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Saturday, May 21, 2022

Will Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone prohibit every Catholic who dissents from Catholic Church teaching on abortion from receiving Communion in San Francisco, or just prominent politicians like Nancy Pelosi? by Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a weekly press conference. 
Rod Lamkey-Pool/Getty Images

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone's move to bar Nancy Pelosi from receiving Eucharist in San Francisco is a clear abuse of hierarchical power that weaponizes Eucharist, violates primacy of conscience and departs from Jesus' example of inclusivity in the Gospels. Everyone was always welcome at the table where Jesus sat.

 The Catholic Church states that everyone must follow his/her conscience in making moral decisions even when their decision contradicts magisterium teaching. 

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/11/11/pope-francis-reaffirms-primacy-conscience-amid-criticism-amoris-laetitia

According to surveys, the majority of Catholics believe that abortion should be legal in most cases and that Catholics should follow their consciences on moral issues such as abortion and contraception. 

https://fox8.com/news/majority-of-u-s-catholics-say-abortion-should-be-legal-in-most-cases-survey-shows/

Speaker Pelosi has an obligation to  represent people of all faiths and no faith in her district. Since there is a diversity of beliefs on abortion, a legislator's duty is to consider all views and make the best decision possible for the good of all their constituents.  

Nancy Pelosi is lifelong Catholic whose faith has shaped her values and worldview. Being denied communion will be difficult for her because she attends Mass on a regular basis. 

I wonder if she knows that there are inclusive women priests-led communities all over California -including  the San Francisco Bay Area where she would be welcome to receive Communion.  

Twenty years ago on June 29, 2002, an anonymous male Roman Catholic bishop ordained seven women priests on the Danube River in Passau, Germany.  

Now there are nearly 300 hundred courageous women in 13 countries and 34 states who have been ordained deacons, priests and bishops to serve inclusive Catholic communities where all are invited to celebrate Eucharist and to follow their consciences.

The question now is will Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone prohibit every Catholic, who dissents from Catholic Church teaching on abortion, from receiving Communion in San Francisco, or just prominent politicians like Nancy Pelosi? 

Either way, this punitive ban weaponizing Communion should be challenged by faithful Catholics everywhere, including Pope Francis.

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

www.arcwp.org

sofiabmm.bmm@gmail.com


Womanbishop Suzanne Avison Thiel of Roman Catholic Womenpriests Western Region Speaks out Regarding Nancy Pelosi Being Denied Holy Communion by

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.

Cordileone's reference to Pelosi's pro-choice position is nothing more than an old, medieval, punitive and bigoty chastisement--the political weapon of denying Communion is never acceptable and simply put is not what Jesus taught. When will the male Catholic clergy wake up and recognize the majority of Catholic women and their rights over their own bodies? We in the Roman Catholic Women Priest movement welcome all to our Communion tables and we invite Pelosi to visit us at one of our three worshiping communities in the San Francisco Bay area where we will be glad to offer her Communion.



https://www.businessinsider.com/pelosi-barred-communion-abortion-archbishop-catholic-church-san-francisco-2022-5


"The Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco has ordered priests in the archdiocese to deny House Speaker Nancy Pelosi the sacrament of communion because of the California Democrat’s support for abortion rights.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone’s move to bar Pelosi from receiving the Eucharist in churches in her home district comes as the Supreme Court is expected within weeks to overturn the constitutional right to abortion embodied in the 49-year-old court decision Roe v. Wade.

The Roman Catholic Church opposes abortion, considering it a “grave sin.”

“After numerous attempts to speak with Speaker Pelosi to help her understand the grave evil she is perpetrating, the scandal she is causing, and the danger to her own soul she is risking, I have determined that she is not to be admitted to Holy Communion,” Cordileone wrote in a tweet.

Most Catholic bishops have been loathe to deny communion to politicians who support abortion rights.

Cordileone’s order applies only to priests in his diocese, not to priests elsewhere. Pelosi could still receive communion in a church outside San Francisco. Or in womenpriests-led inclusive Catholic communities in the Bay area! (bmm comment)

Cordileone notified Pelosi on Thursday that because she supports “legal abortion she is not to present herself for Communion, and that should she do so, she is not to be admitted,” the Catholic News Agency reported.

In a letter to priests in the archdiocese Friday, Cordileone wrote, “There are those who speak of such actions as I am taking as ‘weaponizing’ the Eucharist.”

