We live in a time that expects efficiency and immediate results. But a plant or a tree needs time to grow; and human relations cannot be built nor our problems solved overnight. People too need time to grow and change. Fortunately, God is patient with us. But we must become patient with one another and, with God's help, give people and the Church and God's Kingdom of justice, peace, and love the time needed to grow. We can just sow the seed and then wait in hope. If it is a good seed we sow, it will certainly grow. Jesus assures us that it will sprout and bear fruit.  Too often we have been impatient with ourselves, with one another, with our world.

sacredspace

pray-as-you-go

In memory of Oscar Romero (1917–1980)

A Future Not Our Own

It helps now and then to step back and take a long view. The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. All we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection, no pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the Church's mission. No set of goals and objectives include everything.
This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water the seeds already planted knowing that they hold future promise.We lay foundations that will need further development.We provide yeast that produces effectsfar beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing this. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.

Sports morning at St Teresa's. The unveiling of the new Irish Ecuadorian centre forward...he came cheap because of dodgy knee...
Told ye...

the opposing captain, Jorge.

going, going, gone...

Some cheerleaders (with the corporate boxes in the background)

Parents and children gather in our new parish halls for an exposition of their work in Catequesis for the year. On Sunday. Beata Jacinta Marto de Fatima, one of our parish patrons.

Doesn't look so serious doc (with a grin like that)

Above, a portrait of an artist as an old man, with friends...recording a CD of christian music...a fundraising project for our parish... "Pepe", its not that bad, Ok after 12 hours maybe it is...

Our very own Bob Dylan, Elieser doing the business.

Over the past year we have organized a course in basic medicine and on Friday last "las Doctoras" graduated and are now entering a process of preparation to seek and begin work in the hospitals of Guayaquil. It was a proud day for the 25 newly graduated nursing assistents as a year committment is a huge thing for many adults and even more so for an adult Ecuadorian. We were pleased that the year bore fruit and have now the support of a team of doctors who will help each participant seek a permanent position. Above, with the directors of the course.

In September we managed to put some finishing touches to our parish Church, above a window of the Virgin and Shephers of Fatima, patrons of the parish. and below, a view of the santuary.

Thanks you to all who support the completion of our parish church. It is a focal point and source of great pride to this growing christian community.

Society of St. James the Apostle. at http://www.socstjames.com/index.html

Progress on our Parish has been painfully slow and it looks like it will take another month but it will be worth it. Here are some images taken today.

A Contented Man

A story is told of a king who was suffering from a malady and was advised by his astrologer that he would be cured if the shirt of a contented man were brought to him to wear. People went out to all parts of the kingdom after such a person, and after a long search they found a man who was really happy...but he did not possess a shirt.

Here are some images of the progress being made on our parish church

The altar section which is beginning to take shape, albeit at an Ecuadorean pace...

A wholly sight...

The site of our new church in the community of Cerezos (meaning Cherries). This church will be built by the hands of every member of the community, the materials being bought by funds from outside. We invite you to help us and become part of this truly people effort by sponsoring a bag of cement or a few blocks. Bag of cement costs $7, the blocks $0.35 each, $350 per 1000.

Progress will be slow but the end product will be a peoples church, a product of the sweat and toil of the community. (God be with the days in Eire)

Will be keeping you updated.

Five weeks ago, six houses were burned to the ground in our parish, you will remember that most of the inhabitants of the parish are housed in cane huts and the electricity connections are almost always "home made", the result is as follows...

Thankfully, we were able to help those families with the basics including food and clothes and now the council have committed to rebuilding the houses with blocks and cement. It does not, however, take from the great pain and loss of having everything you own go up in smoke...

"I cried because I had no shoes, until I saw a child with no feet"

Oswaldo Guayasamín.

Some wonderful friends in Quito, The Salesia Sisters.

At the Equator, north of Quito, Ecuador.

One foot in the northern hemisphere, one foot in the southern hemishere...

After all of our Easter celebrations we shared a treat, usually something quite simple, a coke and some chocolates. But it was important and was appreciated by all. Hoping that Easter may bring much hope, joy and peace to all. Happy Easter from the "Big man" Gonzalo (pictured) and from all of us in Guayaquil.

