Over the past two years, All Saints' has been in the process of developing a partner parish relationship with Santa Maria Virgen, a church in Xalapa in the Diocese of Southeast Mexico (a diocese that is one of the Diocese of Chicago's companion dioceses). Below you can read updates of how this relationship is progressing. For more information about how you can get involved, contact Dave and Karen Howe.
2011 has been a time of great change and upheaval at Santa María Virgen. The departure of Padre Cesar at the end of 2010 left the people traumitized and divided. Padre Byron Chanchavac arrived to a disheartened and bitter congregation. He has been working ever since his arrival to heal, reconcile and empower his people to trust in God’s loving grace to triumph over adversity and grow spiritually and as a community. Padre Byron’s work and the spirit of God was apparent to us during our visit this summer. We observed how a community coming together to paint a church can create a miracle. What follows is a translated summary of a report that Padre Byron sent us after our return to Chicago. Check out the new photos in the hallway between the church and the sacristy.
Upon my arrival at Santa María Virgen, we all felt that the church needed to be painted and the roof waterproofed. We knew that we could not affort to pay to have the work done, but when I saw how enthusiastic the bishop and parishioners were we began to work out a way to accomplish it.
We went house to house asking for donations and and collected approximately 500 pesos (ca. $50 US) in an hour and a half. We also raffled a clock and distributed little boxes for each family to put coins left over at the end of each day. With the help of the state of Veracruz and the people of All Saints’, Chicago,* we raised enough money to complete the job.
The interior and exterior of the church was painted by members of the congregation themselves. The painting of the church helped us to come together again. At first there was some tension among the members, but as the painting progressed this tension decreased. On one of the Sundays we worked, celebrated vespers at the end of the day and then had a discussion about how we were doing. That day I personally felt that the Spirit of God was trying to bring us together again and that things happen for a reason. Money alone could not have achieved this.
Karen and David’s visit was another reason for us to come together and have a meaningful discussion of our hopes and dreams. I believe that it helped us to see that we have similar thoughts and feelings.
After seeing all this grace of God, we have began to prepare a pastoral plan for three years, to channel all of the dreams of the parishioners and launch them towards the future, a future with vision, with hope, and with spirit of the God of Jesus Christ. I am certain that this will take time, it is slow because we want to develop it together with all the members of the congregation; it is easier to sit down as clergymen in an office to prepare it and to send it to the bishop, but that has disadvantages. Better slow but sure. Alone we arrive quickly but together we go far.
~Padre Byron Esteban Chanchavac Mazariegos
*All Saints contributed $1000 which had been earmarked for our Mexico relationship in the 2010 budget. We also sent a contribution to assist with the project.
For about a year now, several of us have been working to develop a relationship with the people of Iglesia Cristo Rey, a Hispanic Episcopal congregation at 5101 W. Devon. Some of us have visited Cristo Rey for a Sunday service (11:00) and have attended various special events – they really know how to have fun! Their Sunday Eucharist is bilingual, and we have been warmly welcomed. In addition, Karen has begun teaching a class for members who want to learn or improve their English.
The vicar, Alvaro Araica, is a dynamic leader who is enthusiastic about expanding our mutual contacts. He and Bonnie met just before she left and have come up a number of ideas for cooperative efforts in the area of social justice action as well as joint social events and interactions between groups of adults, the youth groups, and Sunday School kids.
We hope many of you will want to get involved in this interaction. Let us know if you have any questions or ideas…and stay tuned for new developments.
For more information, contact Dave and Karen Howe.