“However, this is simply application of Church teaching.  One would have to demonstrate that a person’s actions in following Church teaching is explicitly for a political purpose in order to justify the accusation of ‘weaponizing’ the Eucharist,” Cordileone wrote.

“I have been very clear all along, in both my words and my actions, that my motive is pastoral, not political,” he added.

Pelosi said last month that the controversy over her support for abortion rights “really gets me burned up in case you didn’t notice, because again I’m very Catholic, devout, practicing, all of that. They would like to throw me out. But I’m not going because I don’t want to make their day."



Mary, Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, May 21, 2022, Presiders: Joan Meehan and Lee Breyer, Prayer Leaders: Pat and Bob Ferkenoff, Music Ministers: Linda Lee and Rick Miller, Music Planner: Kathryn Shea ARCWP, IT Enablers: Cheryl Brandi and Peg Bowen


 Zoom link for video - 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81534075389?pwd=TTdGY2NxS3AzTW13ODJESkdYME9aUT09

 

Meeting ID: 815 3407 5389

Passcode: 803326

(Note -- if you have a problem with the above link, open your ZOOM app and insert the Meeting ID number and Passcode)


Theme: Building the kindom of God

Welcome and Gathering

LEE:  Welcome everyone to our Zoom ministry at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota Florida. Here is an important piece of information for all of us, so that when we follow it, all will go smoothly 

Everyone, except for the presiders and readers, will be muted (silenced; not able to be heard) during the liturgy.  However, when you have a comment you would like to share with us… (for example, at the Shared Homily, the Prayers of the Community, or at the Gratitude and Announcement piece)… when you will be given an opportunity to share your thoughts, you will need to unmute yourself so that the community will be able to hear you … and then, when you are finished, mute yourself again so that others are able to share their thoughts and be heard by the rest of the community.

JOAN M: Let us now take a few minutes to collect ourselves as we prepare to focus our minds and our hearts on our knowledge that each one of us was chosen by our Holy One - even before we were born - and before we came together here and now.  And also, let us transform ourselves and our work through our love and care – our love for the Holy One, our love for each other and our love for every one of our brothers and sisters, including  for ourselves, and our love for the planet Earth.  And now, what better way can we begin our liturgy than by expressing this love through song.

Gathering Song: Gather Us In by Marty Haugen

Performed by Linda Lee and Rick Miller


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnom5mFwJaI


Opening Prayer

PAT F: We pray, God, creator of all that exists, grant us the grace that we reach deep within ourselves to hear Wisdom’s many messages, to faithfully understand them, and to respond kindly to them with our compassionate actions. May we emulate the virtues of pardon and peace that Jesus taught us so that we may - in turn - be very forgiving in our care for ourselves and for one another, no exceptions.  May we gather strength through your Divine Presence that is within each of us, to extend your merciful and forgiving presence that is your gift – through us – to everyone, everywhere, with whom you share your never-ending love.  Amen.


Community Reconciliation, Healing and Transformation

BOB F: Compassionate God, to you all hearts are open, no desires are unknown, and no secrets are hidden.  We ask for the grace to realize our continual need to grow in a better understanding, compassion and caring for ourselves, our brothers and sisters and for our planet Earth.  We also ask that we may be always consciously aware of your everlasting forgiveness of our hurtful thoughts and actions to them, regardless of their genders, beliefs, nationalities and races.

May we gather strength through your Divine Presence that is always within each one of us so that we can extend your merciful and forgiving presence that are your gifts – through us – to everyone everywhere with whom you share your unending love… without any exception.  Amen.

Glory to God

PAT F:  And now, let us give glory to our Holy One, and do so in song….

Glory to God, Glory by Linda Lee Miller


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbarqE9o8QY

Liturgy of the Word

LEE:  Today’s readings are not new to many, if not most, of you by any means.  I’m saying this because I am trying to move away from thoughts of “not this again; Lee has talked about this topic in several liturgies and not long ago.”  Okay.  But, while listening to these familiar scriptural texts, let us give a thought to any different level of understanding about them that may come to your mind. If so, we’d like to hear it when the readings are finished.

Today’s first reading is selection from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 6, verses 27 – 38.  It will be presented to us by JOAN M.

JOAN M:  Coming down from the mountain where Jesus delivered his talk about the beatitudes, He and his disciples were soon joined by a large population from Judea and Jerusalem, Tyre and Sidon who came to hear his talk and to be cured of their ailments.  Then Jesus talked to this large population and he said:  I say to you, love your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for even those who mistreat you.  If someone slaps you on your face, stay there and take it.  If someone grabs your coat, let them have your shirt as well.  Give help and support to those who beg from you. And even if a person takes some items that belong to you, do not ask to have them back. Live generously.

