On July 30, The Very Reverend Khuroyo (Archpriest) Abdulahad Shara came to the Seminary to prepare for the visit of His Eminence Mor Clemis Eugene, Delegate of His Holiness Ignacio Zakka I, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthdox Church of Antioch. The visit of His Eminence took place from August 2 to 7.

Father Shara’s first task was to teach our bishop, Father Moisés and the seminarians how to carry out the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of St. James.

After several days of training, our bishop presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Thursday, August 2.

It was a moment of special transcendence, given the unique character of this liturgy. It is the oldest Christian liturgy, and reflects faithfully the first liturgies celebrated by St. James, brother of the Lord, in the Jerusalem Church.

The vestments that our bishop wore were given him by His Eminence Mor Clemis during the bishop’s visit to his see in California in July.

Right: Father Moisés singing the Diptych, praying for the Church’s living fathers.

Everyone’s experience was one of profound spirituality and great emotion on feeling transported to the origins of the Church in Jerusalem.

The Eucharistic bread had been baked in the Seminary on the same day.  All the seminarians  devoutly participated in Holy Communion.

In the evening of Thursday, August 2, His Eminence Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, Archbishop of the West Archdiocese of the United States of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch arrived. He came to visit our Church as the Delegate of His Holiness, the Patriarch Ignacio Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and Successor of the Apostle St. Peter.

On Friday morning, August 3, during the singing of Lauds, our bishop along with Father Moisés and the seminarians, officially welcomed His Eminence Mor Clemis Eugene, Delegate of His Holiness the Patriarch Ignacio Zakka I.

Responding to the greeting, His Eminence expressed what a great pleasure it was to be in our Church.

He also shared some experiences that he had had in Turkey when he was first a student and then a monk and an educator in several monasteries.

At the end of the ceremony, His Eminence posed with the seminarians for a photograph that surely has historic value.

Afterwards, and before leaving for missions, they breakfasted together. Mor Clemis and Father Shara blessed the table and prayed the Our Father in Armenian.

In the afternoon of August 3, the Deanery of Cuilco, Tacaná, and the area at the Mexican border was celebrated in the see of the Inspiración del Espíritu Santo Parish.

The special guests were His Eminence Mor Clemis and Archpriest Abdulahad.

The community representatives came in great numbers to express their joy and support for the initiative that the Church has taken.

Father Pedro Martínez, the parish presbyter, expressed his gratitude for the visit. Also present were Fathers Santos Acosta, parish presbyter of Jacaltenango, and Marco Tulio Calderón, the parish presbyter of Chiantla.

After the deanery, our bishop presided at the Eucharistic celebration, which was marked by the special presence of Mor Clemis and Archpriest Abdulahad.

The ceremony took place with deep devotion and joy.

During the homily, Monsignor Eduardo said how deeply significant it was for our Church to be in the presence of the Delegate from the authentic successor of St. Peter the Apostle.

At the end of the celebration, His Eminence Mor Clemis gave the apostolic blessing in the name of His Holiness to all the worshipers.

On Saturday, August 4, our bishop, accompanied by the Patriarchal Delegate Mor Clemis, made a short visit to the Epifanía Parish in Nucá, Huehuetenango.

His Eminence Mor Clemis gave a brief greeting to those present on behalf of His Holiness Ignacio Zakka I, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, the authentic successor of St. Peter the Apostle.

The delight felt by all the worshipers as well as the parish presbyter, Marcos Caicedo, was obvious.

At the end His Eminence visited the headquarters of Stereo Radio Nueva Vida, from which his greetings were broadcast to all the faithful in Guatemala and other countries.

At the end of the visit, they imparted a blessing from the balcony of the Presbyters House to the faithful who had gathered to greet them.

At midday on Saturday, August 4, the Deanery of North Huehuetenango took place in Santa Cruz Barillas.

Here too the Patriarchal Delegate and Achpriest Abdulahad were present.

The visitors were received by the local parish presbyter, Father Hugo Patzán Quel.

His Eminence Mor Clemis opened the meeting by praying the Our Father in Aramaic.

Delegates from the various units of the deanery made their reports, the new pastoral council was presented, and Father Hugo made his report. Then Mor Clemis explained the distinctive character of the Antioch see from biblical and historical points of view, namely that His Holiness Ignacio Zakka I has authentic apostolic continuity back to the very beginning of the Antioch Church. Then His Eminence read the Letter of Blessing sent by His Holiness.

