Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Letter from PerúCarabayllo, Lima City: November 2011Carabayllo, Lima City: November 2011
1/4
LIFE IN THE PARISH
Rev. Jonathan Hart Society of Saint JamesDiocese of Leeds
Carabayllo is starting to brighten up. The climate here has finally taken a turn for the better. With the increasing light
and warmth, grey skies change to powder blue. Smiles break out all over. Whilst the parish size has remained the
same, my area of responsibility has doubled with the departure of Rev Adrian (Des) Tynan who brilliantly served the
lower reaches for 12 years. So, instead of having two churches I now have seven!
As the church's year concludes, so do the catechetical courses which began in Lent. With joy we are celebrating the
baptism and first communion of 230 teenagers and young adults along with the fifty babies baptised monthly. On
the first Sunday of Advent, 40 people will be confirmed having completed their second year of formation. To
celebrate 50 years of the chapel of La Flor, we will host a 'matrimonio masivo. No less than fifty couples will be civilly
registered in a big 'I do'! They will then proceed, couple by
couple to be married sacramentally in the chapel. This is
regular practise here and wonderful for the poorest for whom
a 'big day' is out of their reach. However - a first for me!
The smaller chapels have Sunday Mass monthly and services
the other weeks – which still leaves me with five large
celebrations between Saturday night and the Sunday
evening. Bishop Lino of Carabayllo ordained six new priests in
July. However, there is still a great shortage. This parish should
really be three but for now I seek to serve and unite all the
seven quite different congregations into one family.
T h e D i o c e s e o f L e e d s i s
c e l e b r a t i n g i t s G o l d e n
Anniversary of work with the
people of Peru. Therefore it was
especially welcome that Bishop
Arthur visited all the mission
sites and convents supported by
the Diocese of Leeds.
We covered verdant forests of
Amazonia and the concrete
jungle of Lima. The days were
very full and passed rapidly.
THANKS FOR FIFTY YEARS!
La Flor and La Polvora, Via Esperanza and San Jose are
smaller chapels, with faithful congregations and packed
especially on their fiestas. Though the weekly offertory
rarely reaches $10 I have secured funding for all of them
and these structures will improve.
In December the entire parish will hold a Big Bingo
fundraiser tapping into the local generosity. However,
the real wealth is in the talents of the faithful and it is
encouraging to support the number and variety of prayer
groups and richness of ongoing sacramental preparation.
No less than three of the chapels are running Bible
Studies. An army of young people and committed
couples are preparing hundreds to receive the
sacraments of initiation, with more visiting the sick.
A l l t h e p a r i s h
chapels are cared
f o r b y t h e i r
r e s p e c t i v e
congregations all of
which are pressing
for improvements.
Cristo, Luz del
Mundo is the main
church and where I live. With the lights fixed, the
spotlight falls on the open space lying in front of the
church. The local mayor is keen to help and endless
meetings with him, his officials, the diocese and I
should bear fruit soon. If the council can bear the cost of
the materials, the parishioners can make the
transformation. Soon, access to the church will be
easier and brighter for all. A barren space brought to
life.
In Cristo Salvador I celebrate Mass in the basement of
the future basilica – to be built sometime before the
Second Coming! Bishop Lino has given me permission
to provide a tabernacle, which a parishioner is donating.
To pave the way to the altar we will tile the floor and
provide more seating before Christmas.
Santo Domingo is a wooden structure in the midst of a
park. Later it will form the main church in a new parish.
We are seeking land for a more permanent structure,
though a square metre of dirty sand is surprisingly
costly even here.
IMPROVING THE CHAPELS
2/4
Rev. Jonathan Hart
Carabayllo, Lima City: November 2011Carabayllo, Lima City: November 2011
beatific smile, his intellect paralysed in his body. Omar
wasn't eating and they were getting worried. I guessed
that his fast was in part due to having sore gums. I bought
the medication required and success – his appetite has
returned!
Luis and Franklyn both require wheelchairs to get around.
Their salvation is having families who care. How many
more exist in dark extremities, shut away from view? I
have no doubt that there are many in the parish, parents
simply unable to cope. To grow up as a healthy person
here is hard enough. Any disability can be crushing.
However, there is light. The council is trying to improve
things with free or cheap access to limited medical
resources and therapy.
3/4
It is frankly distressing to note the number of disabled
and housebound. This is especially true when I visit
young persons whose prospects have been cut short.
For loving parents it is often as a last resort they come to
visit the parish office.
Recently I was visited by the parents of Omar. Though
on the lookout, neither parent has regular employment
so the house comprises cheap wood walls, tin roof and
earth floor. Omar was born healthy but contracted
meningitis in infancy and from one day to the next his
life changed. Now twelve he cannot speak but has a
CHALLENGING DISABILITYRev. Jonathan Hart
Carabayllo, Lima City: November 2011Carabayllo, Lima City: November 2011
In August the Diocesan clergy gathered for a retreat up in the hills to the east of the city. It was good to pray and
worship together with the six deacons to be ordained. Their big day was one of tremendous joy and they will bring
wonderful gifts to the Diocese. There are still many clergy from overseas but there is hope that one day Peru will
provide the clergy it needs to serve its ever increasing spiritual need.
I have clearance to celebrate Mass in the new large prisons on the coast. No photos to show you, I'm afraid. One is top
security and the other is for first time young offenders and those on remand. Along with the vicar general we have
baptised, confirmed and celebrated first Holy Communion: the church present right in the heart of all those concrete
corridors and featureless spaces.
REACHING BEYOND THE PARISH
GIFTS FROM MANY SOURCES
4/4
CONTACT
Rev. Jonathan Hart
Telephone
Casilla PostalApartado 1025-18, Lima-Perú
00 51 955 847 269
Cheques may be paid to: Diocese of Leeds Peru FundAnd sent to Mr. Terry Bossons
6 Hawksworth Close,Menston ILKLEYLS29 6HR
Fr Daniel Harrison, Chair of Leeds Diocese Peru Commission:[email protected]
See my video here
Money can be paid into any branch of HSBC bank:J S Hart - HSBC First Direct
Sort Code: 40 47 80 - Account Number: 60300241
Thank you for your prayers and your financial support
Thank you for your prayers and your financial support
O n l e a v e i n
England I had
the chance to
catch up with
many of you
w h o h a v e
contributed to
the work here in Peru and to meet new congregations.
As ever, I felt overwhelmed by your warmth and the
generous support of so many. I preached in three
parishes though visited others and received support
from any number of sources.
Without wishing to name and praise individuals: thanks
so much for all you from Australia, Britain, Canada,
Germany & USA for contributing to the Mission here.
Not all supporters are Catholic nor indeed may consider
t h e m s e l v e s
C h r i s t i a n .
However, all are
working together
t o r e l i e v e
poverty, provide
hope and for the
Common Good
of the People.
As ever, financial help is not the only thing required. The
Peruvian people of the parish are united in love and pray
THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTE:
with their worldwide network of friends. Many of the
issues which confront people here do not have a financial
solution. The greater need is affirmation and
encouragement. All of us here are strengthened by your
prayer.
In the month of October, the whole of Peru contemplates
its devotion to El Senor de los Milagros. We followed the
Passion of our Lord Jesus in a spirit of Penance. Special
services and liturgies carried us through the month and
our prayers were for the need for the world to convert and
follow Christ. As ever, we prayed for you.
With every blessing from Lima,
Father Jonathan
Rev. Jonathan Hart
Carabayllo, Lima City: November 2011Carabayllo, Lima City: November 2011