Do to others what you want them to do to you.  If you love only those who love you, what good does that do to you?   If you love only those who are good to you, what merit is that to you?   Even thieves do as much to get a nice return.  If you lend something to only those from whom you expect to repay you, what good does that do to you?  Do you consider that to be an act of charity?

Even the stingiest people lend things to those who are not in a much different situation than themselves; they are expecting to be repaid in full and even more. I say to you: love your enemies and do good to them.  Do give them items without expecting any type of repayment in return - and then your reward will be great. In doing so, you will rightly be called “Children of the Most High” since God, a merciful one, is good to everyone, even to those people who would be ungrateful.

Be compassionate, as our loving God is compassionate.  Do not judge - and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn anyone  - and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you in full measure.  

LEE:  A second reading is from the Gospel of John, Chapter 15, verses 9 -17.   From the beginning of this piece, John talks about his relationship with Abba, the extent of the love of one for the other.  That will be presented to us by BOB F

BOB F:  And Jesus said to the disciples: As my Father has loved me, so I have loved you.  Live on in my love --- and you will be living on in my love if you keep my commandments… just as I've lived on in Abba God’s love and have kept God’s commandments. I tell you all this so that my joy may be yours and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  And you are my friends if you do what I command you.  I do not refer to you as “servant” because a servant does not know a superior’s business.  Instead, I call you “friends”… because I have told you everything that I have learned from Abba God.  It was not you who chose to follow my example, it was I who chose you so that you could go forth and bear good fruit.  Your fruit will endure; whatever you ask of Abba God in my name, God will give you.  This is the command I give you… that you love one another.

LEE: This third and final reading for this liturgy is pretty much a summary of the previous two.  It is a selection from the First Epistle of John, his 4th chapter, and verses 11 -16.  This is attributed to “John,” the same author as the writer of Gospel, but at a later time. It will be presented to us by PAT F.

PAT F:  Beloved, since God has loved us so much, we need to have the same love for one another.  No one has ever seen God, but we know God’s messages. This one is so meaningful and simple: namely that we love one another, that God abides in us, and that God’s love is even brought to perfection in us.  In this we know that we live in God and that God lives in us. . We know that because we have been given the Spirit.  We have experienced this for ourselves and we can testify that God has sent the Only Begotten Son as the Savior of the world.  When anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Only Begotten One, God then dwells in them and they in God. We have come to know and to believe the love that God has on our behalf.  And that is that God is love; and whoever abides in love abides in God and God in them.

Shared Homily and Community Reflections

Lee Breyer

Profession of Faith

LEE and ALL:   We believe in God, the Creator of an unfinished world …in an ever-evolving cosmos. The Holy One invites us to join with one another and share in the expanding evolution of the universe in creating and building a new world of justice, love and peace on the planet Earth

JOAN M: We do not believe in a Universal Source that has divided the population of the planet Earth into the rich and the poor, the healthy and the sick, the wise and the unwitting, the advantaged and the disadvantaged.  We believe that God, our Creator, has not separated the many peoples of the Earth into populations of rich and poor, heathy and sick, wise and unwitting, the innocent and guilty, and not forgiven, the advantaged and the disadvantaged.

PAT F:  We do believe in Jesus, the Christ and Word of God, who became human like us and preached love and justice to everyone.  And for decades of doing this, Jesus was put to death for doing what was His blessed mission on earth.   Then, when Jesus was risen from the dead by the Spirit of the Living, he demonstrated to everyone on earth that life is eternal, that love is immortal, and that death is only a horizon    and, as everyone knows, “a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.”

BOB F; We believe in the Spirit of God, the sustainer of everything that exists in the world, the bright light of God’s message to us always and everywhere, the soul of God’s boundless love, healing and mercy for us and the whole of creation. The Spirit brings order out of chaos, peace out of strife, strength out of weakness and direction out of uncertainty, and, in the example of Jesus, She brings life out of death. 

Prayers of the Community

JOAN M and ALL: We are a people of faith.  We believe in the power of prayer.  We believe that, in our prayers, we send blessings to those people who are struggling and need to experience hope; to those who are grieving and need to be comforted in their losses, and to those who are facing mental and medical challenges.  We pray that they all may be granted hope and healing in their situations.  We bring all these needs - and those of so many others - to our gracious and comforting God.


