Beginning very early on January 1, our bishop began a pastoral visit to the four communities of Cuilco, Huehuetenango. The first was to Yulbá, then he celebrated Eucharist in Santo Domingo. After that, there was a celebration in Injertal el Zapote, and finally in the center of Cuilco.

 

Left:  The celebration in Yulbá. The community has maintained steady growth. At present it is the largest of the all the religious congregations in the village of Yulbá.

Right:  The bishop made his first visit to the Santo Domingo Community. It began about a year ago, as the fruit of the missionary commitment made by the Yulbá Community. It has grown mightily. During the Eucharist, First Communions and Confirmations were celebrated.  After the Mass the bishop visited the embankment that has been cleared and on which very soon a church building for the community will be constructed.

Above:  On the path to the Eucharist with the Santo Domingo Community.

 

 

 

 

Left:  Children and young people receiving First Communion within the frame of the Eucharistic celebration.

Our bishop also celebrated the Eucharist with the Injertal el Zapote Community. Several marriages were celebrated. The community is growing powerfully in number of members, and, as can be seen in the background of the photograph at left, the construction of its church is moving along.  It is a block and concrete construction whose walls, at the time of the visit, had almost reached the height where they will connect with the roof.

The pastoral visit to Cuilco ended with the Eucharist in the Central Community. The church was completely filled and the faithful participated in the celebration with enthusiasm.

 

 

Baptisms and a marriage were also celebrated on the occasion of the visit.

Above:  The assembly in the right nave of the church. The left nave was even more crowded with parishioners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left:  The bride is putting the wedding ring on her husband during the celebration of the marriage.

On January 2 the Deanery of Central Huehuetenango had its meeting. The deanery consists of the parishes of Soloma, Santa Eulalia, San José Quixabaj and the Holy Archangels (San Miguel Acatán and San Rafael La Independencia). The weather was cold, but this did not keep the faithful from participating actively. The central topic was planning the 2010 pastoral work. The effort exerted by the various pastoral councils in developing their plans was obvious. We hope that carrying it out will strengthen the life of the communities.

Above:  In spite of the cold, a beautiful rainbow crossed the entire Cuchumatanes highlands, foretelling an abundance of blessings for the year that has just begun.

 

 

 

Right:  Members of the Pastoral Council of the Santos Arcángeles Parish presenting its 2010 pastoral plan.

On the afternoon of January 2 our bishop presided at a beautiful Eucharist in the Central Park of the city of San Rafael La Independencia. Twenty brothers and sisters, admirably prepared, received the sacrament of Confirmation. The growth of the community of central San Rafael has been noteworthy. It started only a little more than a year ago, and today has several hundred members.

Above and right: The celebration taking place in the City of San Rafael La Independencia.

Late in the afternoon of January 2, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the Eucharist in the church of the Nueva Jerusalén Community in San Miguel Acatán.  This community has grown admirably. Having started less than eighteen months ago, it has had to enlarge its church to accommodate the participants. Now the members are thinking about having more than one celebration each Sunday, for the available space is not enough for all who participate.

During the bishop’s visit, in addition to the Eucharist, several baptisms were also celebrated.

Above:  The congregation participating in the Eucharist.

 

 

 

 

 

Right:  The celebration of baptism.

Finally, during the evening of January 2, our bishop celebrated the Eucharist with the Community of Inmaculada Asunción de San Miguel Acatán. Marriages and confirmations were also celebrated.

Above: The marrying couples exchanging rings, sign of the matrimonial union.

 

 

 

 

Right: The brothers and sisters who have received confirmation.

On Sunday morning, January 3, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the Eucharist with the Parish of San Miguelito, Santa Eulalia. The consolidation of the parish is going forward, and it is hoped that soon an extension of ESTYMLA can be opened here for the education and training of new servants.

On January 3, Monsignor Eduardo also presided at the Eucharist in the provisional parish seat of San Pedro Soloma, located in the village of Ixlahuitz.  The Eucharist was devoted especially to praying for blessings during 2010. A multitude of parishioners participated. Father Luís Felipe Corimanya, responsible for the parish of Soloma, concelebrated.

