Confirmations about to begin

This afternoon Bishop Darwin Andino begins the confirmations in the parish of Dulce Nombre de María, in Dulce Nombre de Copán

In the morning, after a short time in Caritas, I went to Plan Grande to check out the house. They are finishing the plastering of the walls as well as the placement of electric sockets. 

Upstairs 

preparing the sockets 

view from the south

However, it looks as if the house won’t be finished until late November. I ordered the doors on Monday, but they won’t be finished for about six weeks. The wood has to dry – and it’s the rainy season.

As I approached the church, I saw a group of adults and young people cleaning and preparing the church for confirmation there tomorrow afternoon.

The young people were, for the most part, those who are going to be confirmed.

Preparing for confirmations

This week the bishop, Monseñor Darwin Andino, will be confirming more than 500 people in the parish of Dulce Nombre, in seven different locations.

I have been busy visiting and working with the catechists and those in the liturgical ministry to prepare the liturgies. I have also been preparing the bishop’s booklet as well as the materials for the liturgies.

It has been good to meet with the people, many of whom have been working hard in the preparation of young people for confirmation. Of course, there have been some problems, including some confusion about arranging for those who had not yet received their first communion.

Padre German has been busy. In addition to his rounds of Masses in the villages, he is hearing the confessions of the candidates for confirmation and their sponsors. He has had some long days and nights.

I’ll be busy all this week. I promised the people that would arrive at least an hour before each confirmation Mass to help them make sure that everything is prepared. I’m pretty confident that they will be ready in most places, but a little bit of accompaniment and friendly reminders always helps.

Just a note on the weather:

We have had a prolonged dry season which seriously affected some crops – in our area, mostly beans. In other areas, corn was affected and there was such a drought that several agencies have sought emergency assistance including some food aid.

The rains have finally begun in earnest – sometimes with great force. The other week there were delays on one of the roads in the parish. A tree had crashed and cut some power and cable lines. But, as I analyze it, this was not caused only by the rain. One of the largest coffee growers (more than 1000 acres, I believe) had cut down a lot of coffee bushes (probably because they were affected by the coffee fungus roya). He had also excavated a road up the mountain leaving the tree without sufficient earth. So, when some of the earth was washed away in the rains, it fell.

cleaning up

note the bare hillside

Dulce Nombre feast day celebration

Friday, September 12, the parish of Dulce Nombre de María celebrated its feast day, the feast of the Holy Name of Mary.

It began at 4:00 am with a group serenading Mary at the church doors. I missed it, but I got up when the church bells rang about 4:05 am.

A few people came to pray the rosary in church, but the major event was to start at 8:30 am. 

gathered by the gas station

At about 9:15 am, the procession began at the gas station at the edge of Dulce Nombre. There were trucks with images of Mary from Dulce Nombre, Concepción, Dolores, Plan Grande, Candelaria, and San Agustín.

San Agustin float: Mary the pastorcita - the little shepherdess

The procession was led by a cross, followed by the parish marching band.

Yes the parish has a marching band. About sixteen months ago, a group from Santa Rosa came and started teaching a few young people how to play trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and clarinet, as well as various types of percussion. Instruments were also donated.

Despite the fact that the teachers stopped coming from Santa Rosa more than six months ago, the young people have continued practicing every Saturday. A young man who knows some music is helping them, though they could use some more training as well as some music for bands.

Their energy is contagious and it was great to see them leading the procession.

The procession arrived at the church for the Mass which began about 11 and finished a little after 12:30.

I was pleasantly surprised at how often Padre German spoke glowingly of the solidarity shown by the parish of St. Thomas Aquinas in Ames. As part of the offertory procession, two communion ministers brought forward a banner provided by the parish.

It was a good morning - celebrating the feast of the parish with a combination of popular piety, liturgy, and solidarity.

 For your listening enjoyment, here's a short video of the marching band

UPDATE: photos of the celebration can be found here. 

Cultural joys and challenges

Thursday night there was a celebration outside the church in Dulce Nombre de Copán to celebrate the patronal feast of the parish on Friday, the feast of the Holy Name of Mary.

The Catholic youth folk dance group, El Questzal, from San Agustín performed. Though they are still amateurs (and maybe that’s best), they are a delight and are full of energy.

A small marching band that is connected with the parish also performed. The drums, trombones, trumpets, saxes, and clarinet were donated and  they are learning without any assistance from a band master, though a young man who knows music is helping them. It was fun to hear them – as well as to see them the next morning. playing at the front of the procession to the church before Mass.

There were two little kids who did a folk dance. The little guy just stood there and the little girl danced around him. She was the star of their act.

But the challenge was the coronation of the Niña Dulce – which literally means the sweet little girl, but which is meant to suggest the name of the parish, Dulce Nombre de María.

Each barrio had a little girl competing for the title. The one who raised the most money won. She was a tiny little girl who looked overwhelmed by the event, though this may have merely been exhaustion since the event lasted until after 9:30 pm. My guess that her bedtime is a bit earlier.

There were the two guys with the swords. Then there were any number of little girls, sometimes accompanied by little boys. There were little girls who were meant to represent the virtues of Mary. And then the niña and her entourage of two other little girls and her “consort.” Almost all the girls were in color coordinated gowns.

The queen was crowned, given a scepter, and clothed with a sash with the inscription – Niña Dulce Nombre 2014.

I just don’t understand this. Yes, I know that Iowa has a pork queen who is, I believe, an older adolescent and I think I can understand that. But little kids in gowns, with crowns.

This morning I was approached twice to share my reflections on the night before. The first was a short interview with the Catholic radio station. Oscar asked me how I enjoyed the last night. With perfect honesty I said I enjoyed the band and the folk dancing. “But what about the Niña Dulce?” he asked. I was diplomatic. I explained this is a new experience for me and it was interesting. He later told me that I was “muy fino” – very genteel or delicate.

Later, over lunch with several people in the parish dining room, a woman from Dulce Nombre asked me for my honest opinion.

I began with an apology for being a little “brusco” (brusque or blunt) and for sometimes not understanding the culture. I honestly said that I liked the dances and the band, but I have problems with the Niña Dulce. I had been thinking about it overnight and so I was ready to explain what I was thinking.

In some cultures, where men are very macho, there are two images of women – either the virgin or the prostitute. But the idea of the Niña Dulce seems to present the image of the woman as princess or queen. The fancy dress, the ladies in waiting, the male consorts present an image of the woman set apart. Is it good to have children absorbing this image of women? What about those who are not chosen – even to run as candidates? What of most women who are not queens?

The reaction of the woman was mixed, though she did note that this was a way to raise money for the parish. I said I didn’t agree. Later, I thought of a harsher critique: Is this using a child for ulterior purposes?

I also mentioned to the group the fact the girl representing the virtue of humility had one of the fanciest gowns. That stuck home and they agreed with me that the message was mixed.

I found out, though, that the gowns are rented. One person told me that his daughter said openly, “Este vestido prestado me pica.” This rented gown itches me.”

What image does this present little girls and young women?

Forgive me if this is cultural insensitivity – but I think that this is something that goes beyond that. Cultures need to be challenged when they harm people or potentially harm them.

So much on this for now. Though I felt uncomfortable I have had an incredible three days, which I will write about soon.

POSTCRIPT: I almost forgot the great fireworks at the end of the Thursday night celebration!