After each intercession, our response to the prayers of others is …

Rx   Compassionate God, we are grateful that you hear our concerns and bless our intentions.

And we make this prayer for our concerns mentioned here and for those that may not be spoken, but need help in their situations

Rx..Compassionate God, we are grateful that you hear our concerns and bless our intentions.

…for those who are suffering the pains of the Russian and Ukrainian war

Rx…Compassionate God….

…for those who are finding difficult times now with the changes of work places, homes, schools and stores. 

Rx…Compassionate God….

…for those who are having challenging physical and health conditions.

Rx…Compassionate God….

And for those who have gone ahead of us and are dwelling forever in our heavenly home. 

RX…Compassionate God….

What other intentions would anyone else like to bring to our attention?  Let the others here share their concerns. 

RX…Compassionate God….

(In doing so, please unmute yourself so you can be heard and then, as soon as you are finished, re-mute yourself so others can be heard.

Gathering of the Gifted

PAT F:  Merciful God, we – your people – have come together in this blessed liturgy from many locations and we are certainly thankful for the science of our times that make it take place at all  We are grateful for your blessings that make this gathering possible for each one of us.  Your Spirit dwelling in us gives us the hope of our unending peace and joy with you, and - through you - with our brothers and sisters.  We are in communion with so many others who share your gifts of compassion, understanding and forgiveness that we are prompted s to describe our blessing in song.

All:  Holy, Holy, Holy Linda Lee Miller

(adapted from Holy, Holy, Holy by Karen Drucker)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orKBBIj5LZA


Eucharistic Prayer

BOB F:  Ever living and ever-loving God, we thank you for the gift of Jesus, your Son and our brother, in history -and the gift of Jesus in faith.  Through him, you breathe life into us.  His life on earth was deeply driven by his mission and the vision of your constant presence in everyone he met. You selected him from among your people to baptize us in your Spirit.  He reflected you in everything he said and did in his life well lived.  He showed us, by his many spoken messages and lived example, not only how we should live, but also for what we might suffer, and possibly even die, as he did in the service of the gospel message.

JOAN M:  And when his time on earth had come to its end, Jesus – aware of and accepting his destiny – suffered much for the values that he deeply believed, lived and taught…especially his conviction that love is stronger than death.  And then, providing an example of this insight for the understanding of people in ages to come … Jesus opened wide his arms on a cross and died.  Then the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead showed us in his resurrection - that, truly, life is eternal and that love is immortal. .Jesus, the Christ, is with us  today, just as He will be through the end of time...and beyond.

O God let your Spirit of life, healing and wholeness come upon the simple pieces of wheat and wine  -- food from the field and fruit of the vine--  that we have with us now.  May She transform them so that they become - for each of us - the Body and Blood of Jesus

LEE and ALL:  And now let us pray the Consecration together. 

We remember the gift that Jesus gave us on the night before he died. He gathered with his friends to share a final Passover meal.  And it was at that supper that Jesus took bread, said the blessing and then broke it as He shared it with them saying: “Take this all of you and eat it. This bread is you; this bread is me.  We are one body, the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me – and all that I have taught you.  This is the new and everlasting covenant.  (a short pause here)

JOAN M  and ALL:  In the same way, Jesus took a cup of wine, said a blessing and gave it to his friends saying; “Take this all of you and drink it.  This wine is you; this wine is me. We are one blood, the presence of God in the world.  When you do this, remember me and all that I have taught you.  This is the new and everlasting covenant. (another short pause)

Jesus, who was with God in the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth, is with us now in this bread.  The Spirit of whom the prophet spoke in history past, is with us now in this cup.  Let us proclaim this mystery of faith!  Jesus has died.  The cosmic Christ is risen. The Divine Presence lives in us and through us in the world today.  May all who share this sacred meal today be strengthen in their unity by the Spirit.  And may that Spirit, that Wisdom the moved in Jesus, move as freely in our lives as She did in that of Jesus. 

Pre-communion Prayer

PAT F:  And as we prepare ourselves for our Communion, we pray.

Loving God, you call us to be a Spirit-filled service in the world and to live the Gospel of peace and justice.  We will live justly.

Loving God, you call us to be your presence in the world and to be bearers of understanding and compassion forgiveness and healing everywhere.  May we do this well in your name.   We will live tenderly.

Loving God, you call us to speak truth to power and to live well, respecting the equality of our brothers and sister.  We will walk humbly with you.

