¿QUÉ ES EL ADVIENTO?

Sister Gloria in Peru shares with us what Advent means to her and the community in Peru.

¿QUÉ ES EL ADVIENTO?

El “Adviento” para mi es de esperanza, esperar la llegada de una persona muy especial, importante y amada en mi vida. En esta etapa me gusta alimentar mi alma con mucha alegría y confianza para recibir al Niño Dios en mi corazón. Es un tiempo que me ofrece prepararme para vivir a plenitud la Navidad. En este acercamiento de la Navidad veo el Servicio como una revelación de Dios, porque en el corazón de cada persona se alberga una promesa de paz y amor. Todos nuestros anhelos se renuevan. En los ojos de los niños y de todos brillan las ilusiones. Por un instante el mundo se detiene… y celebra en armonía el nacimiento del Niño Dios.

Este tiempo me lleva a mi pequeñez a Recordar el pasado: a prepararme para celebrar y contemplar el nacimiento de Jesús en Belén, reflexionar en cómo fue su venida en la carne, lleno de humildad y pobreza.

Al Vivir el presente: trato de vivir en el presente de mi vida diaria la "presencia de Jesucristo" vivir siempre vigilante, atenta, a caminar y encaminar a otros por el camino de justicia, paz y amor. A Preparar el futuro: Prepararme, preparar al pueblo, a las familias para que tengamos un espíritu reconciliador para la segunda venida de Jesucristo. Animar a los niños y a la juventud a vivir en valores según el evangelio y lo que hagamos sea con alegría. Lo fundamental es comprender “CÓMO VISITA DIOS”.

Aquí en Chincha nos animamos mucho en preparar las coronas de Adviento con una base circular, ramas verdes y cuatro velas al rededor, este símbolo nos ayuda e involucra a toda la familia a armar la corona, se unen todos para orar, compartir una lectura bíblica, y motiva a los niños a querer participar en el encendido de las velas, en hacer alguna petición o agradecimiento y lo hacen con mucho respeto, cariño e ilusión para vivir el Adviento y su significado.

También hacemos las Posadas: donde tratamos de concientizar a la gente que la unión hace la fuerza: nos ayuda a reafirmar los valores en las familias y de amistad nos ayuda a ser solidarios, sencillos y confiar que Dios está siempre.

Todo aquello nos prepara para la Navidad.

WHAT IS ADVENT?

"Advent" for me is one of hope, waiting for the arrival of a very special, important, and beloved person in my life. At this stage I like to feed my soul with a lot of joy and confidence to receive the Christ Child in my heart. It is a time that offers me an opportunity to prepare myself to fully live Christmas.

In this approach to Christmas, I see “my Service” as a revelation of God, because in the heart of each person there is a promise of peace and love. All our longings are renewed. Illusions shine in the eyes of children and everyone. For a moment the world stops... and celebrates in harmony the birth of the Child God.

This time of Advent leads me to my smallness to Remember the past: to prepare myself to celebrate and contemplate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, A time reflect on what His coming in the flesh was like, full of humility and poverty.

I try to live in the present of my daily life the "presence of Jesus Christ" lives always vigilant, attentive, to walk and guide others along the path of justice, peace, and love. To prepare the future: prepare myself, prepare the people, especially the families I minister to.  Encourage children and youth to live in values according to the gospel, thus doing what we do with joy. The fundamental thing is to understand “HOW GOD VISITS” …continues to come among us.

Here in Chincha we encourage families to make an Advent wreath with a circular base, green branches and four candles around it, this symbol involves the whole family in assembling the wreath, everyone joins together to pray, share a biblical reading. The Family wreaths are brought to the Church to be blessed on the first Sunday of Advent. Each evening the family gathers around the wreath for a brief prayer, parents motivate the children in the lighting of the candles, in making a request or thanking God, and they do so with great respect, affection and enthusiasm to live Advent and its meaning.

 In the basic Christian communities, we also do the Posadas (This is a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s Journey to Bethlehem) where we try to make people aware that in union there is strength: it helps us to reaffirm family values and recognize the importance of friendship, to be supportive, simple and trust that God is always there.

All this prepares us for Christmas.

-Sister Gloria Muchaypiña Salhuana, CSJ, Chincha, Peru

Pt. II - A Peruvian Story of Living Amid Covid-19

from Our CSJ ASSOCIATES IN ZAÑA, PERU

Part TWO

Between August and September 2020, the lockdowns and restrictions were still in place, but by October, the Peruvian Government permitted people to leave their homes 3 days per week, at certain times (e.g., only after 11AM) and on certain days, including children and the elderly, but all citizens had to stay at home on Sundays. Churches would not open until November. However, new cases continued to emerge, especially because of crowding at the markets. Sadly, on October 27th, 2020, Delicia’s father, Armando Romero, died – he was 99 years old, and had served the community of Zaña especially in the agriculture sector, most of his life – a man respected and looked upon as friend by all.

