The very sad news this week came when we heard that our good pal from the Parish, Pedro, had died. Pedro was well-known to many of the Scots visitors that came here as he lived near the school and was a regular at all our Masses. He was 78 when he died last Saturday and had suffered since June with a cancerous growth. He really was a lovely guy and the funny thing about him was that at Mass, when people were asked to add their own petitions, he would always pray for ‘Padre Martin’ …. That he might get wisdom. I pointed out that he never prayed that I might get MORE wisdom and people could think that I didn’t have any wisdom at all. But he never changed the prayer. Good old Pedro, rest in peace.
Things are gearing up for a busy month of December with the Confirmation (100) and First Communions (250). Last week I went to the printers to get the certificates for all the children that take part in catechism classes. You see, we have two years preparation for First Communion and two years for Confirmation, plus we have an infant’s class. So I signed over 900 certificates last week. 900! Although as I pointed out to our catechists on Saturday just because we have quantity doesn’t mean we also have quality. I think we need to work at that. However the signing of the certificates made me realize that we do not have enough space for 250 First Communion kids what with all their family etc. So on the same day – 13th December – we will be having two First Communion Masses. No doubt my smile will be worn by the end of that day!
I went down to the Soup Kitchen today for lunch as I often do. The mean is very good: a good plate of home- made soup followed by a plate of rice and beans all washed down with home-made fruit juice. I was asking today how they judge what people get into the Soup Kitchen. And Freddy as able tot ell me that they actually visit the kids before they accept them for the Soup Kitchen to check that they are the poorest ones. Mainly it will be kids whose parents are not at home all day because they are working in the city; so they would be coming home to an empty house and an empty plate.
Our newest chapel – Saint Narcisa – was having it Novena this week so it was great to be able to participate in that bamboo chapel. There is room for about 120 people crammed in to the chapel and each night it was full. The way they had organised it is that they had invited the various areas of the Parish to take charge of organising the hymns and prayers and had also asked a priest or nun to give a talk. I wasn’t able to go every night but, when I was, it was always a lively affair.
And now you find me down at Ayangue for our annual retreat. The retreat has not actually started yet as people are arriving all day – from Peru, from Boston and from Bolivia as well as from all parts of Ecuador. I had the task of going late on Saturday night to pick up the two priests that will lead the retreat, Fr. Jim and Fr. George, both from the USA. We had a good few chats over these last few days and, of course they had their work cut out with me …. they’re both psychologists!
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