Before us - on our cup and plate  - is the Body and Blood of Jesus, the One who liberates, heals, and transforms us and our world.  He calls us, His Sacred People, and invites us to share in the Eucharist that we have just Consecrated.  And we will now partake in the banquet of love.  As we do so, we cannot eat this bread, the Body of Christ, and not think of all those in the world who are hungry.  We cannot drink this wine, the Blood of Christ, and not think of all those who are thirsty.  O God, your world is one world … and we are just stewards of its nourishment for all your people, your family everywhere.

WE WILL CONSUME OUR BLESSED COMMUNION NOW

The Prayer of Jesus (adaptations of the Center of Concern and MMOJ)

LEE:  Let us pray the Prayer that Jesus taught us…

Our God who is in Heaven and in all of us here on earth. the rich and the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, the marginalized and excluded…holy is your name.

PAT F:  May your kindom come among us with your love, compassion, forgiveness, and peace in a global community

May your reign come and your will be done…done in our actions and choices in our struggles with the complexities of this world, especially in these days

Give us this day our daily bread…the edible nourishments and personal treatments that we are called to share with both those who are treated well and with those in need. 

BOB F: Forgive us our trespasses…the times that we may have turned away from the struggles of other peoples and countries when we thought only of our own situations of health and security.

Support us in times of temptations…times when our global systems - and ourselves as well - have closed our minds to the unfair settings between the rich and the poor and have made biased judgements of peoples of color, creed, gender or nationality.

Deliver us from evil ..even the places where violence happens in Your name and where unfair gates and barriers between peoples create systems that are so very hard to bring down for equality and peace.

JOAN M: May your kindom come among us…with your love, compassion, forgiveness and peace to all, no exception.

And truly, may your kindom come, O God, for yours is the kingdom and the glory.  Your Will shall bring about peace and justice for everyone without bias in the blessed time to come.  AMEN.

The Sharing of Peace

LEE: Jesus did not leave his disciples when He was on earth, and He does not leave us now – either in our days. and beyond.  His gift to them - and to us in all generations -. is very familiar: “My peace I leave you.  My peace I give you,”.

So let us join in singing “Let there be Peace on Earth (or “Peace is flowing like a rive.)

Peace Song:  Let There Be Peace on Earth.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPH4LRASWbo&feature=share

Prayers of Gratitude …and Statements of Introductions and Announcements

Closing Community Blessing

JOAN M:  Jesus, you showed us how to love one another, to forgive each other in times of their hurts upon us, and to heal our hearts when they may “down.” Through the power of the liberating Spirit, we ask that you work within us…blessing us with the grace to give and to receive forgiveness, to live joyously, and to work for healing, justice, and equality for all people.  You have given us your peace; now may we spread it to everyone whom we come in contact, and to do so with no exceptions. We are all your family.  AMEN

Closing Song: Life is Immortal by Carly Simon



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eR1ni6sZK4&list=RD1eR1ni6sZK4&start_radio=1by

A note to those with who shared today’s sacred service….


Thank you very much for your participation in today’s liturgy.

Please support the MMOJ community with a donation.  We are in the process of expanding our liturgy locations.  Our in-service liturgies will be celebrated at St. Andrew church and our virtual services will be available on Zoom.  Both will take place at the usual 4:00 PM on Saturday afternoons.  Everyone will be informed of this hybrid development as it takes place.

And, friends, we can certainly use your financial help in staging this.

Please send your contribution to our every-week liturgies to:


Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community

c/o St. Andrew UCC,

6908 Beneva Road,

  Sarasota, FL  34328

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Celebrating Life in the Neighborhood of El Pinal, Colombia by Olga Lucia Alvarez ARCWP

Olga Lucia in El Barrio El Pinal





We were accompanied at the altar for the first time by Manuela, granddaughter of Mrs. Ana, daughter of Lucero, our companion presbyter.

 As a blessing of the Divine Essence, I have had the opportunity to concelebrate the Eucharist with a family of pure peasant roots, who live in one of the most affected and abandoned sectors by the State of our country.



Here the population does not have drinking water, the aqueduct arrives, but in tanks and what the people can collect from rainwater, the road is narrow, and part of it is unpaved. Without the presence of the State, the youth groups are in charge of the surveillance of the sector, the inhabitants pay them their fee for this service.

It is an environment where everything is shared: "neighbor, give me some water"; "neighbor, can you give me a little bit of salt" this is something that in other sectors is not heard and less they know each other.

The family has invited me to celebrate Mother's Day with them. Mrs. Ana, a woman who has had 12 children.