Above:  Incensing the assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

Right:  Father Luís Felipe distributing communion to the People of God.

On Monday, January 4, our bishop presided at the meeting of the Deanery of North Huehuetenango.

Numerous delegates of the communities of Santa Cruz Barillas as well as San Mateo Ixtatán were present.

In Barillas there are about seventy Renewed Catholic communities and some ten in San Mateo.

During the current year, the communities of central and west Barillas will be served by Father Hugo Patzán and seminarian José Armando Hernández. Those of the east by Father Marcos Caicedo, who has been working there since the middle of November and has quarters in the Nucá, Barillas, Community.

On the afternoon of January 4, our bishop presided at the Eucharist with the Community of El Quetzal, Barillas. This community, one of the largest in the municipality, has distinguished itself by its generosity, its powerful mission activity, and its good organization.

 

 

 

Right:  Monsignor distributing the communion. At the left Father Hugo Patzán is distributing communion to those in the left nave of the church.

On Tuesday, January 5, our bishop made a pastoral visit to three of the villages west of Barillas.

The visit began with the Siglo XIX Community, which will serve as one of the five centers into which the parish is organized. An extension of ESTYMLA will be opened in each center, offering a diploma in “Introduction to the Theology of Life in the Spirit.”

On the occasion of the visit, Monsignor Eduardo celebrated baptisms and confirmations.

Above:  Baptisms in Siglo XIX.

 

 

 

 

Right:  Some of those who received the sacrament of Confirmation. In the middle of the front row are two brothers, Carmelino and Adán, who have responded to the call of the Lord and on January 25 begin their education at the Seminary with the goal of becoming presbyters.

The second visit on January 5 was at the San Ramón Community. Another center of Barillas will be here.

 

 

This community has built a very large church and is working with enthusiasm to evangelize and to urge the faithful to accept their baptismal commitments fully.

Above:  In spite of the rain, the faithful went out to welcome the bishop.

 

 

 

 

Right:  Monsignor Eduardo and Father Hugo distributing communion to participants at the Eucharist.

The final visit on January 5 was to the Sagrada Corazón Community in Chancolín. It is one of the two communities located in this village. The People of God here are characterized by their reverence and sincere devotion to the Lord.

On January 6 our bishop presided at the Eucharist in the Nucá Community and, with the participation of a multitude of the faithful, celebrated the anniversary of what they call “The Coming of the Holy Spirit.”  This celebration alludes to the birth of the Charismatic Renewal in Nucá thirty years ago, which happened when several brothers received the gift of healing.

Since then, Nucá has been a place to which the ill have come from everywhere, with the confidence that through the prayers of the faithful they will receive the gift of healing.

On this occasion, the ceremony took on special splendor on account of the pleasure that the faithful had in being able to have a presbyter (Father Marcos) residing permanently in the community.

Above:  The church at the beginning of the celebration.

 

 

 

 

Right:  Monsignor Eduardo, Father Hugo Patzán and Father Marcos Caicedo greet each of the brothers chosen by the Lord thirty years ago to begin the Charismatic Renewal in Nucá.

Left:  The distribution of communion to the multitude that filled the church.

Around midday, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the Eucharist in San Mateo Ixtatán. In it sixty-five children received First Communion. The ceremony had been splendidly prepared. All the girls wore the K’anjobal traditional dress, although they belong to the Ch’uj ethnic group. It is a sign of the ecumenical spirit that is more and more permeating the awareness of ICERGUA members.

Above:  The central nave from the presbytery.

 

 

 

 

Right:  The girls who in a few minutes will make their First Communion.

During the evening of January 6, Monsignor Eduardo presided at Eucharist with the Community of Central Jacaltenango.

 

 

This community, after times of great difficulty a couple years ago, is today in unimpeded growth. Its members are very enthusiastic and are full of genuine apostolic zeal.

