To conclude the Lenten Season, we had three missions during Holy Week. Two teams went into the mountains to do missions, and one team stayed and did local missions within the neighborhood.
The following is a reflection was written by Diana, one of our Honduras long-term missioners who has lived in the community for a year and half. She with a number of other missioners lead a team into the mountains of La Florida.
"During Holy Week we did a holy mission in a parish named Holy Family in La Florida, La Paz with a priest named Father Maximilian. We went to a number of villages that are a bit away from the city. During the week we participated with the people in different celebrations. We visited homes to encourage the people and to speak to them about the Love of God. Sometimes they feel distant and excluded, and for them to know and to hear the Word of God gives them strength. Visiting these villages helped us to realize how extensive the Catholic Church is and that we need to work more. The people mantain their faith mainly by family tradition, and to help them to grow deeper in their faith was our mission. These people have mass every 6 months or once a year because the parish is large and Fr. Max has much work and is unable to make many visits to each village. Fr. Max has 40 youth that are currently in school while living and working with him in his parish. We work with this particular priest a lot."
We also had another team that went to the mountains of Tutule (pronounced too-too-leh). Here are some photos from their team.
Emily leading the children in praise songs.
Via Crucis.
(The Way of the Cross)
Mode of transportation: a coffee truck!
The following is a reflection was written by Diana, one of our Honduras long-term missioners who has lived in the community for a year and half. She with a number of other missioners lead a team into the mountains of La Florida.
"During Holy Week we did a holy mission in a parish named Holy Family in La Florida, La Paz with a priest named Father Maximilian. We went to a number of villages that are a bit away from the city. During the week we participated with the people in different celebrations. We visited homes to encourage the people and to speak to them about the Love of God. Sometimes they feel distant and excluded, and for them to know and to hear the Word of God gives them strength. Visiting these villages helped us to realize how extensive the Catholic Church is and that we need to work more. The people mantain their faith mainly by family tradition, and to help them to grow deeper in their faith was our mission. These people have mass every 6 months or once a year because the parish is large and Fr. Max has much work and is unable to make many visits to each village. Fr. Max has 40 youth that are currently in school while living and working with him in his parish. We work with this particular priest a lot."
We also had another team that went to the mountains of Tutule (pronounced too-too-leh). Here are some photos from their team.
Emily leading the children in praise songs.
Via Crucis.(The Way of the Cross)
Mode of transportation: a coffee truck!
Team Tutule!
On the steps of the local parish.
On the steps of the local parish.
I, myself, had the opportunity to participate in the local mission. One big blessing during this time was that we had two family visits taking place - Mark's sister and cousin came to visit, as well as Therese's dad and two brothers, who had come to surprise her. As it turned out, God had a bigger surprise, particularly for Therese - she had appendicitis! She had to have a appendectomy, but is now recovering and healing. Please keep in her your prayers as she continues to heal from the surgery.
Therese with her dad.On Tuesday MJ and I lead a day of reflection with the help of local youth and Therese's brothers for all the residents at the Missionaries of Charity home. Among the residents are elderly men, women and mothers with aids, and children with aids or who have been orphaned as a result of aids. We started off the day praising our Lord with song, and then spent time with each group, singing, giving them a short teaching, and doing projects with the children. We concluded with Holy Hour and confessions. It was a beautiful day and an awesome reminder of what a precious gift TIME can be when given to others.
Me with Kenny, one of the children who lives at the MOC's.
Therese's brothers David and Greg with the boys.
The team at the end of the day with the children.
On Wednesday, we did the stations of the cross with the children of our barrio. It was wonderful to lead them in such a powerful way of prayer. We started off with a group of about 20, and people joined us as we continued along. We ended in front of our local parish and left solemnly anticipating the Lord's rising.
I hope that all of you had a blessed Lenten season.
CHRIST IS RISEN, ALLELUIA!!
Through Mary's heart,
Cecilia
Me with Kenny, one of the children who lives at the MOC's. 
Therese's brothers David and Greg with the boys.
The team at the end of the day with the children.On Wednesday, we did the stations of the cross with the children of our barrio. It was wonderful to lead them in such a powerful way of prayer. We started off with a group of about 20, and people joined us as we continued along. We ended in front of our local parish and left solemnly anticipating the Lord's rising.
I hope that all of you had a blessed Lenten season.
CHRIST IS RISEN, ALLELUIA!!
Through Mary's heart,
Cecilia
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