By December 1st, another donation had arrived, which was very much needed and very much appreciated by the people - it helped to provide food before/by Christmas, and again, much-needed medicine. Deaths in and around Zaña however, were constant – isolation and restrictions were a constant – and getting in and out of Zaña or surrounding towns were all hardships (police permission was needed, buying gas for whatever vehicle would take one to the city and then paying for this service); also getting food somewhere was a daily hardship, and not having seeds or enough water to plant seeds etc.

2021:

In January, Peru experienced many strikes of doctors, workers, and many other service providers, who had not been paid for many months – as a result, people all over Peru, as well as Zaña and surrounding areas, were experiencing disruptions of all kinds, especially being cut off from supplies and food, as well as not being able to get into the towns and cities for so many needed services. In late March, Associate Pola Montenegro, whose health had been failing since January, caught Covid-19, and her family was experiencing ill health as well. Associate Cecelia Odar had been helping Pola get to medical appointments in Chiclayo since the New Year; now, together with a Zaña nurse, Cecelia was able to get oxygen for her, as well as some nursing help from the Zana Medical Post. Pola began to respond to medicine and the oxygen, but after 2 weeks, the oxygen supply in Zana and the city of Chiclayo had run out. However, Pola was able to breathe easier, and is still slowly recuperating. In April, Covid deaths in Zana continued, and many friends/people from Zaña, who were known to the Sisters of St. Joseph who had lived in Cayalti, Oyutun, and Zaña, had died from Covid.

However, in the first week of May, the town of Zaña announced that the first vaccinations would begin on Mother’s Day, May 9th, and asked all the women of Zana over 60 to be available for the vaccination process. Afterward, the younger residents and then all the residents would be able to be vaccinated – a miracle that had been waited and hoped for!!

May God accompany always our 7 Associates in Zaña, and all the people of Zaña and the nearby and surrounding areas, so that people may recuperate, and grow together as a community of love and support, becoming as our Associates in Zaña bear the name, “Milagro de Amor”,  translated in English, “A Miracle of Love” (after a phrase from our Founder, Jean Pierre Medaille’s, writings).

Written by Zana Associates,

Delicia Ampuero and Cecelia Odar, and Janet Zadorsky, CSJ

“Milagro de Amor” /”A Miracle of Love” – Associates in Zaña, Peru 

Rosa    Pola   Delicia   Carmen   Iris   Cecelia   Fela

A Peruvian Story of Living Amid Covid-19 - Pt. I

LIVING AMID COVID-19 from Our CSJ ASSOCIATES IN ZAÑA, PERU

PART I

The story of Covid-19 in Peru, as in many countries has many ‘downs’ as well as ‘ups’ throughout January 2020 to the present, June 2021. In the town of Zaña, Peru, there are seven CSJ in Canada Associates who live among their neighbours, and who have also lived through this Covid experience with them. The story in Zaña is one of resilience, strength, hardship, hope, and love; one of caring for families, villages, neighbours, friends, and all those with and among whom one lives; it is a story of being neighbour, helping, serving, giving guidance, prepared to be a voice on behalf of others in need.

Peru has the highest Covid death rate as a proportion of population in the world, according to the latest data. GETTY IMAGES

Through January, but especially by the end of February and the beginning of March, Covid-19 in Peru had begun to show devastating effects. By mid-March, the entire country was in a lockdown, and news of increasing deaths and disease spread was all over Peru. Smaller communities, such as Zaña and nearby Cayalti, were restricted and unable to travel to the larger city Chiclayo. Stringent Government rules and restrictions of trucks/people from outside the communities created widespread problems for workers, truckers, suppliers etc. causing great concern regarding food, medicines, medical aid etc. This also meant that donations from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph to Zaña could not be received, as all travel outside of the town(s) was prohibited and strictly enforced by police.

By May, there was a growing food shortage in Zaña and Cayalti (nearby) causing widespread hardship for most families who were struggling to survive; as well, the town of Zaña was struggling with outbreaks of Dengue Fever, dangerous and potentially life threatening for people. In June, news about Peru arrived from the Sisters of Mercy (who live in a nearby town) through their e-mail letter: “There is a new crisis emerging. The hunger caused by the coronavirus pandemic is feared more than the disease itself. To add to the complexity, Peru has two experiences of displacement: (1) internal displacement of more than 165,000 people who have requested humanitarian transfers in attempts to leave Lima and return to their hometowns due to job losses, and (2) hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan refugees in Peru who do not even receive the financial support offered to the Peruvian people by the Government. [P.S.: Zana Peru also has numerous refugees from Venezuela].