On January 7 Monsignor Eduardo presided at the Deanery of West Huehuetenango, comprising the parishes of Jacaltenango, Concepción Huista and Nentón. To respond to the request made by the bishop in the November Deanery, the Pastoral Councils of the three parishes had carefully prepared a detailed pastoral plan for 2010.  Father Santos Acosta Sol is in charge of the pastoral care in this area and is giving his all for the growth and consolidation of the communities.

On the afternoon of January 7, our bishop celebrated Eucharist in the Community of Onlaj, Concepción Huista. He was guided to the community by brother Benito Ramos. The faithful there are many, and they are participating very actively. Several of the faithful received the sacrament of Confirmation.

Above:  Father Santos Acosta as well as Monsignor Eduardo are giving absolution to the faithful who had just made the confession of their sins.

 

 

 

 

Right:  The administration of the sacrament of Confirmation.

On January 8 our bishop’s visits began in the village of Guaxacaná, Nentón.  After going through various difficulties, the communities of Nentón are today in unimpeded growth. New communities have arisen in several villages, and older ones are growing. The basic problem that we ran into here is the almost complete lack of instruction in the area. Yet everyone is confident that with efforts on our part and the strong will of the faithful these deficiencies will be surmounted step by step.

Above:  Entrance to Guaxacaná from the highway that goes from Camojá to Gracias a Dios, the Mexican border in northwest Huehuetenango.

 

 

 

Right:  The Eucharistic celebration.

Around noon on the eighth of January, Monsignor Eduardo celebrated Eucharist in the new church of the Pepulpán Community. It was his first pastoral visit to this village.

The community has experienced growth at an ever faster rate and is characterized by its good organization and vitality.

The municipal mayor of Jacaltenango and some members of his council also participated in the Eucharist.

Father Santos Acosta is working with great enthusiasm in this community, as he also does in the other villages of the municipality.

Above:  For several blocks before the church, in spite of sporadic rain, the faithful—especially children—came out in a procession to receive the bishop.

Right:  The many faithful participating in the celebration. During the Mass several confirmations were celebrated and a young man received Christian Initiation.

From January 11 to 14 at our Seminary, the whole Presbytery met with our bishop, Monsignor Eduardo, for its annual spiritual exercises. The environment of prayer and reflection was a very beautiful occasion for strengthening the bonds of communion, confronting various pastoral and other kinds of issues and for renewing power and radicality in the exercise of the ordained ministry.

Above:  The Seminary

 

 

Right:  During one of the meditations. From left to right: Fathers Herbeth Urrutia, Santos Acosta Sol, Rigoberto Upún (Dean of the Presbytery and Vicar General), and Francisco Simón.

Left:  Procession before the Eucharistic  Celebration at the close of the Exercises.

Right:  (left to right) Back row: Fathers Hugo Patzán, Fredi González, Luís Felipe Corimanya, Santos Acosta, Basilio Vásquez, Deacon Denis Obando, Fathers Juan Moisés Mendoza (behind the bishop’s mitre), Fredy Mux, Marcos Caicedo, Gildardo Ramírez and Herberth Urrutia. Front row:  Father Rigoberto Upún, the Bishop, Father Francisco Simón.

Another view of the presbytery with the bishop, before the celebration of the closing Eucharist.

Lunch at the end of the Exercises.

Monsignor Eduardo visited the ICARPE mission in Peru from January 15 to 21. The primary purpose of the visit was to share with the presbytery there the Spiritual Exercises that had ended the previous day with the Guatemala presbytery.

Although the principal reason for the bishop’s trip to Peru was the Presbytery’s Spiritual Exercises, the bishop took advantage of the trip to visit several communities on Saturday and Sunday, January 16 and 17.

 

The first visit was at the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Sapayal. During the Eucharist Christian Initiation was administered to one family.

Above: The participants at the Eucharist coming forward to receive absolution for their sins.

 

 

Right:  The couple that received Christian Initiation coming forward to offer the gifts that are to be used in the Eucharist. From left to right:  Father Jesús Urbina, Father Gerardo Sotomayor (the priest of the parish), the couple that was initiated, Deacon Victor, Monsignor Eduardo, and Father Juan Ernesto.

