In the afternoon of All Saints Day our bishop visited the Renewed Catholic Community of Sumalito in Nebaj, El Quiché.

The faithful had prepared a wonderful celebration.

The bishop was accompanied by Father Marco Tulio Calderón, the pastor in this region.

Left:  Brother Felipe, one of the community leaders, doing one of the readings.

A large number of the faithful attended. But the local cultural customs for All Saints Day require many to stay at home for family activities, which kept many of the faithful from the Eucharist.

The homily underlined the fact that we are all called to be saints, and so in a very real sense, All Saints Day is a time to remember the vocation to which we are called.

In the evening of November 1, the bishop visited the Batzbacá Community in the center of Nebaj. The turnout of community members was excellent.

Father Marco Tulio Calderón proclaimed the Gospel and co-celebrated the Eucharist.

Seminarians Eduardo Mateo and Jeremías also participated. They are doing their pastoral work in this region.

They presented the offerings of the People of God for the celebration because the communion ministers had obligations that forced them to be absent.

The second from left in the photograph is brother Nicolás, who is the community leader and also its preacher.

On Wednesday morning, November 2, the Deanery of Nebaj was celebrated. It was also supposed to be the Deanery of Chajul because the storm-damaged highway that connects the villages of Chajul to Nebaj had made it impossible for the bishop to get there. However, the faithful of Chajul could not participate because the road repairs that were permitting limited traffic had collapsed again and once again traffic was completely impossible.

Each of the representatives from the various communities and then Father Marco Tulio reported on their communities:  all have grown by adding one to six new families this quarter. In addition, it was reported, there are four new communities that are in the process of forming.

The bishop brought the participants up to date on what has being going on elsewhere in the Church, and also led a lengthy instruction period.

One of the questions that this period took up concerned the practice of baptizing children. It was stressed that in accordance with Scripture and the practice of the early Church, the parents’ faith and active involvement in the community is indispensable for their children to be initiated into Christian Life.

In the afternoon, the bishop made his first visit to the San Antonio Community in Cunén, which recently joined the Church. The purposes were to explain the way ICERGUA works and to clarify its mission. The members of this community join two hitherto separate associations: the Renewed Charismatic and Catholic Action groups. The bishop stressed that their joining ICERGUA must lead to a whole-hearted and comprehensive renewal in their lives, but that it is also important to maintain the distinctive characteristics of the different spiritualties from which they come.

There are about fifty families and a total of four hundred members. The have built a church, and the bishop urgently sought the means by which the Most Holy Sacrament might be installed in it.  He also made it possible for those who had been exercising the role of communion minister to continue to do so now in the context of our Church.

On Thursday afternoon, November 3, Monsignor Eduardo visited the Parish of the San Juan Bautista Cathedral in Comalapa for the third instruction session for those who are preparing to participate in the 2012 mission.

Because the theme for the session is so broad, it will take place in two phases. The first was held November 3, and the second will be on December 15.

The theme, which aroused great interested among the participants, was the founding of the Church.

One of the issues that were taken up had to do with a series of errors concerning the organization of churches when the time came that there were many communities, which seemed to justify a pyramidal and centralized church organization. Such a structure, however, is totally contrary to the Church that Christ, according to the New Testament texts and the history of the early Church, wanted to establish and which was characterized the first centuries of Christianity.

At the beginning of the session, Father Francisco led the opening prayer. At the end of the session, after a number of questions had been responded to, Father Rigoberto made the closing prayer, photographed at left.

On Saturday, November 5, our bishop, Monsignor Eduardo, visited the see of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Patriarch of Antioch of the western United States, located in Burbank, California.

The reason for the visit was to meet his Eminence Mor Clemis Eugenio, who has been designated by his Holiness Ignacio, Patriarch of Antioch, to hold a series of theological conversations with our Church.The dialogue lasted more than two hours.  It dealt with Christological and ecclesiological issues. After exchanging views on the basics of Christology and ecclesiology professed by each, the conclusion was reached that in general we share the same faith. At the end of the meeting, the date for the next meeting was set.

