithful are raising their hands to offer themselves as living sacrifices, acceptable to the Father. |
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| OCTOBER 3. CELEBRATION WITH THE COMMUNITIES OF TACANÁ, SAN MARCOS AND TECTITÁN, HUEHUE. |
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On the third of October, in late afternoon, from Tectitán the climb to Tacaná began so that the bishop could make his first visit to the new Community of El Durazno in Tacaná, San Marcos. During the past few months, with the help of the faithful of Cuilco two small communities have been formed: one in Tectitán and the other in Durazno. Together they have thirty families and about 275 members. Full of enthusiasm, they have felt some persecution. That has, however, served to strengthen them in the faith. |
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Left: the prayer during the Eucharist in El Durazno, Tacaná, San Marcos. |
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| OCTOBER 4. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF ICERGUA. |
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On the fourth of October, several meetings were held in the Education Center in Huehuetenango with the purpose of preparing the Anniversay celebration. First a meeting was held to assess the progress of the construction of the platform where the altar will be located. The platform will be 60 square meters in size, with a height of 60 centimeters and will be covered with a metal structure. Situated at a strategic point, it will enable the faithful, no matter how many there are, who participate in the celebration on October 27 and future celebrations to a have a direct view of what is taking place. In addition a smaller platform is being built for the musicians.
There was also a meeting with the representatives of the Renewed Catholic Communities of San Pedro Soloma, who will coordinate security and the reception of the faithful on the twenty-seventh. Full of enthusiasm, they are finalizing the plans for carrying out the tasks entrusted to them.
The last meeting was a friendly conference with Father Bernabé, a priest originally from Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango, who is interested in learning about ICERGUA. |
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| OCTOBER 9. EUCHARISTS WITH THE COMMUNITIES OF PAJOMEL AND CHUITZANCHAJ, SOLOLÁ. |
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On the afternoon of the ninth, Monsignor Eduardo made a visit to the Community of Pajomel, Santa Cruz La Laguna. One of the important reasons was the baptism of a child. The community ordinarily has Eucharist once a month. The community is growing, and its members are characterized by their dedication and zeal. |
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The afternoon of the ninth ended with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Community of Chuitzanchaj, Santa Cruz La Laguna. This year the community has put up the walls and roof of its house of prayer. It is large enough to accommodate the growing community.
The location of the house of prayer is very beautiful. Left: The celebrants after the Eucharist. In the background is the incomparable view of the sunset and Lake Atitlán. |
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| OCTOBER 10. ALLIANCE WITH THE COMMUNITY OF CHAMAL, CONCEPCIÓN TUTUAPA, SAN MARCOS. |
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During the last couple months, the Community of Chamal, a part of Concepción Tutuapa, San Marcos, has been meeting for discernment. It was decided to buy a lot for the construction of its church and was considering whether the Lord was calling them to make an alliance with and become part of the Renewed Catholic Church. The pressures to prevent this alliance were strong. But in the end, the call of the Lord became irresistible. The entire Catholic community in the village decided to answer the call of the Lord and made an alliance with us. It was a moment of powerful emotion when every one of the participants was invited to sign the document of commitment. |
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On the occasion of the alliance, several baptisms and first communions were celebrated.
Above and right: various moments during the celebration. |
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| OCTOBER 11. MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITIES OF CHIANTLA, HUEHUETENANGO. |
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On Sunday, the eleventh in the morning in Capellanía, one of the peaks of the Cuchumatanes, 3400 meters above sea level, a conference with some 2300 representatives of different communities of the municipality of Chintla, Huehuetenango took place.
Along with the Eucharist, baptisms and confirmations were also celebrated. |
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Above: The homily, in which the bishop stressed the importance of the missionary commitment of all Renewed Catholics.