Our bishop also took advantage of the occasion to explain in detail the meaning of the words “catholic” and “orthodox” and asked everyone present to pray that the Lord may guide us to full ecclesiastical union within the context that He has chosen for us.

At four in the afternoon, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the celebration of the Eucharist in the Parish see of the La Glorificación de María Parish in the presence of Mors Clemis and Archpriest Abdulahad.

The church was completely full. There were thousands of worshipers representing the sixty-one communities that comprise the parish.

During the celebration, our bishop stressed the great importance of the dialogue that we have established with the Syriac-Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.

All the worshipers could feel the excitement that every other worshiper was experiencing.

At the end of the celebration, during which thousands participated in Holy Communion, His Eminence Mor Clemis imparted the Blessing sent by His Holiness the Patriarch.

On Saturday evening, August 4, our bishop, accompanied by His Eminence Mor Clemis, visited San Mateo Ixtatán.

The first part of the celebration consisted of the meeting between the People of God of San Mateo Ixtatán, our bishop, and the Delegation from the Patriarch of Antioch.

His Eminence Mor Clemis read the letter sent by His Holiness the Patriarch to our Church.

For his part, our bishop, explained in detail the visit’s historic importance for our Church.

At the end of the welcome ceremony His Eminence Mor Clemis delivered to Father Marcos Caicedo, parish pastor of San Mateo, a copy of the Letter from His Holiness.

In the evening of August 4, the Eucharist was celebrated, presided by our bishop, in which the Renewed Catholic communities of the municipality of San Mateo Ixtatán were established as the Renewed Catholic Parish of San Mateo Apóstol.

After the homily, the representatives of the communities signed a document of request and commitment, expressing in writing what the People of God had just expressed by acclamation.

After this, the bishop read the decree creating the San Mateo Apóstol Parish and then delivered one copy each to the Parish, to the president and the secretary of the pastoral council.

At the end of the celebration, His Eminence Mor Clemis imparted the Blessing to those present.

Then representatives came forward to present gifts to the visitors.

Late in the evening of Saturday, August 4, our bishop and the delegation from the Syriac-Antiochene Patriarch made a short visit to the Belén Community in Santa Eulalia.

In addition to having decorated the church beautifully, the worshipers had prepared a vigil of prayer and praise, while watchmen awaited the arrival of the delegation.

Our bishop greeted the Patriarchal Delegation and stressed the great importance of the visit for our Church.

Then Mor Clemis and Father Shara expressed their gratitude to all those present.

At the end of the visit, His Eminence Mor Clemis imparted, on behalf of His Holiness the Patriarch, the blessing to all those present.

Then the delegation was entertained for some time by Father Fredi Mux and some of the community leaders.

On Sunday morning, August 5, representatives of the Central Huehuetenango Deanery, comprising the parishes of Santa Eulalia, San José Quixabaj, Santos Arcángeles  and Soloma, met to welcome the delegation from the Antioch Patriarch and our bishop.

Representatives of the Soloma Community presented a short folkloric dance.

Then the delegation was greeted by three of the four parish presbyters for this area, who had also come to the meeting.

From left to right:  Father Felipe Corimanya, parish pastor of Santos Arcángeles, His Eminence Mor Clemis, Father Fredi Mux, parish pastor of Santa Eulalia, Archpriest Abdulahad Shara, and Father Orlando López, parish pastor of Soloma.

After the welcome, our bishop presided at the celebration of the Eucharist with the People of God.

The Patriarchal Delegation attended the celebration, and Mor Clemis read the Letter of Blessing sent by His Holiness Ignacio Zakka I.

The crowd was multitudinous. Outside the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Sacrament, the number of worshipers participating was three times as many as those who were able to get inside the church.

On Sunday afternoon, our bishop with the Patriarchal Delegation came to the San Juan Comalapa Cathedral.

The People of God, coordinated by their co-pastors, presbyters Rigoberto Upún and Francisco Simón, had prepared a very beautiful welcome ceremony.

The confraternity, which has maintained a twenty-year uninterrupted tradition, presented the Ceremony of the Eagle, which from now on will be celebrated annually, on December 27, the Feast of St. John the Apostle, when the new leaders of the men’s and women’s confraternities take office.

