Holy Thursday in Bolivia, Jueves Santo en Bolivia

Sorry it has been so long since the last post but things have been busy and I take off for the Maryknoll Latin America Assembly in Guatemala this morning. I want to take some time to share with you the experience of Holy Week here in Nueva Vera Cruz. I celebrated the Triduum at La Rivefra and Costanera, two small barrios I serve in. We held Holy Thursday in the house of one of the catechists. The night before we had shown a video of the life of Jesus to prepare people for the Triduum. I was able to celebrate most of the mass in Quechua which the language most common in that barrio. When it came time for the washing of the feet I was able to wash the feet of everyone present since we were a small gathering. I had my first experience of washing the feet of people who hadn't been prepared beforehand so it was the actual washing of feet that had seen the work of the day. What an honor it was to symbolically show my desire to serve the needs of the people. I explained that the washing was a simple rendering of where our hearts are supposed to be in the service of others. It was a wonderful continuation of the Holy Week which which is so different than what I am used to but also so in touch with the simple people that the Lord dealt with every day in his ministry.