Right: The celebration of baptism. |
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Left: The recessional. Repre-sentatives of the communities were full of excitement and committed themselves to follow the Lord even more than before. |
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| OCTOBER 17. CELEBRATION WITH THE PACTO DIVINO MINISTRY, LOS ANGELES. |
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On the afternoon of October 17, the bishop visited the Community of Pacto Divino in Los Angeles, California. This community consists mainly of young people, mostly Quiché. Brothers Danilo and Pedro share the leadership of the community. |
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| OCTOBER 18. BAPTISMS AND FIRST COMMUNIONS IN THE COMMUNITY OF EL PESCADOR, LOS ANGELES. |
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In the evening of October 17, the Community of El Pescacador in Los Angeles celebrated the Eucharist, presided by Mons. Eduardo, to give thanks for the opening of a new assembly during the week and a new ministry of music. Since the community allied itself with ICERGUA, it has been experiencing sustained growth and abundant blessings.
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Also in Pescador on the eighteenth, there was special festivity: for the first time in the community baptisms, confirmations, first communions and a marriage were celebrated. |
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| OCTOBER 18. THE CLOSING EXERCISES AT ESTYMLA. |
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On the seventeenth and eighteenth, a solemn Mass, presided by Father Santos Acoista and concelebrated by Father Bernabé, brought ESTYMLA (School of Theology and Ministerial Education for the People of God) to a close for the year. The students were very enthusiastic about their education in the school. This year the school has had classes not only in the central seat of the deanery of Huehuentenango, but also in extension programs in Nebaj and Chajul. For the coming year, it is hoped that the extensions can operate in many parishes in order to assure continuous education for all the faithful in the church. |
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Above: First year students.
Right: Second and third year students. |
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| OCTOBER 22-28. VISIT OF FATHER ALEXANDER, DELEGATE OF HIS HOLINESS KIRIL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW. |
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From the twenty-second to the twenty-eighth, we were blessed with the visit of Archpriest Father Alexander, delegate of His Holiness Kirill, Catholic Apostolic Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. The visit was for the two communions to learn about each other, with the hope of deepening the communion between them and pave the way for full unity.
Right: Arrival at the airport. Left to right: our bishop, Mons. Eduardo, Father Alexander, Father Herberth Urrutia. |
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| OCTOBER 23. EUCHARIST CLOSING THE SCHOOL YEAR AT THE SEMINARY. |
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On the morning of Friday, the twenty-third, the closing Mass for the year 2009 was celebrated, our bishop presiding. Fathers Rosendo and Bernabé concelebrated, and Father Alexander was also present. |
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| OCTOBER 23. OUR BISHOP’S SECOND PASTORAL LETTER, “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD." |
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Dated October 27, our bishop’s second Pastoral Letter has been published, coinciding with the second anniversary of the birth of our church as a Local Church. The title of the letter is “Go into All the World and Proclaim the Gospel to Every Creature.” Available in PDF format, it explains the concrete form in which our church is called to fulfill the mission that the Lord has entrusted to it. The letter has been distributed for the faithful to study and will be the theme for reflection and contemplation throughout the year of 2010. |
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| OCTOBER 24. VISIT TO THE ORTHODOX CONVENT OF AMATITLÁN. |
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On Saturday, the twenty-fourth, Father Alexander visited the Orthodox Convent of Amatitlán to be a witness at the celebration of a marriage that took place in between two of the icons that the monastery chapel has been painting, and the Abbess, Mother Inés Ayau, invited our bishop to be present at the beautiful ceremony. Several members of the Orthodox community of Guatemala attended, including the diplomatic personnel of the Russian Embassy in Guatemala, for the couple are of Russian origin. |
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| OCTOBER 24. EUCHARIST IN THE COMMUNITY OF LOS OLIVOS, ZONA 18, GUATEMALA CITY. |
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In the evening of October 24 our bishop made his first pastoral visit to the Community of Los Olivos in Zone 18 of the capital. This community is attended by Father Herberth Urrutia, who has just made an alliance with ICERGUA.