At the end of the ceremony, the delegation posed with the confraternities.

The official welcome was offered by the Indigenous Mayor, who is the highest ancestral authority of San Juan Comalapa. The members of the mayor’s council posed with the delegation.

At 7:30 in the evening, with the Holy Cathedral Church completely full of worshipers, our bishop with Fathers Rigoberto and Francisco began the celebration of the Eucharist.

The ceremony, which His Eminence Mor Clemis and Archpriest Abdulahad Shara attended, began with the greeting that our bishop gave the Patriarch Delegation.

Only a few times can so many worshipers, so attentive, and so joyous be seen in the Cathedral, in spite of a considerable delay in beginning the celebration.

After the homily, in which Monsignor Eduardo explained the meaning and consequences of this historic visit of the delegation from the authentic successor of St. Peter the Apostle, Mor Clemis read the Letter of Blessing sent by His Holiness Ignacio Zakka I and they exchanged the greeting of peace.

The communion was extremely long, for almost all of the worshipers participated in it.

At the end of the celebration our bishop asked the Delegate, Mor Clemis, to impart on behalf of His Holiness, the apostolic blessing for all the People of God.

Afterwards, the Ancestral Authorities declared Mor Clemis and Archpriest Abdulahad to be distinguished guests and presented them some gifts that are distinctive to San Juan Comalapa.

During the procession from the Cathedral to the Colonial Church, the celebrants and the Delegation posed for a photograph with the confraternities and Ancestral Authorities.

Then, the patriarchal delegation and our bishop signed the Book of Gold, in which distinguished visitors are registered.

On Monday morning, August 6, His Eminence Mor Clemis presided at the celebration of the Holy Liturgy of St. James in the Seminary.  Our bishop, several presbyters, and all the seminarians participated.

Our bishop was cantor of the Holy Gospel during the celebration.

One of the moments of greatest solemnity and importance was the invocation of the Holy Spirit.

Within the ritual, the descent of the Holy Spirit was invoked, as it descended on Jesus at the Jordan River and on the Apostles at Pentecost.

Mor Clemis pronounced the words of Jesus, spoken at the Last Supper, over the wine.

After the consecration of the elements, presbyters and seminarians participated in singing the diptychs.

Another very special moment in the celebration was the mixing of the body and the blood of the Lord and the breaking of the elements.

In deep prayer, all the participants followed the various moments of the ceremony.

Before the distribution of communion, His Eminence Mor Clemis gave a short homily in which he underlined the historic importance for our Church of what we have experienced this week.

Then, before the People of God came forward to commune, he presented the holy offering.

Everyone present participated in communion with deep respect and faith.

After the celebration of the Holy Liturgy, the seminarians hosted the patriarchal delegation at lunch.

At the head table were His Eminence Mor Clemis, Monsignor Eduardo, and Archpriest Abdulahad.

At the end of the meal, Father Juan Moisés, on behalf of all the seminary, expressed gratitude for the visit and the joy that all have felt during the delegation’s stay in Guatemala.

His Eminence Mor Clemis presented to our bishop a wood carving in which is signified the immense love of Jesus Christ, as a token of the love and communion that unites our churches.

On Tuesday morning, August 7, in the Church’s Chancery, located in the María Auxiliadora, La Ciénega, San Raymundo, the presbytery meeting was held, in which the Patriarchal Delegation participated.

For several hours, His Eminence Mor Clemis answered with precision, simplicity, and authentic authority all the questions that the presbyters asked him about different aspects of the Church.

As result, throughout the presbytery there reigned a common feeling and certainty about the steps that we are taking to reach unity and full communion with the Apostolic See of the Apostle Peter, whose authentic successor is His Holiness Ignacio Zakka I.

All the presbyters who practice their ministry in Guatemala were present.

Left:  The delegation with the presbytery in front of the Chapel of María Auxiliadora.

During the afternoon of August 7, the Patriarchal Delegation met in the María Auxiliador auditorium with representatives of the communities in the Departament of Guatemala.

Our bishop greeted the delegation and explained the overwhelming importance this visit has for our Church.

In response, His Eminence, Mor Clemis, read the Letter of Blessing sent by His Holiness the Patriarch Ignacio Zakka I, and pronounced the Apostolic Benediction on all those present on behalf of His Holiness.