Oriental Orthodoxy, which is the most ancient and original orthodoxy, holds that Jesus Christ was a single divine person. What is unique and singular about the nature of this one person, the Incarnate Word, is that it is at once fully human and fully divine. This position is called “Miaphysitism.” It is totally contrary to monophysitism , which affirms that in the Incarnation the divine nature absorbed the human nature. In fact, the Syrian-Antiochene Orthodoxy was the first to reject and condemn the monophysitism of the monk Eutyches.

On ecclesiology  there was complete agreement concerning the meaning of Matthew 16:18, affirming that the Church has Jesus Christ as its cornerstone, and is built on the confession, made by the Apostle, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

On the afternoon of November 5, Monsignor Eduardo once again attended Studio Three of Radio Nueva Vida from Nucá, Barillas, located on 36th Street in Los Angeles in the residence of brother Lorenzo Francisco.

It has been decided that every time the bishop visits Los Angeles there will be a broadcast in which he converses on doctrinal concerns with listeners on the radio.

This broadcast touched on several themes. It began with conversation about the necessity that faith be constantly growing, for this is the fruit of the sustained and continuous action of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

Other themes were:

- The issue of images in the New Testament perspective. The bishop explained that in the beginning God created humankind in his image and likeness. Then also, Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. Finally, in Christ, through the sacramental dynamism of the Church, the action of God continues through a series of sensible symbols.

- The issue of whether those who are a couple but have not received the sacrament of matrimony may come to take communion. The bishop explained that, without pronouncing a judgment about the spiritual situation of such persons before God, it is fitting that they should refrain from communion since it is an ecclesial sacrament and the couple is not recognized as an ecclesial unity until they are united by the sacrament of matrimony.

On Saturday afternoon, the bishop presided at the Eucharistic celebration in the San Miguel Arcángel Parish, Los Angeles.

Following the Parish assembly, which was celebrated the previous month, several innovations have been put in place, bringing into reality some of the decisions that had been made.

One of the most positive changes is the organization of a ministry for children.

During the celebration, the children who came with their parents received pastoral attention to help them grow in the faith.

The faithful responsible for this ministry have done quite well with the very limited resources available.

Left:  At the end of the celebration, the Monsignor prayed for the various needs of the faithful who requested the prayer.

In late afternoon, the bishop visited the Pacto Divino Community, located on Sixth Street in downtown Los Angeles.

The community’s Music Ministry has pledged to improve the quality of its musical presentation and the spiritual meaning of its participation.

The outcome of this effort is that it has offered several concerts and has even made recordings.

The bishop’s homilies preached during his visits are published on DVDs so that they can help the faithful afterwards to continue growing in the faith from one visit to the next.

Being appropriately prepared, almost all the faithful came forward to receive Holy Communion.

In the evening Monsignor Eduardo came to the Voz de Restauración Community, located on Third Street in downtown Los Angeles.

The faithful had organized a prayer vigil and were eagerly awaiting the bishop’s message of the Word of God to illumine them.

After a time of preparation, almost all the faithful came forward to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation and the forgiveness of sins.

At the end of the Anaphora, the bishop invited the Assembly to offer themselves as an offering to the Lord along with the gifts of bread and wine that were consecrated and became the Body and Blood of the Jesus Christ.

On Sunday morning, November 6, DETYM instruction took place. The participation was extraordinarily high.

At present two courses are being offered:  one on the writings of St. John and one on the history of the Ancient Church.

The one on the Gospel of John focused on its great themes. The faithful were very happy to deepen their feeling for and detailed knowledge of the biblical texts.

In the course of the history of the Church, the theme is the role that Paul played in the spread of Christianity and how he left the mark of his experience on western Christianity.

The next session will study the role that Peter played in the early Church, interpreting those texts that have been manipulated to render an interpretation that is contrary to their literal meaning and the meaning that they had in the first centuries of the Church.