Several of her children, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews were present. Together they prepared a good sancocho. It was a joy to see the boys, making the preparations, preparing the fire pit, waiting for the firewood, attending to those who were arriving, offering a good coffee and then enjoying a delicious lunch with a mountain flavor.

They prepared the altar. The table, the tablecloth, the flowers, the lights, the Christ and the atmosphere decorated with colorful balloons. It was the best they wanted to offer to their mother, to make the Eucharist a celebration of gratitude for life.



Two characters stole our attention: Mrs. Ana and a little girl who had just arrived to the Violeta family. The two of them could well represent the past and the future in the present.

At the time of the presentation of offerings, Violenta was presented and blessed in her family community. Grandmother was presented with the gifts that were brought to her. It was impossible not to say to the Divine at that moment: "Everything is yours, oh Divine Essence, and what is yours we give to you".


We all participated in the consecration of the bread and wine, extending our hands and saying the words of consecration.

We were all invited to receive the species: the gifts of the Divinity, for the people of God, the bread and wine, we took them with faith and gratitude.

It was to make manifest the right to life in fullness, where we shared all those elements that allow us to live life, in fraternal love and gratitude, in the longing for Justice and Peace for our people.

We were accompanied at the altar for the first time by Manuela, granddaughter of Mrs. Ana, daughter of Lucero, our companion presbyter.
-----------------

https://evangelizadorasdelosapostoles.blogspot.com/2022/05/celebrando-la-vida-en-el-barrio-el-pinal.html

CELEBRANDO LA VIDA, EN EL BARRIO EL PINAL.


Olga Lucía Álvarez Benjumea ARCWP*

 

Como una bendición de la Esencia Divina, he tenido la oportunidad de concelebrar la Eucaristía con una familia de puras raíces campesinas, que viven en uno de los sectores más afectados y abandonados por el Estado de nuestro país.

Aquí la población no cuenta con agua potable, el acueducto llega, pero en tanques y lo que la gente puede recoger de agua de lluvias, la vía es estrecha, y parte de ella sin asfaltar. Sin presencia del Estado, los grupos juveniles, se encargan de la vigilancia del sector, los habitantes les pagan su cuota por este servicio.

Es un ambiente donde todo se comparte: “vecino, me regada un poco de agua”; “vecina me puede regalar un poquito de sal” esto es algo que en otros sectores no se escucha y menos se conocen entre sí.

La familia, me ha invitado a celebrar el día de la Madre con ellos. La señora Ana, una mujer que ha tenido 12 hijos.

Varios de sus hij@s, niet@s, cuñad@s, sobrin@s se hicieron presentes. Junt@s prepararon un buen sancocho. Fue una gozada ver a los muchachos, haciendo los preparativos, preparando el fogón, pendiente de la leña, atendiendo a quienes iban llegando ofreciendo un buen café y luego disfrutando un rico almuerzo con sabor montañero.

Prepararon el altar. Que la mesa, el mantel, las flores, las luces, el Cristo y el ambiente adornado con globos de colores. Era lo mejor que querían ofrecer a su madre, hacer de la Eucaristía una fiesta de agradecimiento a la vida.

Dos personajes robaban nuestra atención la Señora Ana y una pequeña recién llegada a la familia Violeta. Ellas dos, bien nos podían representar el pasado y futuro en presente.

En el momento de la presentación de ofrendas, Violenta fue presentada y bendecida en su comunidad familiar. A la abuela le presentaron los obsequios que le traían. Era imposible no decir a la Divinidad en ese momento: “Todo es tuyo, ¡oh! Esencia Divina, y de lo que es tuyo te damos”.

Tod@s participamos en la consagración del pan y del vino, extendiendo las manos y diciendo las palabras de la consagración.

Tod@s estábamos invitados a recibir las especies: Los dones de la Divinidad, para el pueblo de Dios, el pan y vino, los tomamos con fe y agradecimiento.


Era hacer manifiesto el derecho a la vida en plenitud, donde compartíamos todos aquellos elementos que nos permiten vivir la vida, en amor fraterno y gratitud, en la añoranza de la Justicia y de la Paz para nuestro pueblo.

Nos acompañó en el altar por primera vez Manuela, nieta de la señora Ana, hija de Lucero, nuestra compañera presbitera.

                                       REPORTE GRÁFICO DE LOS MOMENTOS VIVIDOS.

*presbitera católica romana


El Pinal, mayo 12 2022