In the evening, and in the presence of our bishop, His Eminence Mor Clemis presided at the celebration of the Holy Liturgy with the members of the Syrian community of Guatemala, the great majority of whom are members of the Church. It was the first Holy Liturgy celebrated for them in Guatemala.

During the homily His eminence explained the bonds of love and faith that have been established between our churches and the path that we have begun toward full unity.

The community has decided to become organized in order soon to be a parish in which the Holy Liturgy is celebrated in Syriac, which is the Christian Aramaic language.

On the occasion of the visit of His Eminence Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan to our Church in the capacity as delegate of His Holiness Ignacio Zakka I Iwas, we have published a brief history of this Church.

The introduction has been written by our primate bishop, Monsignor Eduardo Aguirre Oestmann. In it he has explained the etymological meaning and historic uses within Christianity of the terms “Catholic” and “Orthodox.”

Then, His Eminence Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of the West United States and Delegate of His Holiness the Patriarch to visit our Church, has written a “Short History of the Syriac Orthodox church of Antioch.

The history ends with a piece by His Holiness Ignacio Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch on the “History of the Schisms, Faith, and Organization of the Syriac Orthodox of Antioch.”

On Saturday afternoon, August 11, from Studio Three of Radio Nueva Vida de Nucá in Los Angeles, our bishop broadcast the program, “Growing in Faith.”

On the occasion, one of the central points was the significance and implications of the historic visit of the delegation from the Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.

Our bishop laid out the details of the history of the early Church, which lead to the affirmation that the only authentic successor to St. Peter the Apostle is the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, who today is His Holiness Ignacio Zakka I.

The faithful who were present and others via radio expressed their happiness over the road begun and their hope that we can arrive at full unity.

On Saturday afternoon, August 11, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the celebration of the Eucharist in the see of the Renewed Catholic Parish of San Miguel Arcángel in Los Angeles.

During the homily the bishop emphasized what is implied in the grace conferred in matrimony, for on this occasion, a couple, members of the community, Eleuterio and María de Jesús, became married.

These two had lived together twelve years. As members of our parish they recently felt the call of the Lord to give full completeness to the unity that they have lived, and that led them to ask that their union be raised, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to the dignity of the sacrament.

The bishop thanked the new spouses for having answered generously the call of the Lord and urged everyone who has not yet received all the sacraments appropriate to their situation to prepare to do so.

On Saturday evening, August 11, Monsignor Eduardo came to the Restauración en el Espíritu Santo Community, which had prepared a special thanksgiving service in which many worshipers from other churches participated.

In the homily our bishop reminded everyone that the administration of Christian Initiation, in order to have its full healing significance, according to the teachings of the Church Fathers, must be administered in its complete form.

During the praying of the Our Father, all the participants joined hands to symbolize the profound unity that, through the action of Christ and faith, is established among all human beings.

On Sunday, August 12, the bishop led the DETYM classes, and concluded the courses on “The Holy Spirit in the Bible” and “Theology and Pastoral Theology.”

The entire educational program was transmitted by Radio Carisma, La Voz del Espíritu Santo, in Santa Cruz Barillas. The broadcast made it possible for those who tune in by radio to realize the benefits of the education program.

To conclude the instruction, the bishop reminded everyone that the presence and action of the Holy Spirit should be a common denominator recognized by all believers and that the organization of a complete pastoral program in every community and every parish is indispensable to guarantee its functioning, its growth, and its fidelity in carrying out the mission we have received.

In the afternoon of August 12, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the celebration of the Eucharist with the participants in the education program and other members of the parish.

The faithful participated devoutly after the bishop’s homily, which reminded them of the importance that the Eucharistic life has for walking along the Christian path.

In response to the theme of the homily, the worshipers expressed their eagerness for the Eucharist to be the center of their lives and to extend its efficacy, when it is not possible to celebrate it, by participating in the sacramental Communion.

On Sunday afternoon August 12, the members of the Communications Ministry, “Atrévete a Ganar Almas para Cristo,” organized a praise and prayer meeting to make everyone aware of their ministry.

The “Querubines” Ministry of the San Miguel Arcángel Renewed Catholic Parish was in charge of the musical accompaniment.

Our bishop was invited to preach on the theme, “Meeting Christ.” He focused on the fact that this takes place within the dynamic of the Incarnation in a special way through the sacramental Communion with the body and blood of Christ. For this reason he urged them to use all their means available to have communion as often as possible.