Toward the end of the instruction, much time was spent on the projects that comprise the El Pescador Ministry and the San Miguel Arcángel Renewed Catholic Parish.

During the evaluation that was made of the way in which the resolutions of the Parish Assembly are being implemented, the initiative of Ministry to Children was summarized.

In addition, some of the little ones are involved in the service of the altar during the celebration of the Eucharist, as can be seen in the photograph at left.

The homily emphasized the vigilance required to maintain the constant presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life.

The Gospel dealt with the ten young women who were invited to a wedding feast. The message conveyed by the story is that the basic aspect of Christian life is letting the Lord enter it in order to transform it and serve as the source and standard of every action. That is what guarantees the constant vigilance and readiness that are necessary for the Lord to make us participants in his life and blessings.

As the conclusion to Monsignor Eduardo’s visit to the parish, the commitment to work in implementing all the agreements reached in the Parish Assembly was renewed:  celebration of the Word and the distribution of Communion must be something habitual, even when the Eucharist is not celebrated, in order to guarantee that food is received that empowers growth in and conformity to the faith.

In addition, there was agreement that those responsible for providing education coordinate their plans with one another to assure that the instruction leads to real growth and does not merely reflect personal positions on momentary situations, as, it has been recognized, has in fact often happened.

On Tuesday, November 8, our bishop made his monthly visit to the Chuitzanchaj Community.

As they always do, the faithful attended in great numbers, full of devotion and commitment to the Lord.

During the celebration, the majority of those present participated in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and then later in the Sacramental Communion.

At eight o’clock in the evening of the same day, the bishop arrived at the Pajomel Commuity in the municipality of Santa Cruz la Laguna, Sololá.

The bishop’s visit began with the administration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, for those who felt the need of participating in this sacrament.

Left:  The bishop administering Absolution to those who had confessed their sins.

Just as there were numerous participating in the Reconciliation, there were also very, very many who came forward for communion.

On the morning of November 9, Monsignor Eduardo came to the center of Jacaltenango in order to be present in the celebration of this region’s deanery.

Left:  The brother representing the Tzisbaj Community reporting on what has been going on in his community.

After listening to the various reports and responding to some questions raised by the faithful, the bishop invited the faithful to join in an education process whose goal was to initiate a more firm and continuous missionary commitment during the coming year.

On the afternoon of November 9 the bishop and Father Santos Acosta, the regional pastor, went to Concepción Huista to bless the new oratory in one of the Renewed Catholic communities in the center of the city.

Left:  Brother Juan, leader of the community, proclaiming the first lesson.

The bishop congratulated the faithful for their dedication and efforts, which had brought to completion the construction of the building church.  Likewise he encouraged them to continue moving forward on their commitment to evangelize in order to fulfill the mission that the Lord has entrusted to us.

On the evening of November 9, the bishop presided at the celebration of the Eucharist in the church in downtown Jacaltenango.

The bishop was very much impressed with the significant growth that this community has experienced, as well as with the increasing vigor of its organization.

The bishop’s homily exhorted the People of God to continue committing themselves to missionary action and to try to do so by living to the fullest their calling as Renewed Catholic Christians, so that their life may itself be the best form of witnessing to the gospel.

On the morning of November 10, the bishop came to the Chankejelbé Community in the municipality of Nentón to celebrate the Deanery of Northwest Huehuetenango.

Delegates from the majority of the communities were present. They all were eager to renew their missionary commitment and to strengthen the communities’ organization and deepen the education of those who exercise the various ministries in each community.

After the Deanery meeting, the bishop celebrated the Eucharist with the members of the local community.

In the celebration seminarians Ambrosio and José Luis were present. They are doing their end-of-year pastoral work in the area of Nentón.

In the morning of November 11, the bishop began his pastoral activity in the Yalanhuitz Community in the northern part of the municipality of San Mateo Ixtatán, Huehuetenango.

