Although I do think that the simple churches down here are beautiful. I would most like to emphasize that the people (the church of Christ) are the most wonderful part.
I had the opportunity to go with Fr. Efrain, the main parish priest of Dulce Nombre, to the Holy Day Celebration of La Candelaria. I do not know anything about this feast or celebration other than one thing… and that it there is a church within the Dulce Nombre parish that is named after it, and the aldea is known as La Candelaria. We drove for probably 20 minutes over some of the crazy back roads again to get to this little church located on a hill. It was beautiful because it was a Tuesday night and everyone came to celebrate the feast of their own village.
Even better was the next morning, Wednesday. After staying at the rectory overnight and eating a bit of breakfast, I was able to do some praying in the church while I waited for John to show up from Santa Rosa. Then we headed out with Padre Efrain (the other parish preist) on the back roads to another celebration… the consecration of the church in Plan Grande, a small aldea another hill over from Candelaria. After two years of work, including an early visit from a St. Thomas Aquinas (in Ames) service trip this church was finally completed. The bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa was there, and not only people from Plan Grande, but also people from surrounding aldeas. This was a grand feast of the Eucharist, a Consecration, and did I mention it was also the National Feast Day for Honduras (Virgin of Suyapa). Yes all in one and it was fabulous. I have no idea how many people there were but there was standing room only, if that and I am sure there were still people outside. I being tall, stood in front of one of the main columns so as not to block the view of others. I very well could have been the tallest person there. Before the Mass everyone was energetically talking outside the front of the church, fireworks were going off, pine needles were spread on the ground and there were speeches from main figures of the area including the mayor, and other religious people. The people were soaking it all in and loving every minute.
The Mass was as I said, packed and nearly 3 hours long. I have never been to a church consecration before but this one made me excited because my home church, St. Elizabeth Ann-Seton in Hiawatha, Iowa will be christened I believe on June 13th. Christening includes putting blessed oil on the altar and other objects around the church that are used in prayer and liturgy such as crosses (I think this is correct). The sermon was all in Spanish of course, so I was having a tough time piecing it together, but after 2 days of intensive, Spanish only life, I got the majority of it. The Bishop mostly talked about the story of the Virgin of Suyapa, which unfortunately I will not recite now, but you can look it up, and what it meant to have an church (as in a building). I think the majority of the Mass though, as in every other Mass, if focused on the people, and the people were really into it. The music was led by a local group of musicians, which included a bass, guitar, small guitar, and other instruments that I cannot remember or name. I am sorry that I cannot do this any better justice, you will just have to see it through the pictures and image for yourself.
Afterward there was a great feast, as in food, prepared by the people of Plan Grande, free to all, and as much as you can eat. Once again this really portrayed the overabundant hospitality of the Honduran people. I didn’t really want to leave inside, but I will confess that I had, had enough Spanish for the time being and longed for a place to relax my mind.
Oh, one thing I did learn though is the meaning of the word “Honduras,” it means “Depths” or “Deep”. Christopher Columbus gave the name to the land as he sailed by because the Caribbean Sea is deep there I guess. Ok, history lesson over.
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