By June 30th, 2020, Peru had recorded 9,600 deaths. The Health Care system was not prepared; many households could not ‘stock up’ on food as 40% of households do not have refrigeration; market areas were a source of contagion, and 40% to 80% of sellers became infected, thus carrying Covid to their households; working persons had to use public transportation, and so contagion also spread this way, to their households as well; only 30% of Peruvians have bank accounts, so making digital payments OR receiving Government payments was digitally impossible; overcrowded homes also made the spread of the virus/contagion easier. However, on July 28th, the Peruvian President finally lifted the strict lockdown in place since March. It was only in August 2020 that Associates, Delicia and Cecelia could take care of all the people needing medicines and food especially, as donations finally were able to get through the restrictions. Meanwhile, because of the many Covid deaths, the scarcity of food and lack of seeds for growing food, the restrictions on movement in and outside of each town, and the isolation from main trucking routes and food, life was very difficult for Zaña and all Peruvians. 

TO BE CONTINUED

Covid Part I of II, Written by our Zana Associates, Delicia Ampuero and Cecelia Odar, and Sister Janet Zadorsky, CSJ 

Rosa Pola Delicia Carmen Iris Cecelia Fela

 “Milagro de Amor” /”A Miracle of Love” – Associates in Zaña, Peru

The Rural Libraries of Cajamarca - A Peruvian Dream Realized

Since the early 1960s, the Sisters of St Joseph have had a presence in Peru.  During those years a priest from England, Father John Metcalfe ministered in the Andes in Cajamarca with primarily the Indigenous population located in small subsistence farming communities.  Focusing on education, he wondered why anyone would want to learn how to read when they did not have access to newspapers or books.  As a result, he creatively evolved a lending library system, simple but effective, with a presence in every small community.  Fifty years later his dream still promotes and encourages reading to enhance education and critical thinking.  Critical thinking that included indigenous land rights with ecological protection.

The present administrator of the Rural Libraries of Cajamarca, Alfredo Mires Ortiz, has contributed a blog focusing on the continual evolution of that broadened educational dream.    - Sr Mabel St. Louis, csj

The Rural Libraries of Cajamarca

In memory of Fr. Gerardo Prince St. Onge, ever-present.

Modern times only give the impression of being modern and make us believe that we live in the future. But the old injustices prevail; the iniquity is still there, even if we don't want to see it.

There are words that have been in fashion around here for quite some time: development, competitiveness, success, entrepreneurship, empowerment, acceleration, celebrity, etc. And there are other words whose use is becoming outdated: poverty, hunger, exploitation, love, solidarity, fraternity, spirit, etc.

But hiding the words does not liquidate the realities, because there are still poor people and because of hunger they continue to die, and because love continues to be lacking. The pain of those who suffer is not relieved by covering their mouths or averting our eyes.

And never more than today - when the continuity of the human species and nature are at risk – is competitiveness or celebrity more shameful, when what the world requires is commonality.

That is why we continue the journey with our Rural Libraries of Cajamarca: because books can also be the bread that nourishes our memories and our hopes. Rediscovering words, rewriting our stories, and re-creating ourselves with, from and to the earth is a way of building tomorrow without having to stumble over the same stone so many times.

Reading is decanting and discerning, attracting the world and projecting oneself onto the world. And we have been doing this for 50 years, trying to understand and unlearn. It is not an empty path: we are an independent organization and we are not guided by ideology or motivated by a reward. We are a community, we are family. We are children of marginalized memory, unappreciated history, and pursued dreams. And we learn from the most humble, from the prodigious presence of those whom society does not value and does not take into account.

-Alfredo Mires Ortiz

In this wonderful fifteen minute video​, Alfredo Mires Ortiz, head of the rural library program (RED), shows us the creative ways the people of Cajamarca participate in the "moving libraries" with their local 'librarian' holding books at home, and the volunteers who carry the books on their backs in backpacks to the next village in the hills.  The books not only provide practical knowledge. As Alfredo explains in the introduction and the conclusion, the library  reclaims Peruvian history from the false claims  of the Spanish conquest, replacing it with the truth. The library then, informs and supports, celebrates Peruvian history, culture, values,  and dignity. 