A large group of the faithful had been prepared to receive the sacrament of Confirmation during the bishop’s visit.

After the liturgical ritual of Confirmation was celebrated by the bishop, the parents and sponsors of those confirmed prayed over them, asking the Lord to grant them the gift of faithfulness so that they may fulfill the mission they received on being confirmed.

Left:  The sponsors praying for those who just been confirmed.

A few months ago, the bishop visited the Pojom Community, in the north of the municipality of San Mateo Ixtatán. On that visit he blessed the new church that the faithful were finishing, although the liturgy was still celebrated in the small church that they had been using.

During the bishop’s visit on the afternoon of November 11, he had the joy of celebrating the liturgy in the new, much larger church.

A great number of young men and women had been prepared to receive the sacrament of Confirmation during the bishop’s visit.

Right:  The bishop addressing those who are about to receive the sacrament, telling them about the gift that they will receive and the commitments they take on.

All the young people, at the end of the instruction, expressed their eagerness to accept the gift and to carry out the commitment that accepting the gift entails.

During the Eucharistic celebration the bishop was also asked to install two of the faithful to exercise the ministry of catechist. After asking them for their willingness and instructing them concerning the ministry and with the community’s approval, the bishop proceeded to the installation.

On the morning of November 12 the Deanery of North Huehuetenango took place in Santa Cruz Barillas.
As always, the People of God in attendance were numerous.

Since the anniversary celebration of Radio Carisma was being prepared in the parish see, the meeting took place in a rented auditorium that was completely packed.

After hearing the reports from the communities and responding to some concerns, the bishop proceeded to offer instruction directed toward training everyone to start the new year with a strong missionary initiative.

In the afternoon, with several thousand participating, the celebration of the Eucharist took place in the central see of the parish.

During the celebration new communion ministers were installed, and others renewed their commitments, and the new Board of Radio Carisma was sworn in and blessed.

Fathers Hugo Patzán and José Armando Hernández, pastors in this area, concelebrated with the bishop.

Left:  Praying over the new communion ministers after the prayer of installation.

In the afternoon, the bishop visited for the first time the San Agustín Community in the parish of Santa Cruz Barillas in order to confer the sacrament of Confirmation on a group of young people.

The young men and women had been carefully prepared. The bishop instructed them on their promises, and in front of the entire community they accepted the commitment to fulfill them faithfully.

In the evening of November 12, Monsignor Eduardo went to the Ajanchiblac Community to celebrate the Christian Initiation of several children and to confer Confirmation on many faithful.

Right:  The bishop conferring the sacrament of Confirmation on those who had been prepared, presented, and duly instructed concerning their mission and commitments.

On Sunday, November 13, Monsignor Eduardo began a pastoral visit to the San José Parish in Quixabaj, Santa Eulalia.

Representatives of the communities of Pananchilaj, Joloncú, Nuevo Amancer, Oriente, and Yaxacau had come there in addition to the parishioners of Quixabaj.

The members of the Pastoral Council were responsible for reading the lessons during the Eucharist and for coordinating the organization of the liturgy.

In the afternoon the bishop presided at the celebration in Choazunil, where in addition to the parishioners of the community, had come representatives of three neighboring communities, which form part of the San José Parish.

During the homily the bishop reminded them, in the light of the liturgical lessons for the day, of the signs that must characterize the life of an authentic Renewed Catholic.

On Monday, November 14, the Deanery of Central Huehuetenango was held in the Church of San Miguelito, in the municipality of Santa Eulalia.  There were representatives from the four parishes that form this parish:  Santa Eulalia, San José, Santos Arcángeles, and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

The faithful described what was going on in the different communities and talked about the principal successes and difficulties they have been having in the past three months.

On the afternoon of November 14, the bishop celebrated in the center of the municipality of San Rafael La Independencia in the Jolomcú Community.

This community, which almost immediately after its creation became the Parish Center of Los Santos Arcángeles, is now, in view of its remarkable growth, planning to build a large parish church.