On Wednesday, August 15, the Solemnity of the Glorification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our bishop presided at the High Mass of St. James in the Seminary in honor of Our Lady.

The Liturgy was celebrated with great devotion and the seminarians participated attentively with joy.

During the homily, which came, as it did in the ancient Liturgy of St. James, after the reading of the Gospel, Monsignor Eduardo lifted up the figure of the Virgin Mary as the Mother and model of every disciple loved by the Lord.

A particularly solemn aspect of the Liturgy was the process of invoking the Holy Spirit, who is the true engineer of all the sacramental action.

The bread that was consecrated is leavened, as it was at the Last Supper. In the Gospel texts, particularly in Aramaic, it is indubitably clear that Jesus, after having carried out the Jewish ceremony with unleavened bread (fahiro in Aramaic) asked that they bring leavened bread (lahmo in Aramaic) to proceed to the sacrament of the Bread of Life.

The Churches that have conserved the apostolic tradition celebrate with leavened bread. Rome, because of a mistaken interpretation, introduced unleavened bread in the eleventh century.

The breaking of the bread and the mixing of the Body and the Blood also have a special importance in the Divine Liturgy of St. James. When the body is placed into the blood, the spoken words are, “This Body is the body of this Blood.” And when sprinkling the body with the blood, the words are, “This Blood is the blood of this Body.”

After the mixing of the Body and the Blood, the Elevation of the Divine Mysteries is performed.

Then, before the communion, the divine mysteries are presented to the People of God.

The rite of communion takes on special mysticism, and the distribution is done with particular care.

After receiving the benediction, all the participants come to greet the bishop and venerate the Holy Scriptures.

On Thursday morning, August 16, the deanery of the communities and parishes of Cobán, San Juan Chamelco, and San Pedro Carchá was celebrated in the Mission Center of Tomtem, Cobán.

Fathers José Ángel and Freddy, pastors in the region, participated in the deanery.

Representatives were present from the Parishes of Buen Pastor, Carchá, Cristo Rey, Balbatzul, Cobán, Espíritu Santo, Lanquín, and from the pastoral centers of Chitaña, San Juan Chamelco, Tomtzul Oculá, and the Cruce de Chiacán.

The faithful reported on the successes they have had.

The bishop offered instruction on the origins of the Church and on where we are in the process of establishing ecclesiastical communion.

On the afternoon of August 16, after a long ride under buckets of rain, the bishop arrived at the San Luís Community in San Juan Chamelco.

Christian Initiation was celebrated for two children.

In addition, a group of young people received their missionary charge and Confirmation.

The community manifested its great joy in the bishop’s presence and repeated its promise to work with renewed enthusiasm in the consolidation of the Pastoral Center with the purpose that in the future it can be constituted as a parish.

On Friday, August 17, the Deanery of Ixcán took place with the participation of all the communities of the Espíritu Santo Parish, headquartered in Pueblo Nuevo, and of delegates from the Pastoral Center of Santiago Ixcán.

There was good news. During the past three months four communities in this area have been joined to the Church:  Kaibil Balam, which at present has twenty-eight families; Agua Dulce, La Nueva Esperanza, and Sinaí.

At the end there were prayers for all those who have recently joined the Church and for their delegates who were present at the deanery.

Also the ill asked that there be prayers for them, and Extreme Unction was administered to eight of the faithful.

On the afternoon of August 17, the bishop came to the Mayalan Community to begin the celebration of the Eucharist and the anniversary celebrations that will last a full week.

The faithful shared their happiness for several new families that have converted and entered our Church.

During the bishop’s visit, a group of children made their First Reconciliation and Solemn Communion.

The children who made their Solemn Communion also accepted the commitment to try to live as light and to carry the light of Christ to others.

In the evening, Monsignor Eduardo presided at a huge celebration in the Primavera de Ixcán Community.

In addition to all the members of the community, there were ninety-six guests: thirty-two from the new community of Machaquilá II, four from the Agua Dulce Community, and the rest from the neighboring community of Setún, where it is possible that soon a new Renewed Catholic Community will be organized.

The ceremony began with the administration of the sacrament of Reconciliation for those who wanted it.

