On the afternoon of February 1, our bishop continued the series of missionary training in the Cathedral Parish of San Juan Comalapa.

The theme was the methods of missionary action and the commitments that those who are involved will make.

The bishop emphasized that the mission is not only a fundamental dimension of every Renewed Catholic person, but also it is also something that every Christian promises who is committed to making the Catholic Church that was born on Pentecost a present-day reality.

Between one and two hundred people have shown an interest in being involved in the missionary action.

The next session will be February 29. At that time, a list will be made of those who will definitely participate in the missionary action.

On February 2, solemnity of the Presentation of the Lord and popularly known as the Feast of Candlemas, Monsignor Eduardo went to the San Miguel Arcángel parish in Tzanixnam, Totonicapán.

The celebration began with the administration of the sacrament of Reconciliation for all the faithful who, having confessed their sins, came forward to receive Absolution.

The Mass was concelebrated by Father Gildardo Ramírez, the pastor of the parish.

During the homily the bishop emphasized the Christian’s promise to be a light. That, he said, implies a renewal in personal and family life and also in missionary commitment. The People of God followed his explanations attentively.

After the homily the swearing in of the new Financial Council or Board of Trustees and of the Young People’s Council took place.

Left:  The bishop praying for those who have received the new responsibilities for coordinating the life and work of the community.

Before continuing with the Eucharistic celebration, the blessing of the seeds that will soon be planted took place, as is the custom in this community.

To join in the educational work Father Juan Antonio Barrera, who has recently completed his education with three years of study in Rome, has come to the seminary. He accepted the invitation to join our team with great enthusiasm.

His principal assignment will be to lead some of the tutorials with the students. However, he will also participate in all the other aspects of the seminary education. On weekends he will help in the communities near to the seminary, where the students are doing pastoral work.

For Saturday and Sunday, February 4-5, our bishop accepted an invitation to visit some independent Catholic communities in Pennsylvania, United States, with the goal of sharing there the identity and mission of our Church.

Several hours were dedicated to presenting the details of our faith, liturgy, and ecclesial organization. The bishop made it clear that what is essential in every aspect of ICERGUA is the rediscovery, internal acceptance, and complete implementation of all the characteristics of the Church that Christ founded, sending the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the Church that the Apostles preached, the Church Fathers organized, in short, the Church as it was in the first centuries of Christianity.

In addition to the dialogues, time was found to enjoy fellowship with some of the faithful in the communities.

On Saturday afternoon and on Sunday morning the bishop was present in the community’s liturgical celebrations.

The possibility was left open for continuing the discussions in order to go deeper into the several aspects that are necessary for the church to live the fullness of the one, holy catholic and apostolic church in accord with the western liturgical and spiritual tradition.

On Saturday, February 11, Monsignor Eduardo visited the Renewed Catholic Parish in Los Angeles, California. The visit began with a telephone greeting on the occasion of the inauguration of a radio program that the young people of the parish will rebroadcast from stereo radio Nueva Vida in Nucá.

In the afternoon he arrived at Studio Three in the radio station, located at 36th Street and Avalon, in order to broadcast the program of questions and answers. He broadcasts this program every time he is in Los Angeles.

The theme was especially important. He answered a question about the different forms of love, and then he talked about the kinds and forms of love that characterize the church.

In answering the question about love, the bishop emphasized that the love of God and love for God cannot ignore, but presupposes, human love with all its corporeal and psychological dimensions, but purified of every negative aspect and the selfishness that result from sin, in order that the human may rediscover and radiate fully the image and likeness of God.

In the afternoon the bishop began his pastoral mission by celebrating the parish Mass with the central Community of the Renewed Catholic Parish of San Miguel Arcángel, located at the corner of Jefferson and Hill Streets. The bishop was pleasantly impressed by the growth of this community.

The participation in the sacrament of Reconciliation, with which the celebration began, was strong.

The homily referred to the readings and their emphasis that we as Christians do not express our faith in temples made with human hands but are ourselves the living temples of the Holy Spirit, a far deeper dignity. These temples continue to be built when in confidence and faithfulness we let the Lord transform us inwardly.

