IrelandNet.ie

Christmas Update From Ecuador

Thursday, 5 January 2012

Fr John Molloy in a classroom in his parish in Ecuador. MT01644

Fr John Molloy from Terryglass is working on the missions in a parish in Ecuador and in his latest update from there reflects on the last few months and the preparations from Christmas in his parish.
Christmas Greetings from Monte Sinai, Guayaquil, Ecuador. I hear the Winter gets colder and roads become icy for you. What a contrasting world we live in! The heat and dust continues here as we get closer to welcome rains - if we could avoid the floods!
I had the privilege of many visitors over the last months. Our Bishop Kieran spent four days with me here in October. Similiar to his work for many many years in Africa Bishop Kieran saw first hand of my life and work. I believe, poverty is relative to where we live. Bishop Kieran experienced warmth, welcome, gentleness and contentment from the people. For me his visit was personally enjoyable and appreciated.
The last ten days or so of October saw Friends of Ennis Tidy Towns arrive here in Guayaquil. Again, Ann & J.J. Counihan, Noel Crowley and Donal Griffin had a memorable experience of life and living here. They tell me the visit made a deep impression on them. They varnished our first church to be built which we now use as an office and for meetings. When I drive in now in the night the lights of the car reflect the varnish on the bamboo and I say 'a job well done' and I am told here it's a good example of how native timber can be cared for and look so well. Thanks again, to generous spirits and hearts from Ennis who gave time volunteering to help the situation here. Your friendly visit is good memory.
Fr. Malachy Murphy my friend and colleague from Keady County Armagh returned for a second visit to Monte Sinai also in October and brought with him support of the people of Keady and he draws strength from his experience too.
Finally, another welcome visitor, my friend Trevor Markham from the Gort Road, Ennis arrived on route to emigrate to Australia. Let's say he didn't take take the shorter route but his parents Maureen and Ollie and family can be very proud as he entered into the lives of the people here with no Spanish to start but after short days had words and phrases and communicated so well with young and old. We wish you well Trevor on your new path in life 'down under'.
Now, you will think from all I write that I actually run a B+B! and there's no work going on! I have learned to plan work better and work at a different pace since I came out here! What has given me great new life and energy is to be able to live more in the present and don't plan too much either. I can't stress enough of how much the people here appreciate the visitor. This area is virtually unknown because it is called 'invasion territory' but we are making it known by our presence here. We are making change happen for the good of the people.
In the last number of weeks we welcomed a government sponsored programme to our church. Some of our buildings are being used for health information days for people. Elderly people now come three days a week for classes and social. It is so good to see people having a place to go and a purpose to move out and mix.
We have made some changes in the way we run the parish. New volunteers have arrived, others departed. Our new secretary, Silvia also acts as a temporary Social Worker and what a excellent job she does as Silvia knows the people much better than I do and is able to refer, help out and educate those in more need. We feel progress and improvement.
The first Sunday of December we had 38 young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation. All work and preparations was held over the last number of years here in the parish by young voluntary catechists. The Rector of the Seminary here in Guayaquil celebrated the vibrant ceremony. To my delight he knew many St. James Missionaries of the past here in Ecuador and praised our work, so I took that praise!
This weekend past we celebrated First Holy Communion. 78 young children received the Sacrament. Our Churches were packed and all I could think was what progress and development in a short time. Praise God.
Classrooms continue to be built and I am so grateful for continued funds which allows us to do this here. We have 148 pupils attending Primary School in our parish and that will rise to 223 for the new school term next April. Summer holidays arrive for the children here now when the rains and floods come in January to April. I look forward to a change of scene, continent and countries at this time when I take part in the Building of Hope in Mombasa, Kenya and second project Missionvale, Port Elizabeth. I look forward so much to meeting many from the county and beyond who will volunteer for these projects.
Where I live here in this barrio on the edge of the city of Guayaquil there are no signs or symbols of Christmas. No commercialism. In the city itself also little enough signs of Christmas but some shops sell a few decorations. What I do notice, in some public places there are beautiful cribs, with big figures and lots of animals and nature objects. We celebrate Christmas Day here on December 24th. I will begin the day at 8a.m. with 23 baptisms. New life will abound as these new Christians come to this new Church to continue their Christian journey. It probably will be hot. It was 36 degrees today! As the day will go on I will visit poor families and bring some food and extra treats for the children. One or two sweets or a biscuit here is a present. That will mean the world. My neighbours here and all the locals will have their Christmas meal (a little rice and a small piece of chicken) at 12 midnight. There is a tradition no matter how rich or poor everyone will try have cake! It's called a Patethon. One can be bought from $2 upwards. It's like the 'brack' we would know.
I celebrate a house Mass at 4p.m. for a man who will be 91 years young on Christmas Day here. I am really looking forward to that as I have come to know this man's family. They are very poor but happy. Then at 6p.m. I will celebrate Mass in our Capilla (smaller Church) St. Teresa of Avila. At 8p.m. in other Capilla, St. Philipe Neri and finally at 10p.m. in our main Church, Corpus Christi. All who come to church for Christmas will bring a small infant Jesus and place him in front of the altar and we bless them and there is a great scramble at end to collect the baby! With our singers, musicians, American Volunteers of Rostro de Cristo we will sing Silent Night (my part as Gaeilge) for this last Mass of Christmas Day.
For you on 25th it will be all over for me! I plan to sleep-on! If we have electricity Skype my parents, family and friends. I will meet my colleagues here on Monday and have a meal.
I patiently await the arrival of my friend and colleague Fr. Tom Hogan ADM Cathedral, Ennis and Mary Curley, Principal, Doora National who will spend ten days with me here after Christmas so again welcome visitors to South America.
Finally, I assure you of remembrance in prayers and Masses here for Christmas. Maya Angelon says and quoted often by our former Bishop Willie; 'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel'. As I try and live up to this thought, thanks for your support, Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano,
Amigo, John.

Subscribe to read full newspaper »

Send this page to a friend »