The last time I wrote a "what's going on" post, we were finishing up VBS at the parish. After the last evening, I headed home and then up to Minerva the next day for the wedding of two friends from college. I got to witness their marriage. It was an incredible experience. Also, I got to see a bunch of old friends at the wedding and the reception.
The next day, I went down to an education conference and then back to St. Ambrose to preach at the weekend Masses. It was a good experience and I got to say goodbye (temporarily) to the people of the parish. On Sunday, after Mass, I got packed and then headed down to Ironton.
Here begins my Peruvian adventure.
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Because of the constant activity I've had since getting back, this post has been slowly coming together. First, I started outlining each day and each event, but it is just not going to be possible. I'm writing this weeks after it happened and it's hard to remember specifics. I have a lot of memories and impressions that I want to share. I'll put up a few (of the many) pictures I took as well.
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My first views of the city blew me away. It is just packed with people, cars and buildings. It amazed me how the people of Cusco live in such close quarters. We have so much space here and don't know what to do with it.
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Going into the trip, I was very excited about seeing a new country, mountains and scenery. However, the people we encountered made the biggest impression on me. They were so welcoming, generous and sincere. The girls at the orphanage welcomed us like old friends and were really joyful to just spend time with us - all smiles.
We were welcomed like rock stars wherever we went. Schools put on whole assemblies. They gave us gifts and threw parties. I felt like some kind of dignitary.
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Masses down there were a whole new experience. We had our own Spanish Masses with a few of our hosts most days, but there are a few liturgies that really stand out. The ones with Lumen Dei, a religious community we visited, were beautifully solemn. They even vested me in the sacristy. I've never experienced such reverence. The altar boys really worked hard at what they did and it showed.
Mass in the cathedral was amazing. All of the churches there were around 400 years old and there was an incredible sense of history and tradition. At Sunday Mass, I wore a 200 year old dalmatic. It seems like a little thing, what clothes you wear, but it made me realize what a different culture we were experiencing. The faith is old in Cusco. When you compare it to Catholicism here, you see how ... I don't know, adolescent we can be.
People crowded around the stairs into the sanctuary during Mass, the looked intently at what was going on - all the while there was a constant movement of people in and out of the Church.
The art is very different. It feels European but with a flavor of the native culture. Everything is so old. The faith is right there in the people's devotion to sacred images that are part of their history.
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Driving through the mountains - our visit to the Sacred Valley added a whole new aspect to the beauty of Peru. I could not get over how these mountains just spring up out of the ground. It's no wonder that the Peruvians worshiped them.
We weren't originally going to visit Macchu Pichu, but it worked out and I am glad that it did. I had seen pictures, but they did not do it justice. It just sits up in the mountains. If I could, I would have loved to spend days there.
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I don't know what else to write. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I would love to go back again if I ever get the chance. The people were wonderful. They do so much with so little. I hope that our "sister diocese" relationship grows and that we can help the people of Cusco.
Check out my Flickr page for more pictures.
1 comment:
Wow! Mike it looks so beautiful and sounds like it was a very powerful trip. Thanks for posting!
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