At the end of the celebration the bishop made a special prayer for and blessing of the young people that had begun the midday Saturday radio broadcasts. They were presented to the People of God along with their parents.

In late afternoon, the bishop celebrated Eucharist with the Pacto Divino Community. The faithful had a special vigil that day, for which they had invited a music ministry to accompany the liturgy and energize the vigil.

Many faithful participated. The celebration began with the administration of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Right:  the faithful making the confession of their sins.

Brothers Danilo and Pedro are the communion ministers for the community. Left: presenting the offerings for the celebration in the name of the whole People of God.

In the evening the bishop visited the Restauración Community.

The visit began with the liturgy of Reconciliation.

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

After the homily Felipe was installed as Communion Minister. Brother Felipe is originally from Santa Cruz el Quiché, Guatemala.

The installation of brother Felipe came about because the previous minister returned to Guatemala a short time ago to rejoin his family.

The community is continuously adding new members. This time the new member was a brother who had just arrived from Guatemala, and who exercised the office of reader and acolyte in his church in Guatemala.  Now, joining the Restauración Community, he will continue to exercise these ministries.

On Sunday morning, February 12, a large group of the faithful attended the DETYM class. The theme was the role that the Apostle Peter played in the early church and the characteristics of his role which, in accord with the doctrines of the Ecumenical Councils, correspond  to the role of the Apostolic Sees,  and to urge that the work of the Church in 2012 continue along the same lines as those followed by early church in its first years.

The faithful participated with great interest and dedication and posed many questions to the bishop, who responded to them in careful detail in order to be sure to address the concern that lay behind the question.

The education program ended with an elaboration of the synonyms for the basic characteristics of the church—her unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity.

At the end, the faithful expressed their pleasure and gratitude for the instruction that they are being given.

In the afternoon, the bishop presided at the Eucharistic celebration for the DETYM students in Los Angeles.

On the occasion of the Eucharist, a new music ministry that has just been formed in the parish was charged to accompany the liturgical celebration.

During the homily, the bishop stressed the difference between the religion of the Old Testament and the faith of the New Testament in light of the readings:  In the old, religion excluded and condemned the impure to the margins of the community. In the New Testament, Jesus purified those who were stained in order to form a new Holy People of God.

In our liturgy the exchange of peace occurs before the profession of faith, since in order to profess our faith in God who is Love, we must be in peace with our brothers and sisters. In the context created by the biblical readings and the homily based on them, the exchange of peace was especially significant.

Another particularly expressive moment was praying the Our Father, being aware that it implies praying and being in communion with the totality of the Church and all of creation.

On Wednesday, February 15, the seminary began its program of pastoral fieldwork, which, under the guidance of Fathers Juan Moisés and Juan Antonio, the seminarians will pursue throughout the year.

The goal of this component of the seminarians’ education is for them to learn through hands-on experience the distinctive aspects of pastoral and missionary work that they are called to carry out in terms of our own distinctive identity, which is to rediscover, internalize, and implement the characteristics of the early Catholic church.

On the afternoon of February 16, our bishop came to the Efusión del Espíritu Santo Community, Santiago Atitlán, Sololá.

Besides the celebration of the Eucharist with the entire community, the sacramental celebration of Christian Initiation for two little girls took place.

The ceremony began with the administration of Baptism. Then followed Chrismation, and finally, as seen in the photograph at left, the administration of Communion.

Once the ceremony of Christian Initiation was completed, the bishop presented the children to the community, which showed its joy with boisterous applause.

In late afternoon of February 16, Monsignor Eduardo came to the Pajomel Community in Santa Cruz La Laguna, Sololá.

It was the regular monthly visit to this community.

The celebration began with the administration of the sacrament of Reconciliation. After the common confession, each of those who were to receive the sacrament came forward to be absolved of his or her sins.

Having begun with Reconciliation meant that a large number of the faithful could come forward for communion.

In the evening of February 16 there was a celebration full of joy and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Chuitzanchaj Community, Santa Cruz La Laguna, Sololá.

Complete Christian Initiation was administered to some children.