On Sunday, January 17, the first visit to the parish of Santa Rosa de Valle Grande, Vitarte, took place. During the celebration a large number of young people received complete Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Commu-nion). This parish is cared for by Father Juan Ernesto Iriarte, with the help of brothers Jaime, Enrique and Florentín.

Above:  The homily.

 

 

 

 

 

Right:  Three of the young men who had received Christian Initiation offer the bread for the celebration.

The second celebration was in the California-La Florida de Vitarte Community. This community was begun about seven months ago. The faithful have organized a coordinating council and are very enthusiastic in giving stability and continuity to their commitment as Renewed Catholics. This community is cared for by Father Juan Ernesto Iriarte.

Above: The oldest sister and youngest child come to the altar to present the offering of bread. At the extreme left is brother Jaime and at the right brother Enrique.

 

 

Right: The community outdoors at prayer, petitioning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

During the afternoon, the celebration was in the Santa María Magdalena Community, also located near to the highway that goes from Lima to the center of Peru. In spite of the fact that the community has a nicely appointed oratory, the Eucharist had to be celebrated outdoors because the multitude participating could not fit in the church building. The most important moment of the celebration, shown here, was the administration of the rite of Christian Initiation to several young people.

Above:  The participants in the celebration praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, before giving individual absolution to those who had confessed their sins.

 

 

Right:  The proclamation of the first lesson. In the back, from left to right: Father Juan Ernesto, responsible for the community’s pastoral care, Monsignor Eduardo, Brother Jaime and Brother Florentín, the community coordinator.

The bishop took time during the day to visit the parish church in Santa Clara Vitarte. He made a prayer over the construction of what will be the new parish church. This community, enlivened by the efforts of Deacon Victor, is working intensely to collect the funds necessary to complete the construction as soon as possible, using permanent materials—brick and concrete.

Above:  Monsignor Eduardo holding in his hands a model of the parish church. At the time of the visit, the walls were 60% complete. Deacon Victor hopes to complete construction within the next few months.

 

 

Right:  The bishop with Deacon Victor and the members of the Pastoral Council, which had organized a streetside grill to raise money to continue the church construction.

The retreat took place from January 18 to 20, in the Retreat Center “Hombres Nuevos” of the Community of Santa Eulalia de Chosica, located above the central highway of Lima. Attending were a total of nine presbyters, three deacons, some seminarians who are preparing for ordination as presbyters, and some of the faithful who assist in the pastoral work of the various parishes. The theme of the Exercises was the same as the one in the Guatemala Presbytery Spiritual Exercises.  In this way the identity of our church and the sense of the specific mission that the Lord has given us continues to deepen. At the end of the retreat elections were held for the Presbytery’s and ICARPE’s team coordinators. Father Gerardo Sotomayor was elected Vicar Episcopal, and at the same time he will serve as Dean of the Presbytery. The Secretary General is Father Jesús Manuel, and the treasurer is Father Jesús Urbina.

Above: The exchange during one of the meditations. Standing is seminarian Alejandro, who is putting some questions to Monsignor Eduardo.

 

 

 

Right: Sharing ideas in the dining hall. Everyone is drinking “chichi,” a non-alcoholic drink made from purple corn. It has a pleasant flavor, and is a typical Peruvian beverage.

Left:  The celebration of one of the Eucharists. From left to right: Brother Jaime, Father Lucio, Father Gerardo, Father Antonio and Monsignor Eduardo.

Right:  Diploma at the end of the retreat. All the members of ICARPE/ICERGUA asked the bishop to issue a document of credentials. Everyone participated in developing the documents. From left to right: Father Amador, Father Antonio, Father Wilde, Seminarista Richard, Brother Florentín, Monsignor Eduardo, Brother Modest and Father Juan Ernesto.

On Saturday, January 23, Monsignor Eduardo visited five of the Sololá communities.