During the homily the bishop expressed his joy on the growth of the community, its enthusiasm, and its strong missionary commitment.

After the homily, five faithful received Confirmation and their missionary charge.

Then four couples received the sacrament of Matrimony.

Primavera de Ixcán is the community to which seminarian Arturo Pedro belongs. He accompanies the bishop on many of his missions. Right:  the bishop and seminarian Arturo Pedro with one of the children who had done his Solemn Communion during the celebration. In fact, during the celebration several children celebrated their First Reconciliation and Solemn Communion.

On Saturday, August 18, the bishop came to the Parish Center of San Fernando in Sayajché, Petén, for the celebration of the Deanery of that region.

Father Freddy González, pastor of the area, and delegates from the San Fernando, Chisec, Raxruhá, and from the Pastoral Center in La Libertad, Petén, were present.

After the deanery, there was prayer for one the leaders of the community, who is suffering pains, as well as for all the representatives and leaders of the parishes and communities.

On Saturday afternoon August 18, the bishop went for the first time to the Sechaj II Community, Chisec.

Father Freddy González, parish pastor, accompanied the bishop.

In the Eucharistic celebration, nineteen members received Confirmation of Chrismation and their missionary charge.

On Saturday evening, August 18, the bishop came to the Sesuchaj Community in the municipality of Chisec.

Many of the People of God were awaiting the bishop’s arrival for the Eucharistic celebration and the administration of Confirmation of Chrismation and the mission charge for nine of them.

Also taking advantage of the bishop’s presence, three recently converted sisters were admitted to the Church. Left:  The three, repentant in recognition of their sins. This rite precedes the profession of faith and the formal admission into the Church.

Participation in communion was massive, as was the joy and the renewal of the commitment to participate actively in the mission commitment of the Church.

On Sunday morning, August 19, with great joy the bishop came to the Cerro Alto Chiyó Community, which is part of the Pastoral Center of Chitaña in the municipality of San Pedro Carchá, Alta Verapaz.

The People of God were celebrating the first anniversary of entering the Church.

The festivities in the community had begun the previous Friday and lasted until Sunday afternoon.

In the various celebrations more than 1500 faithful participated. There were about 800 members of the community. The others were guests from other communities or neighbors who came just to participate in the celebration.

This community has a very serious organization. It has pastoral programs for adults, for young people, and for children. It also has a well-organized mission team.

Along with the Buen Pastor Parish, this community has now been charged to support the organization of the Pastoral Center of San Juan Chamelco.

During the homily the bishop recognized the great successes that the community has achieved and urged them, on the strength of the Bread of Life and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to continue working tirelessly in spreading the Good News.

On Sunday afternoon, the bishop came for the first time to the Chuipapop Community in the Cubulco mountains, where the first Renewed Catholic Community in the Department of Baja Verapaz was formed. Recently another community has begun organizing in Granados.

The community entered the Church only ten months ago. There were only a few families. Now with great effort and by joining with the faithful of the Renovación Carismática and La Acción Católica they have built a large church that is in the finishing stages of completion and has been blessed with a continuous increase of new families joining it.

During the celebration nine worshipers received Confirmation of Chrismation and their mission charge. All expressed their commitment to live and work as the apostles did in order to carry out the mission that Lord has entrusted to us, which is the same mission that he entrusted to the apostles.

At the end of the celebration, the faithful received the blessing and mission charge to be the light of the world and to proclaim the Gospel to everyone.  

On Tuesday afternoon, August 21, the Permanent Council of the Holy Cathedral Church of San Juan Bautista had a three-hour meeting with the bishop, Monsignor Eduardo, in the San Lucas Seminary.

More than thirty came to the meeting.

The reason for the visit was to consult with the bishop concerning some problems that have come up in the community.

The bishop invited all of them to have an attitude of humility and willingness to change their minds in order to find a favorable solution to the small difficulties that they are facing.

Likewise he urged them to commit themselves with even greater enthusiasm to evangelism.

One of the questions had to do with the small liturgical reforms that have been introduced.

With respect to this concern, the bishop welcomed the request made by the representatives that any and every modification be made with prudence and be preceded by an explanation that would allow the People of God to understand the reason for the changes.

Likewise he invited them to a deeper understanding of the history of the Church and its liturgy in order to be able to confirm that the process that has been followed, far from distancing us from catholicity, is in fact putting us into contact and communion with it in its original sense.