Confirmation was administered for nine adults, receiving by this means their charge to be missionaries.

During the homily the bishop, in light of the readings, stressed that on receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit one receives a command and the power to fulfill it, similar to what Christ bestowed on the apostles on the Day of Ascension, when he sent the Holy Spirit to them.

The mood was one of deep spirituality and fervor. The faithful who had been confirmed in their Christian calling were deeply touched, and earnestly prayed that the Lord would give them strength to carry out the mission entrusted to them.

On Friday, February 17, Monsignor Eduardo came to the Cuilco Parish, Huehuetenango, for the Deanery of Southwest Huehuetenango. About seventy delegates were there from Cuilco, Concepción Tutuapa, Tacaná, and from Amatenango, Mexico.

The meeting began with reports from the communities delivered by their leaders (photograph above).

When these reports were complete, Father Pedro Martínez, pastor for the parish, talked about the current situation from his perspective.

In the second part of the meeting, Monsignor Eduardo answered several questions, offered perspectives on some difficulties, and continued by giving the customary instruction.

In the afternoon of February 17, Monsignor Eduardo, accompanied by Father Pedro Martínez, came to the El Injertal Community. This community is very dynamic and is working with extraordinary missionary zeal.

During the homily the bishop encouraged the People of God to continue their mission work and to strive for a deep renewal in their family and community life.

During the celebration, a married couple received Confirmation and the missionary charge. In the photograph, the bishop is anointing and praying for Sister Elubia. Behind her is her husband, who was also confirmed.

The great majority of the participants, who had already received the sacrament of Reconciliation, could and did come forward for communion.

On Saturday, February 18, the bishop presided at the celebration of the Assembly-Deanery that took place at the Huehuetenango Education Center.

About 150 leaders of various communities attended.

After the reports from the community leaders, Brother Juan Juventino, leader of a community in Malacatancito, Huehuetenango, requested that he and his community be admitted into the church.

After the presentations, the bishop offered an instruction period.

All the faithful demonstrated their commitment to carry out missionary action, which is one of the fundamental goals that we as a church have.

In the afternoon of February 18, Monsignor Eduardo came to the Mapá Community in San Sebastián Huehuetenango to celebrate the Eucharist with some of the members of the community.

Unfortunately, as happens in a good part of the Mam-speaking area, many of the faithful are obliged to leave their homes this time of the year and go to work on coffee and sugar plantations in order to earn the money that will support them for the rest of the year. For that reason a good part of the community was not present.

During the ceremony Julián Sales was installed as Communion Minister. He is leader of the Sujal Community in the center of San Sebastián H. Several years ago he completed the education course (DETYM) in Huehuetenango and last year he dedicated himself to forming a community in the area where he lives.

In the context of the profession of faith, the bishop sprinkled holy water on all those present to underline the renewal of baptismal vows.

On Sunday morning, February 19, the bishop visited the Pajal Community in the municipality of San Antonio Huista, Huehuetenango.

The faithful participated joyfully and showed that they are continuing to improve the organization of their several ministries.

The homily, based on the readings, emphasized that being Renewed Catholic Christians means coming to Jesus that he may heal every paralysis from which one may be suffering in order to work intensely in missionary action. The example of those who brought the paralytic to Jesus is a model of the missionary attitude that we should have.

The participation in communion was vigorous. Most of those who came had attended the sacrament of Reconciliation earlier in the celebration.

On the afternoon of February 19, Monsignor Eduardo came to the Petatán Community in the municipality of Concepción Huista.  This community, after a period of internal conflicts, has decided to join the pastoral network of La Democracia, Huehuetenango, and the area surrounding it. The goal of the Petatán Community is to become a pastoral center in the future, forming new communities in the neighboring areas of Tajumuco and San Antonio Huista.

The bishop encouraged the faithful to launch a process of internal reorganization and active mission work so that their ideals can be realized in actions that will allow them to be constituted in the near future as a pastoral center.

On Wednesday, February 22, the season of Holy Lent began with great solemnity in the Seminary.

In the morning the bishop invited the seminarians to enter into the spirit of conversion.