Our bishop was accompanied by Father Alexander, who greeted the congregation at the end of the service.
The People of God presented beautiful remembrances of Guatemala both to our bishop and to His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill, to whom Father Alexander will take them. |
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| OCTOBER 25. EUCHARIST IN THE CATHEDRAL OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, COMALAPA. |
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On Sunday, October 25, Father Rigoberto Upún, Vicar General of ICERGUA, on behalf of the Community of the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista invited our bishop to preside at the Eucharist on the occasion of Father Alexander’s visit there.
Four masses are celebrated every Sunday in the Cathedral. Each month between 25,000 and 30,000 communicants celebrate Mass, and it is estimated that about 8,000 faithful attend Mass each Sunday.
At the 9:00 Mass, which was presided by the bishop, some two thousand faithful were in attendance, demonstrating their joy on the visit of Father Alexander. |
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Above: The entrance procession, which began at the Colonial Church and went to the Cathedral by way of the cloister.
left: The crowd that filled the Cathedral for the Eucharist. |
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During the homily, Monsignor Eduardo, referring to the readings for the liturgy, remembered the radicality of the commitment that we have, being chosen by the Lord to make his Kingdom present and to make visible to everyone the vitality of the Church that Christ through the Holy Spirit continues to vitalize and direct. |
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Above: The homily during the Mass.
Left: Father Alexander greets the community and thanks it for the gifts that the Cathedral directors have given him for himself and for His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia as well as for Archbishop Hilarion, who is responsible for relations with the churches of the patriarchy. |
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Right: In the vestibule after the Mass and the recessional, Father Rigoberto explains the various initiatives that the Cathedral parish is undertaking. |
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| OCTOBER 25: VISIT TO THE COMMUNITIES OF USPANTÁN, EL QUICHÉ. |
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El 25 por la tarde, nuestro obispo, también acompañado por el Padre Alexander, visitó el Centro Carismático de Uspantán, Quiché. Con la celebración de la Eucaristía se concluyó la Asamblea Dominical que habían tenido representantes de las diferentes comuidades del municipio. También se realizaron varios bautismos y se tuvo una reunión con los miembros del Consejo Pastoral. |
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| OCTOBER 25. RETREAT AND PASTORAL WORK AT THE END OF THE SEMINARY’S YEAR. |
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During the evening of the twenty-fourth and all day on the twenty-fifth, the seminarians held a retreat to prepare themselves for the pastoral mission that was to begin on the twenty-seventh, ending with the Mass of the Anniversary and the Ordinations. Responsible for coordinating the retreat was the then deacon Juan Moisés Mendoza Sapalú, who worked in collaboration with the other three deacons (Marcos Caicedo, Felipe Corimanya and Gildardo Ramírez). The four were ordained as priests on October 27. On the twenty-sixth the seminarians worked hard decorating the Education Center for the celebration of the following day. After the celebration all departed on their missions. Most of these ended on November 10. Some, however, stayed longer in the communities they were serving. |
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| OCTOBER 26. BLESSING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARISH CHURCH IN SOLOMA, HUEHUETENANGO. |
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The Renewed Catholic Communities of San Pedro Soloma, Huehuetenango, has concluded its purchase of a lot on which they will build a most beautiful parish church. Offices and education rooms will be built on the first floor, and a sanctuary to accommodate 1000 faithful comfortably on the second floor.
On October 26, our bishop was invited to preside at Eucharist to mark officially the commencement of construction.
Since Father Alexander was present and had attended the Mass, Monsignor Eduardo invited him to be the person who would perform the sprinkling of holy water. |
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Above: The construction project.
Right: Father Alexander sprinkling the water on the community that attended the Mass and were standing exactly where the church is to be built. |
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| OCTOBER 26. PASTORAL VISIT TO SANTA EULALIA, HUEHUETENANGO. |
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At midday on the October 26, Monsignor Eduardo visited the Community of Belén in Santa Eulalia. Present were delegates from the whole Renewed Catholic Parish of Santa Eulalia. The reception took place on the highway where the road to Belén begins. The whole ceremony was carefully prepared. The bishop was received by Father Fredi Mux, Parish of Santa Eulalia, and by members of the Pastoral Council. Father Alexander accompanied the bishop.