Holy Saturday night in San Bernebé, Apostol, a new parish with a young, growing christian community.

In the foreground, our Paschal fire, symbol of christian hope, the light that casts out darkness. In the background, our cane church. It is hoped that this will be our next project, (in spite of attempts to stop it by local land trafficers)to build a permenent structure here in the parish of San Bernebe.

We had our "Via Crucis" at nightime, starting at 8pm and finishing at 1am. Here are our brave warriors after the crucifixion shortly after 1am. on the streets of "El Recreo".

A scene from our Holy Thursday night dramatization of the Taking of the Christ (at the parish Church which has four block walls and nothing else. This year we plan to finish it).

This "service" gesture can get smelly and tiresome, especially after 48 apostles. A scene from Holy Thursday en San Bernebe.

Some scenes from the recent Rain downpours in the parish..

After the consagration, with some friends (Rosita, Claudia and Areceles) who came to support us on our special day. Also note the beautiful vestments donated by my friend Diane in Corpus Christi, Tx. Thoughtfully emblazoned with the Celtic Cross. Thank you.

My friends, Sister Eulalia and Sister Veronica, along with Sisters Alexandra and Patricia (of the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales) helped organised an inspiring mission in the week leading up to the consagration. Thank you to them... Here they are leaving their residence while realizing the mission...

Here follows some images from the Celebration on Sunday, March 27th, of the consagration of our new Church dedicated to St. Teresa of the Child Jesus in the sector Hermano Gregorio II. It was a beautiful and proud occasion for all of us with many people participating from all parts. A special word of thanks to all in my native Erris, Co. Mayo, whose project this is. I know you will be rewarded for your wonderful generosity.

The choir that came to help us on the day...

Preparing the altar for the celebration...

A view of part of the congregation...

Two children from the area express how we all felt. Gracias a Dios.

Street Corner Christ

I saw Christ to-day At a street corner stand,  
In the rags of a beggar he stood He held ballads in his hand.  
He was crying out: - 
"Two for a penny Will anyone buy The finest ballads ever made From the stuff of joy?"  
But the blind and deaf went past 
Knowing only there An uncouth ballad-seller With tail-matted hair.  
And I whom men call fool His ballads bought, 
Found him whom the pieties Have vainly sought. 

-Patrick Kavanagh

Copyright © Estate of Katherine Kavanagh

HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY FROM GUAYAQUIL

The day of our first Mass in our new chapel. With the work organiser.

Our first car boot sale - a tee shirt for 10 cents anyone. It reminds me of Clerys sale.

The completed article, the new Church of St Teresa of the Child Jesus in the sector called Hermano Gregorio. Last Saturday we had our first celebration of Mass. It was a proud moment. We will have the inauguration at the end of March. A word of thanks to all from my native Erris who made this Church possible. Also to my friend Diane in Corpus Christi who is organising (many things) a set of vestments etc. for our new Church. Catequesis will start on the first Sunday of April. Thank you to everyone.

The inside. We still need an Image of Our Lady and St. Teresa. And also, the seats, the crucifix. But God will provide... as He has done up to now...

The New Church progresses, it already has the roof on and the floor laid. Next step, the ceramics and electrics. But thankfully all is going according to plan.

Two months before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke to his congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta about his death in what would oddly enough become his eulogy.

"Every now and then I think about my own death, and I think about my own funeral," Dr. King told his congregation. "If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, that isn't important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards, that's not important. I'd like someone to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like someone to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try, in my life, to clothe those who were naked. I want you to be able to say that I did try to visit those in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity." Dr. King concluded with these words: "I won't have any money left behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind."

Just a thought...

Happy New Year everyone. I pray that it is filled with much peace and love.

On New Year's morning I took this photo from my window. It is not a rare sight unfortunately but on a day when our thoughts often turn to New Years resolutions and "better things in the year ahead", I wondered what was going through this man's mind as he searched the rubbish of the old year for something he could sell to feed his family.

Whatever this New Year brings, may it unite us more and more in our care and concern for each other.

New Church beside old Cane Church. We are about to roof it. So all goes well for an inauguration in late February of early March, perhaps St. Patrick's Day. Would be nice.