Finally, the participants and the bishop prayed in front of the Most Holy Sacrament and the bishop blessed them.

Before leaving the bishop urged them to renew their missionary commitment for the growth of the whole Church.

Throughout the meeting, harmony and serenity prevailed.

On Friday, August 24, Monsignor Eduardo visited the Tzununá Community to celebrate Eucharist and to initiate two children into Christian Life.

The initiation began with the sacrament of Baptism. Then the bishop administered the sacrament of Christmation, as can be seen in the photograph at right.

Finally, the initiates completed the start of their Christian Life by receiving communion at the same time that a large group of worshipers participating in the celebration also received communion.

In late afternoon of August 24, the bishop celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the Jaibailto Community on the shore of Lake Atitlán.

The son of one of the couples who are very active in the Community was initiated into Christian Life, receiving the three sacraments of the Initiation.

The bishop encouraged the faithful to renew their Christian commitment constantly to be able to bear witness of the Good News to everyone.

On Saturday, August 25, Monsignor Eduardo went to the Sipal Community to have a meeting with the servers of the communities of San Sebastián Huehuetenango.

Although originally it had been planned to have an educational program on that day, after the faithful had expressed their opinion, it was decided it was more urgent to dedicate the time to organizing the Pastoral Council for the Pastoral Center of San Sebastián.

 At the meeting, brother Julián García of Quijolá was elected Coordinator, brother Damián of Mapá as Vice-Coordinator, brother Hermano Julián Sales of Sujal as Secretary and brother Rolando of Xijoj as Treasurer. In addition a representative was elected from each of the other communities.

At midday, the bishop presided at the Eucharistic celebration in Sipal. He exhorted the members of this small community to restructure itself and to be committed to evangelism in order to regain the qualities the community had in the past.

In the afternoon, the bishop celebrated the Eucharist in the Xijoj Community. A wedding was celebrated, a communion minister was installed, and a group of the faithful made their Solemn Communion.

The bishop’s homily charged all the members to work in evangelizing the surrounding communities, for in this area, there is not yet a well established presence of the Church.

On installing the communion minister to collaborate with brother Rolando, the bishop emphasized the seriousness of the communion ministry and the dynamic, active commitment that it implies.

In late afternoon the bishop came to the Mapá Community, also in San Sebastián, Huehuetenango

The faithful shared with the bishop their happiness in having finished the embankment for the construction of a new church and in having the use of the previous building as a pastoral house for various activities. now

The enthusiasm of the faithful and their active commitment for working toward the church’s growth was manifest.

In the evening of August 25, the bishop presided at the celebration of the Eucharist with one of the groups that comprise the Huehuetenango DETYM.

After the Eucharist the bishop had the opportunity to share a few minutes with the faithful, in which they expressed their great satisfaction with the instruction they had received.

On Sunday morning, August 26, the bishop made his first visit to the new Renewed Catholic Community of La Granadilla in Colotenango.

This community is part of the Pastoral Center of San Sebastián Huehuetenango.

The bishop admired all the work that the community has done.

In spite of having joined the Church only recently, the members have completed the construction of the walls of a large and beautiful church, and all of them are excited about working in evangelism.

During the celebration Christian Initiation was administered to a good-sized group of children.

After the administration of baptism, the bishop chrismated them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Finally the initiates were given communion so that they could take part in life eternal by eating the Body and Blood of the Lord.

On Sunday afternoon, August 26, the bishop visited the Sujal Community in San Sebastián Huehuetenango

Although he had visited the community before to give instruction, it was the first time that Eucharist was celebrated in this community, which began only recently and at present has ten families.

During the homily the bishop urged those present to commit themselves to solidifying the community by working in evangelism and trying to find the means to construct a permanent church.

The visit provided the opportunity for a child to be initiated into Christian Life and for a group of children to make their Solemn Communion.

On Wednesday, August 29,using the Syriac Antiochene rite, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Seminary.

During the homily the bishop spoke of St. John the Baptist as a model for the attitude that we also are called to have in order to carry out the mission that the Lord has entrusted to us.

Celebrating the Divine Liturgy with the Syriac-Antiochene rite each week, we are step by step becoming accustomed to this celebration and are deepening our spirituality through participating in this beautiful liturgy and its spiritual meaning.