In the afternoon of November 14, with many of the People of God participating, the bishop presided at the Eucharist of installing two communion ministers in the community that is located in the center of San Miguel Acatán.

During the homily the bishop carefully brought to mind the commitment of the communion ministry and asked that the People of God affirm that they openly and freely ratify the election of the two candidates that were to be installed as ministers of communion.

The faithful who were installed were Gabino and Marcos. In the photograph at left, they along with Brother Eduardo are presenting the gifts of the community for the celebration of the sacrifice.

On Tuesday, November 15, the bishop came to the community of the municipality of Tacaná to talk with leaders of several communities that have decided to form a covenant with us  and enter our Church.

The meeting was several hours long so that the faithful could put forward all their questions and have their concerns clarified.

The bishop carefully explained to them the characteristics of the early Christian communities and how the mission of our Church was precisely to make it possible for the life, organization, and work of the Church’s first centuries to be experienced in our times.

At the end of the meeting, the leaders of the several communities expressed their decision to enter ICERGUA, and the bishop commissioned Father Pedro Martínez, of the Cuilco Parish, to continue the dialogue and provide pastoral service to the communities that have decided to form a covenant with us.

On the afternoon of November 15, Monsignor Eduardo celebrated the Eucharist with the Saravia Community, part of the Cuilco Parish, Huehuetenango.

During the homily the bishop encouraged the faithful to renew their missionary promise and to maintain in every way their Renewed Catholic identity, refusing the temptation to let themselves by influenced by tendencies that would make it impossible for the faith and the life of the Church to be expressed in its totality.

On the morning of November 16 the bishop met with the leaders of the Cuilco Parish and representatives from the Tacaná area and from Amatenango in Mexico.

After reviewing the prospects and needs of the community it was determined that beginning immediately it would function as the Deanery of Southwest Huehuetenango.

Father Pedro, the parish presbyter, led the welcome for the bishop. Then the faithful from the various communities described their current situations. Finally the bishop responded to various questions and presented a project of missionary education.

The faithful unanimously approved the two fundamental proposals that the bishop put forward: creating the new deanery and accepting a sustained missionary commitment.

Right:  The moment of approving one of the bishop’s proposals.

In the afternoon of November 16, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the Eucharistic celebration in the central see of the Cuilco Parish. On the occasion a good number of brothers received the sacrament of Confirmation. Several faithful were also installed as Communion Ministers.

Right:  Father Pedro Martínez, parish pastor, our bishop and several of the communion ministers.

Left:  The bishop instructing the faithful, who are to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, concerning the promises they are making with God and the Church on receiving the sacramental gift. They all agreed to commit themselves fully to carrying out their missionary promises and witnesses.

On the morning of November 17, the bishop visited the Central Santiago Community in Huehuetenango. The faithful wanted the church, which had been built with so much effort, to be blessed.

As part of the bishop’s visit, the sacraments of the initiation into Christian Life were also administered for the children of several members of the community.

On Thursday afternoon, November 17, our bishop went to the Chamul Community, Concepción Tutuapa, San Marcos.

The faithful had asked him to visit them in order to celebrate the Eucharist and renew their faith.

Although the greater part of the community was away, working in the coffee harvest, the People of God who were there participated with special devotion and fervor.

The bishop’s visit provided the opportunity for the sacrament of Confirmation to be administered for some of the faithful, who had been well prepared for it.

On Friday, November 18, the Assembly of Delegates (Deanery) of South Huehuetenango met in the Huehuetenango Education Center.

A great number of the faithful came to the meeting.

In addition to the brothers and sisters, those attending included Fathers Marco Tulio Calderón, Pedro Martínez, and Yaider Jiménez (in the photograph at the right reporting on the pastoral work in his area).

On Saturday, November 19, the Cathedral was dressed for a special gala: the administration of the sacrament of Confirmation for about 150 young people, members of the Cathedral Parish.