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After the Eucharist, Father Alexander addressed the assembly to express his thanks for the cordial welcome he had received and also his admiration for the depth of faith in all the People of God, which he saw in the various communities he visited. |
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| OCTOBER 27. ANNIVERSARY OF ICERGUA AND ORDINATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD. |
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Tuesday, October 27, was the second anniversary of our church as a “Local Church” and the sacramental presence of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, as well as the anniversary of the ordination of Monsignor Eduardo as bishop. It was a day of special joy. More than six thousand faithful members, representing the various communities of ICERGUA gathered in Huehuetenango to participate in the ceremony, within which four of our brothers who were deacons were ordained as priests. In addition to the great effort that the seminarians took in the preparation, the collaboration of the faithful from Soloma , Huehuetenango and Chiantla as well as the ministry of Los Voceros de Cristo from Satnta Eulalia, who did the music for the celebration, was evident.
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All the presbyters in ICERGUA gathered for the celebration and participated as concelebrants.
Above: the crowd on the south and west side. Another crowd, even larger, was located on the north side.
Right: Some of the presbyters during the entrance procession.
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The Gospel was sung in Spanish and Russian. It was sung in Spanish by the then-deacon Juan Moisés, and in Russian by Father Alexander.
Left: The Gospel Procession.
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Right: Marcos Manuel Caicedo Tenorio. A native of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Marcos has been with us since 2003. His supervised pastoral field work was done in the Communities of Uspantán and Cunén. His ministry will be with the Communities of Nucá and San Mateo Ixtatán in Huehuetenango. For the ordination ceremony he was blessed with the presence of his mother and sister-in-law, who had come from Ecuador. |
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Left: Juan Moisés Mendoza Sapalú. A native of San Juan La Laguna, has also been with us from the beginning in 2003. His supervised pastoral field work was done in Barillas, Huehuetenango. His ministry will be as Vice-Rector of the Seminary. More than a hundred family and friends from San Juan La Laguna came for the ordination ceremony. |
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Right: Gildardo Ramírez. After several unsuccessful attempts, he was finally able to respond to God’s call for him to be a presbyter and to serve the church. He has been with us since 2005. His supervised pastoral field work was done in Tzanixnam, Totonicapán, which is also where he will serve as a priest. |
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Left: Luís Felipe Corimanya Monge. A native of Peru, he has been with us since 2003. His supervised pastoral field work was done in the Communities of the Deanery of Central Huehuetenango. Now his ministry will be in the same area, specifically serving the parishes of Soloma and Santos Arcángeles (San Miguel Acatán and San Rafael la Independencia). |
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Right: The four deacons, prostrate, pray to the Lord for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit while the Litany of the Saints is sung. |
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Left: During the singing of the Litany of the Saints, the bishop rose to invoke the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and prays that the ordinands may be blessed, sanctified and consecrated to exercise the ministry to which they have been called.
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The laying on of hands by the bishop and the consecrating prayer are the crucial moments of the ordination of the presbyters.
After the laying on of hands, all the presbyters present silently come to lay on their hands as well, as a symbol of the ministry that they all share.
Left: The presbyters laying their hands on the ordinands.
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| OCTOBER 28. DEANERY OF NORTH QUICHÉ. |
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On October 28, Mopnsignor Eduardo made the first of ten visits to the Deaneries. As usual, he began with the delegates that comprise the Deanery of North Quiché (Nebaj and Chajul). The eagerness and active participation of the brothers is exemplary. In spite of difficulties, everyone arrived on time and with great fervor.