The bishop stressed that conversion means moving from natural forms of thinking, feeling, and understanding reality and adopting God’s perspective on every aspect of life.

During the homily he stressed that what impels conversion is a deep belief in the Gospel, that is, in the possibility, brought by Christ through his death and resurrection, for every human being to participate in the life of God and be continuously transformed in order to reflect fully in every aspect of life the presence of the Holy Spirit.

After the homily, Father Juan Moisés placed ashes on the bishop and then the bishop placed them on him and Father Juan Antonio, on each of the seminarians, and the other faithful who participated in the Eucharist.

On Thursday, February 23, Monsignor Eduardo began the cycle of deaneries in the area north of Guatemala City with the Deanery that is celebrated in the Mission Center of Tomtem and in which the faithful of South and Central Alta Verapaz and  Baja Verapaz participate.

The deanery was extraordinarily well attended. There were about 50 faithful there, for which the number of chairs and space was quite small.

After presenting what is going on in the various parishes and centers, each of the presbyters that work in the area made a report on their activities and the challenges they are confronting.

The presbyters stressed the commitment that they are maintaining in mission activity. It can clearly be seen that the leaders of the communities are also participating with the same concern and interest.

At the end of the presentation, the bishop commented on some questions that came up.

Among the concerns was establishing a good connection with the communities that have just come into being in Cubulco, Baja Verapaz.

In addition the bishop stressed the nature of the life to which we, as Renewed Charismatic Catholics, are called, emphasizing what distinguishes us from the Pentecostal movements as well as the Roman Charismatic Movements.

In the afternoon the bishop made his second visit to the Plan Alto Chiyó Community in the municipality of San Pedro Carchá . It is part of the Pastoral Center of Chitania. About fifty young men and women had been thoroughly prepared to commit themselves to mission work on receiving Confirmation.

During the homily the bishop underlined the fact that Confirmation implies that the outpouring of the Spirit that was conferred with Chrismation is now being strengthened and confirmed for the sake of witness and mission work.

All of those confirmed were deeply moved throughout the course of the ceremony, especially after Communion, when they asked the Lord for the fortitude to be faithful to the missionary promise that they made and in the charge that was soon to be put to them.

The missionary charge, symbolized by light, came at the end of the Eucharist. Christ being the Light of the World, the confirmands are now called to carry light to the world, going to all parts of the world and to all peoples and proclaiming the good news.

That community has about 800 members. Since making a covenant with us last year, numerous families have joined it. Its organization is exemplary: there are several ministries, missionaries, catechists, and various kinds of pastoral ministries.

At the end of the celebration all the confirmands wanted to pose together with the bishop at the entrance to the large church.

On Friday, February 24, the bishop presided at the Ixcán Deanery, celebrated as always in the Pueblo Nuevo Church. About seventy delegates were present.

A good number of these came from the Santiago Ixcán Center and presented a new community that has just made its alliance with ICERGUA in San Antonio Chactelá.

The deanery took place in an atmosphere of dialogue and collaboration. The brothers were able to express their concerns and successes in the different areas.

Father Fredy González was also at the meeting and reported that they are committed to organizing a series of classes on missions and pastoral work.

At the end of the presentations the bishop again stressed the importance of organizing mission activity since it is one of the defining fundamentals of the early Church, and we, in order to be the full actualization of that church today, must commit ourselves unconditionally to the effort of living and working as the apostles and early Christians lived and worked.

In the afternoon of February 24, the bishop presided at the Eucharistic celebration in the Pueblo Nuevo Community, which is the seat of the Efusión del Espíritu Santo Parish of Ixcán.

The celebration began with the administration of the sacrament of Reconciliation. The faithful made the confession of their sins, and Father Fredy and the bishop administered individual absolution.

After the homily, four communion ministers were installed, two for a new community that has been formed in Cuarto Pueblo and two for the El Edén Community, which is spearheading the creation of other new communities.

In late afternoon, the bishop celebrated the Eucharist with the Victoria Veinte de Enero Community in the north central area of Ixcán.