 

The first celebration was in the Xolbé Community, where prayers were offered for blessings in 2010. The faithful in great number participated fervently.

 

Left:  Prayer during the celebration.

The second celebration took place in the Chuitzanchaj Community in Santa Cruz La Laguna.

 

 

Left:  The monsignor’s homily.  During the celebration the community was moved to renew its missionary commitment in order to carry out the work that has been given to us by the Lord.

With the Eucharistic celebration in Chuitzanchaj, two new Communion Ministers were installed. They join in the work being done by those already installed.

 

 

 

Right:  The new ministers are presented to the community by the previously installed ministers.

A little after midday on January 23, Eucharist was celebrated in the Pajomel, Santa Cruz La Laguna, Community. This community, coordinated by Brother Melecio is working intensely in missionary action and growth. The Lord is blessing them abundantly.

Above and right: Distribution of communion in the Pajomel Community.

In the afternoon Monsignor Eduardo celebrated the Eucharist with the faithful of the Community Efusión del Espíritu Santo in Santiago Atitlán. On the occasion, besides the baptism of a baby, the rite of Christian Initiation was administered for a young man.

Above and right: The Eucharistic celebration in the Community of the Efusión del Espíritu Santo.

Finally, on January 23, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the Eucharist  with the Pentecostés Community in Santiago Atitlán.

On that occasion four brothers who were charged to serve the altar during 2010 were blessed.

Left:  The bishop with the four brothers who were blessed and Brother Gaspar, one of the community’s Communion Ministers.

January 25 and 26 were dedicated to developing students’ plans of study. It is hoped that through academic incentives and disciplinary training this year’s level of achievement will surpass the level scored in last year’s evaluations. 

From January 27 to 30 Spiritual Exercises for all the seminarians took place in the Hacienda Carmona. These were days of prayer, of self-reflection, and of deeper identification with the call received and the mission that has been entrusted to us as part of ICERGUA.

Above:  Prayer in the Chapel of the Señor de Esquipulas de Carmona, San Juan el Obispo.

 

 

 

Hikes to the summits constitutes an important part of the spiritual deepening of the New Exodus. Thus, after lunch on January 28, the group climbed to Santa María de Jesús, and on the next day to the peak of Cucurucho. In the photograph at the right is the group on one of its climbs.

Left:  The enchanting climb to Cucurucho. The seminarians ran into a liana vine during the journey Not only did they let their spirits fly toward the Lord but also their body had the experience of flying with the vine.

Right:  At the Cucurucho summit.

Left: Resting next to the tents. Left to right:  José Armando Hernández, José Alfredo Hernández, José Humberto Cucul, Marco Tulio Calderón, Pedro Martínez, and Father Juan Moisés Mondoza, playing the guitar.

Three of those in the photograph left on Saturday, February 6, to begin their EPS (supervised pastoral field work): José Armando in Santa Cruz Barillas, Marco Tulio in Nebaj and Chajul, and Pedro in Cuilco. Not in the photograph are Esduardo Vásquez who is doing his EPS in San José Quixabaj, Santa Eulalia, and Denis Obando, who is doing it by assisting the instruction team at the seminary.

Right:  Most of the seminarians at the end of the closing Mass of the retreat in front of the Hacienda Carmona.

Our bishop was invited by the Pastoral Council of the Cathedral of St. John Comalapa to give a formation seminar on the mission and identity of ICERGUA and at the end to preside at the Eucharistic celebration on the afternoon of January 30. The occasion of the visit was the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the alliance that the Cathedral Community made with ICERGUA and the second anniversary of the event in which the Lord in his infinite mercy intervened to save the People of God, whose obliteration had been planned by religious powers opposed to the church, so that its organization and freedom, which the first centuries of Christianity experienced, might again shine forth in vigor.

Above:  The homily.  In the back are Fathers Rigoberto Upún Tum and Francisco Simón, responsible for pastoral care in the Cathedral Community.

 

 

 

Right:  Monsignor Eduardo greeting the cofraternity and other faithful at the end of the Eucharist.