Noteworthy was the careful catechetical preparation that the candidates had received, as well as the splendid preparation of all the liturgical details of the ceremony.

One of the characteristics of the catechetical instruction was that a youth group was formed of all those confirmed to help them carry out the missionary commitment entailed in the Confirmation.

Along with the bishop were Father Rigoberto Upún, Vicar General of ICERGUA and co-pastor with Father Francisco Simón of the Cathedral, and the recently ordained Orlando López, who substituted for Father Francisco, who was away.

The Confirmation ceremony reached its culmination when each of those who had received the sacrament came forward to receive the sacrament of Communion.

The church was packed with the confirmands, their parents and sponsors, and a large number of the People of God.

After the celebration, the bishop stayed quite a while greeting those who participated in the ceremony.

At the end, they posed in front of the Cathedral: Father Rigoberto Upún, the bishop, Father Orlando López, seminarian José Alfredo Hernández and a sister who in great humility had approached the bishop so that he might give her a blessing, coming with the attitude of the poor widow of the Gospels.

On Sunday, November 20, Monsignor Eduardo began his pastoral ministry with the Los Guates Community, San Juan Sacatepéquez, Guatemala.

The purpose of the visit was to administer the sacrament of Confirmation for a large number of young men and women who over a long period of time had been preparing for it.

Very, very many of the faithful of the community attended the celebration devoutly accepting, as the People of God, the commitment to renew their devotion to the Lord, just as the confirmands were making this commitment in the ritual of Confirmation.

When the celebration of the Eucharist in Los Guates was over, the bishop had a short meeting with the leaders of the four communities of San Juan Sacatepéquez—Los Guates, Las Palmas, Los Pririres, and Los Caneles.

The reason for the meeting was to evaluate the pastoral process, which had been in place for a year.

As a result of the meeting it was agreed that it was urgent for the Deanery of the Center of the Nation to be constituted in order to bring together periodically the leaders of the communities in the Departments of Guatemala and Sacatepéquez.

The meetings are to take place quarterly, the first one to be Sunday, March 18, 2012.

On Monday, November 21, the bishop was in North Quiché to visit the parishes of Ixcán and participate in the deanery of this area.

The meeting, which was attended by representatives from most of the communities, began with the reports from the various delegates. Although all are going well, it became clear that the missionary work has not been sufficiently dynamic. Consequently everyone accepted the commitment to launch initiatives that may help them carry out more faithfully the missionary charge that we have received.

On the afternoon of November 21, the bishop visited the Segunda de Cuarto Pueblo Community for the first time to celebrate the Eucharist with one of the Renewed Catholic communities that are in this village, located to the northwest of Ixcán, close to the Mexican border.

During the celebration a group of young people received the sacrament of Confirmation.

In the evening Monsignor Eduardo made his first visit to the Renewed Catholic community of Primavera de Ixcán, located in the southwest of the municipality of Ixcán.

This community began several years ago as a CPR (Community of the People in Resistance) and for fourteen years during the period of the armed conflict lived in the mountain, with no permanent homes, in order to escape persecution.  When the armed conflict ended, the territory where they are presently settled was given over to them. They have organized the land so that some parts are for the whole community, where they work together to meet their common needs, and other parts are for individuals, who cultivate the land according to their own ideas and initiatives.

The community is very large. The members had prepared the celebration of Christian Initiation for several of the faithful, as well as the administration of several Confirmations and marriages, to take place during the bishop’s visit.

Those who were initiated into Christian life received the administration of the three Sacraments of Initiation. The whole community participated with great joy and earnestness.

Among those who were confirmed were many who then received the sacrament of Matrimony and reaffirmed their commitment to live the Christian life in its full integrity, as did the early Christians.

Among those who were confirmed were many who then received the sacrament of Matrimony and reaffirmed their commitment to live the Christian life in its full integrity, as did the early Christians.