The celebration began with the administration of the sacrament of Reconciliation, in which the majority of the faithful present participated.

That meant that participation in Holy Communion was also great.

The community has a beautiful music ministry. Little by little, the faithful have learned the liturgical songs and are able now to accompany the celebration with devotion and joy.

On the morning of February 25, the bishop went to the see of the San Fernando Parish in Sayajché, Petén, for the meeting of the Deanery of this area.

About forty faithful participated, coming from Sayajché, La Libertad and San Luís in Petén and from the centers of Chisec, Raxcruja and Fray Bartolomé de las Casas in Alta Verapaz.

The bishop was again accompanied by Father Fredy González.

All of the faithful made a report of what was going on in their home communities. The great majority of the members of this deanery speak K’ekchi, so it was often necessary to use translators.

At the end, the bishop responded to questions and took advantage of the opportunity to encourage the faithful to renew their commitment to work for the spiritual and numerical growth of the communities.

In the afternoon of February 25, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the Eucharist with the members of the San Fernando Community in Sayajché, Petén.

As frequently happens, the celebration began with the administration of the sacrament of Reconciliation.

A great number of the faithful took part in the sacrament, encouraged especially by the fact that it was Lent.

The community has been getting organized, step by step. As can be seen in the photograph at right, there are various pastoral ministries, such as one for the little girls, who are participating as an organized group in the celebration.

In late afternoon, Monsignor Eduardo came to the La Linterna II Community. Although it is in the municipality of Chisec, Alta Verapaz, it is part of the Sayajché Parish because of its location and the roads between the two places.

The celebration began with the administration of the sacrament of Reconciliation for many of those present, who had previously made the confession of their sins.

During the homily the bishop emphasized the importance of living Lent as a time of conversion and of showing this in the renewal of personal, family, and community life.

The faithful followed the celebration with great attentiveness. The homily was delivered first in Spanish, then in K’ekchi.

After the Eucharist, the faithful continued to meet, now in a vigil of prayer that lasted until midnight.

On Sunday morning, February 26, our bishop came to the Sesaquiquip Community to celebrate Confirmations.

The Sesaquiquip Community is in the municipality of San Pedro Carchá, but is part of the Chisec Parish.

The young men and women who were confirmed had been thoroughly prepared, and showed that they were aware of and eager to take on the commitments that Confirmation implies:  to live and work with the same attitudes as did the apostles and first Christians.

The faithful in the community were very happy because they had practically completed their new church.  It was made of concrete blocks. Now they are completing the connections between the walls and the roof and moving from the temporary building they have used since they made their covenant with the church some years ago.

In the afternoon the bishop presided at the Eucharist in the Jesús el Buen Pastor Parish See in Cojaj, San Pedro Carchá. 

This celebration culminated the parish’s anniversary festival, which had begun a few weeks before.

During the homily, the bishop commented, in light of the readings, on the path that should be followed and the commitments that should be taken on during Lent.

During the celebration, eleven new communion ministers were installed to serve in various communities.

The parish was created a year ago, when it had thirteen communities. Now there are sixteen. In addition, the already existing communities have experienced significant growth during the past year.

After the prayer of invoking the Holy Spirit over the ministers that were being installed, the bishop gave them individual blessings. Beside him is Father Fredy González, praying for the new ministers.

On Wednesday afternoon, February 29, Monsignor Eduardo was at the Comalapa Cathedral to continue the training program for the upcoming mission.

On this occasion, names and addresses of those who were committed to active participation in the evangelizing mission were collected.

One of the concerns that the bishop expressed is that in spite of the fact that about 300 young people are active in the Community and organized into various groups, there are only a few who have committed themselves to the missionary effort.  As a result, it was agreed to set up a special meeting of all the young people in which the bishop might encourage them to accept a commitment to evangelical mission.

Fathers Rigoberto and Francisco, pastors to the Parish, have participated actively in the classes and in encouraging the community to participate in the mission. Whenever possible, they were present at the educational meetings that the bishop led. At the February 29 meeting, Father Francisco gave the opening prayer, and Father Rigoberto the closing prayer, shown in the photograph at left.