The theme was to work on the pastoral plan for 2010. Not only was this the theme in all the deanery meetings, but also for the meeting of presbyters. |
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Above and left: Time for sharing ideas and experiences during the meeting of the deanery. |
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| OCTOBER 28. EUCHARIST IN THE COMMUNITY OF TU MANZANO, NEBAJ. |
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On Wednesday, October 28, the bishop presided at the Eucharist in the Community of Tu Manzano. A central moment of the celebration were the baptisms.
Left: The baptisms celebrated in the Community of Tu Manzano. |
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| OCTOBER 28. VISIT TO THE COMMUNITY OF SALQUILITO, NEBAJ. |
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Toward the end of the same day, the bishop presided at Mass in the Community of Salquilito. Baptisms were celebrated, and a communion ministry was installed.
Left: The participants are coming forward to receive absolution, having confessed their sins and having made the first epiclesis, praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins. |
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| OCTOBER 29. DEATH OF DOM LUÍS FERNANDO CASTILLO MÉNDEZ. |
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While our bishop was in the mountains of Chajul, addressing the Community of Cabá, he was notified by Josivaldo, President of the Episcopal Council of ICAB (the Catholic Apostolic Church of Brazil) and of the Honorary Council of CICAM (Worldwide Council of Catholic Apostolic Churches), that the beloved Dom Luís Castillo Méndez, Honorary President of the Council of Honor of CICAM and Patriarch “ad personam” of ICAB and of the National Churches, had died at the age of 87. He had dedicated his entire life to the service of God and his church, and now has entered the Kingdom of Gpd. We shall always remember him with affection and gratitude.
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In 2008 Dom Luís fulfilled one of his dreams: to visit Guatemala. He felt a special affection for our country, for it was with the help of the President of Guatemala that he was able to make the trip from Panama to Brazil when he had been expelled from his native country, Venezuela.
Above: Dom Luís in the center, presiding at the closing session of the Founding Council of CICAM, in front of the colonial church of San Juan Comalapa. At the left of Dom Luís are Dom Josivaldo, Dom Wagner y Dom Iván, members of the Council of Honor of CICAM. To the right of Dom Luís are our bishop and Dom Romeo, President and Vice President respectively of the General Council of CICAM.
Right: Dom Luís pronouncing the blessing in the Cathedral of San Juan after the Mass celebrating the formation of CICAM. Our bishop presided at this Mass. Left of Dom Luís is Dom Aurio Fontanella, Vice President of ICAB and a member of the Disciplinary Council of CICAM, and at the right is Monsignor Eduardo. |
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| OCTOBER 29. VISIT TO THE COMMUNITY OF CABÁ, CHAJUL, EL QUICHÉ. |
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This year the crossing from Chel to Cabá, in the munipality of Chajul, was less exhausting than last year. The hike in took five hours, and the return five and half, in contrast to the 6 and 7 hours in the previous year. There had been less rain, and although there was mud the bishop was able to walk without using rubber boots. In any case, the effort was compensated by the beauty of nature and the joy that the faithful had when their community was reached. |
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Above: Lunch on the walk. José, a seminarian, Pedro and Gaspar, brorthers from Cabá, and Francisco, a brother from Chel.
Right: A view of Cabá shortly before arriving. From left to right: Francisco, Gaspar, José, and Salvador, who is also from Chel. |
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Left: Descendants of one of the first families that arrived at Cabá. All of them were born in the heart of the jungle. Their ancestors came from Chajul 70 years ago and established themselves in this valley. Nature continues to be generous with them, as can be seen in the enormous bunch of bananas that is hanging from the banana plant. Without fertilizer of any kind, only the rotation of crops has allowed them to maintain the fertility of the soil. |
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Right: Some of the participants at the Eucharist. On this occasion baptisms, confirmations and first communions were celebrated. This, the fourth visit to Cabá, confirmed the growth that the community is enjoying, both in the number of persons and in their ability and the eagerness of their apostolic commitment. |
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