On Tuesday morning, November 22, the bishop presided at the celebration of the Deanery of Petén in San Fernando, Sayajché, Petén. The meeting was attended by representatives from the San Fernando parish, from La Libertad, from San Benito, San Luis, and the parishes of Chisec and Raxruha-Fray Bartolomé de las Casas in Alta Verapaz.

The faithful described what is going on in their communities.

The bishop responded to their questions and also gave instruction aimed at encouraging the communities to commit themselves to missionary work.

On the afternoon of November 22, the bishop celebrated the Eucharist in the Central See of the Chisec Parish.

Communion Ministers were installed to serve the various communities that make up the parish.

After being instructed concerning their responsibilities and committing themselves to carrying them out, the candidates were approved by the People of God and then duly installed by Monsignor Eduardo.

In the evening, our bishop made his first visit to the Esmeraldas Community in the municipality of Cobán, Alta Verapaz.  The community is joining the Parish of Cristo Resucitado de Balbatzul.

In the short time of its existence, the community has been joined by many, many families in the town. Full of joy, the community is well organized to sustain its growth.

The bishop could confirm that the leaders are well aware of what forming part of ICERGUA implies, and that they are eager to work that the Church may fulfill its mission faithfully.

On Wednesday morning, November 23, the Deanery of Alta Verapaz took place in the mission center located in Tomtem. Many faithful, coming from the parishes of Balbatzul, Cobán, Lanquín, Carchá, and from other communities of Cobán, as well as San Juan Chamelco, and Cubulco in Baja Verapaz.

In addition to Monsignor Eduardo, Fathers José Ángel Núñez and Fredy González, pastors in the area, participated in the meeting.

The bishop explained the basic lines of the missionary work that the Church hopes to follow during 2012. All the faithful were in agreement and committed themselves to work in that direction.

On the same day in the afternoon, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the celebration of the Eucharist with the faithful of the San José Community, Cobán.

The bishop urged the faithful to continue working with the same enthusiasm that they have had up to the present:  During the current year, they had bought the land for their church building, constructed the church, and been blessed with the membership of many new families.

On November 26 and 27 Monsignor Eduardo made a pastoral visit to the Saint Patrick Oasis, the seat of  KORKID (Renewed Catholic Ecumenical Church in Germany), whose vicar general is Father Ottmar María Mickmann OSB.

During the visit the bishop concelebrated the Eucharist with Father Ottmar. Father Ottmar leads a hermitical life and his basic apostolic charge consists of the spiritual direction he gives to the many people who come to him in search of direction and spiritual help.

From November 28 to 30 Monsignor Eduardo made a pilgrimage to two religious centers that have played an important role in his spiritual growth and in his discovering the roots and the scope of the Catholic Church as it was when it was born on Pentecost and carried forward by the Apostles and the Church Fathers.

The first stage consisted of a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle Peter in the Vatican basilica in Rome.

The bishop spent a long time in prayer, asking the intercession of the Apostle Peter that the mission that we are carrying out and the form of the church that we feel called to bring into being may coincide exactly with that which he and the other Apostles laid out on the Rock of Christ and the confession of faith that Christ is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

The second stage of the visit consisted of a pilgrimage to Montmartre, Paris. On the hill of Montmartre a grand basilica was built. It is distinguished by the fact that for the last 125 years it has housed uninterrupted adoration of the most Holy Sacrament.

However, the origin and deeper significance of this site is that, as its name Mont Martre indicates, it is a variant of a phrase that, translated into English means, Mount of the Martyrs. At the foot of the hill, according to tradition, Saint Dionysius, evangelist and founder of the Church of Paris and France, along with his companions, was martyred; decapitated, he carried his head to the top of the hill and pointed out the place from which the Gospel was to be radiated to all corners of the world.

During his visit, the bishop had the opportunity to visit not only the majestic basilica but also the catacombs frequented by Dionysius.

In both places the bishop dedicated much time to prayer, asking the Lord to give us the ability to work with the same wisdom, devotion and radicality as that with which the first Christians worked.