-Sister Wendy Cotter csj

Las Bibliotecas Rurales de Cajamarca

A la memoria de Fr. Gerardo Prince St. Onge, tan presente.

Los tiempos modernos solo dan la impresión de ser modernos y nos hacen creer que vivimos en el futuro. Pero las antiguas injusticias prevalecen; la iniquidad sigue ahí, aunque no queramos verla.

Hay palabras que por aquí andan de moda hace bastante tiempo: desarrollo, competitividad, éxito, emprendimiento, empoderamiento, aceleración, celebridad, etc. Y hay otras palabras cuyo uso va resultando anticuado: pobreza, hambre, explotación, amor, solidaridad, fraternidad, espíritu, etc.

Pero escondiendo las palabras no se liquidan las realidades. Porque pobres sigue habiendo y porque de hambre se sigue muriendo y porque amor sigue faltando. El dolor de los que sufren no se alivia tapándoles la boca ni volteándonos los ojos.

Y nunca como hoy –cuando la continuidad de la especie humana y la naturaleza están en riesgo– resulta más vergonzosa la competitividad o la celebridad, cuando lo que requiere el mundo es mancomunidad.

Por eso seguimos caminando con nuestras Bibliotecas Rurales de Cajamarca, porque los libros también pueden ser el pan que nutre nuestros recuerdos y nuestros anhelos; redescubrir las palabras y escribirnos con la tierra es una forma de construir el mañana sin tener que tropezar tantas veces con la misma piedra.

Leer es decantar y discernir, atraer el mundo y proyectarse al mundo. Y en eso andamos ya hace 50 años, tratando de comprender y desaprender. No es un camino vacío: somos una organización independiente y no nos guía una ideología ni nos mueve una recompensa. Somos comunidad, somos familia. Somos hijos de la memoria marginada y de la historia despreciada y de los sueños perseguidos. Y aprendemos de los más humildes, desde la prodigiosa presencia de aquellos a los que la sociedad no valora y no toma en cuenta.

News from Chincha, Peru

PREPARING 350 CHILDREN FOR THEIR FIRST COMMUNION

I watched from the sidelines after having entered the double doors with a huge colourful BIENVENIDOS sign.  In an oversized gymnasium like structure with a cement floor, cement block walls and a bamboo roof sat children in circle groups of 10 or 12 with an adult keenly observing. 

These 350 children were preparing to make their First Communion.

The wall behind the stage was colourfully decorated with one foot high letters spelling EUCHARIST and taking center place was a childish like image of Santa Rosa de Lima.

A young man who has had years of experience with Catechesis Familiar held his microphone firmly as he engaged the children in the first presentation of the morning.    In my conversation with him later he spoke highly of Sister Nora who began Catechesis Familiar in this parish.

The children were instructed to arrive with a pen, coloured pencils and excitement to be present.  

The overall theme for the day was the Eucharist and the use of the Bible was reviewed as the children searched for the location of each Biblical Reading.

A short break in the morning offered the opportunity for the children to get a quick bite to eat and or drink as well as a wild run through the cemented space that also served as the playground for games during recess time at Collegio San Jose, (the school opened by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Pembroke over 50 years ago). At 9:30 all the children, their parents and group animators attended the Mass celebrated in the church.  After Mass, a return to the huge auditorium to continue with the final themes.

Each circle has an adult accompanying the small group. They are referred to animadores and throughout the year they gather the children in their neighbourhood who wish to make their first communion.  Weekly meetings are held of children with their animators and the parents with their “guides”.  The theme for the week is reviewed.   Parents are guided to present it to the children, as well as the animators who review it with a different focus with their group of neighbourhood children.

During the snack break I spoke to a few of the animators and asked them about their involvement and if it has affected their personal lives.  Immediately one animator responded with her history.

“I participated in the program when I was going to make my own First Communion.  After my Confirmation the opportunity was given to us to get involved as an animator with the First Communion program.  Belonging to the animators’ group and encouraged by some adults, I decided my profession as a teacher and am very happy teaching children”.

“I know that I am richer spiritually.  I also know that it has helped us as a family”. 

“In school, as a teacher, I use much that I have learned from being an animator in my religions classes.” 

“I feel comfortable talking about my faith in a way that children and friends understand”. 

My day was enriched with my experience and I gave thanks to la Hermana Nora Kelly for her wisdom in selecting this type of program that has endured over all these years assisting children, their families and their neighbourhoods.... and Gracias a las Hermana’s Gloria y Maria as they have continued it throughout their years of pastoral presence in the Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Fatima ........   La Catequesis Familiar

- by Sister Mabel St. Louis, csj with contributions by Sisters Maria and Gloria