Two experiences, two experiences, born from the hearts of those who participated in the celebration:
Anita Córdova, laywoman Vedruna Sullana
The former teachers of Fe y Alegría N°18 and the Vedruna laity of the city of Sullana, we were very happy to receive the invitation to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the arrival of the sisters at C.P. Nuevo San Juan.
We enthusiastically decided to accompany this moment with great joy.
The arrival was very exciting, my heart was filled with countless emotions.
The Eucharistic celebration, celebrated by the Bishop of Pucallpa, was developed with songs typical of the Amazon, reflecting their praise to the land, the clouds, their Cochas and their beautiful river. The presence of the children in the offerings was significant, demonstrating the experiences of the people, as well as the participation of the nearby communities that the sisters accompany in their pastoral work.
The festivity ended with a lunch for all the guests and people in general, enjoying regional sweets from Pucallpa and others brought from the north coast.
As Joaquina says “I would like to embrace the needs of all peoples”, I feel that these great and simple women are doing it, bringing light to many of our brothers, especially in education, which is the basis for the peoples to reach their development.
¡Thank you, dear Sisters, for this beautiful meeting. I am convinced that we will continue following the steps that Joaquina taught us!
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Natalia Pérez Marina, laywoman Vedruna Pucallpa
From the moment we received the invitation from the Carmelite Vedruna Sisters, we felt great excitement and curiosity because the celebration would be held at CP Nuevo San Juan.
The Fe y Alegría 72-Pucallpa team coordinated with the recently formed group of Vedruna laywomen to organize participation in this event.
It was a hive of activity. On the eve of the rehearsals of both groups and on Sunday the transfer by river with the support of the Fe y Alegría boat. We arrived in time for mass at 10:00 am. The sisters prepared the processional entrance to the Eucharist of the different visiting groups, which were presented to the people of San Juan. The procession was closed by Monsignor Martin Quijano, Bishop of the Vicariate of Pucallpa.
In the offertory area, a canoe made of wood by a resident of San Juan caught our attention. Three young women carried it to the rhythm of a jungle dance and presented it as an offering; inside it contained regional fruits as a symbol of the harvest from their farms.
Et the time of thanksgiving, a letter sent by Sr. Pilar Jordá. Particularly, many memories came to my mind, from that year 2008 when I met her closely when I joined the Fe y Alegría family in Pucallpa and, since then, I have kept her friendship. We listened very attentively to the content of this one and it is impressive how she remembers the names of the inhabitants of San Juan; at 93 years of age she feels strong and encourages us to continue in the mission. Another important detail to note was the happiness on Sr. María José Gimeno, celebrating 25 years of constant work in this part of the jungle, the only one of the 4 sisters who arrived in Pucallpa on August 13, 1999 and continues to accompany us to this day.
Sharing, after mass, was the opportunity to get to know a little more about the visiting laywomen from Sullana (Piura), who in their comments said that they had been preparing since May. They left a beautiful gift, an embroidered tablecloth for the chapel of St. John. We also met Charo Alvarado, from the Vedruna laity of Celendín (Cajamarca) and Srs. Alicia Zanichelli (provincial) and Rubelia Reto (delegate).
The following day, the group from Sullana and the visiting sisters took a walk along the river to visit one of the schools where Fe y Alegría is involved. In spite of the rain that fell in the early morning, they had the strength and courage to get off the boat and climb a slope to reach the town of Libertad and get to know the little school up close. They were very excited and appreciated the work that Fe y Alegría has been doing in this part of the jungle, in the river area.
An experience lived in this 25th anniversary of the Carmelite Sisters that I keep in my heart, my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to meet them and see firsthand all the work they do in Nuevo San Juan and surrounding towns.
On behalf of the Fe y Alegría 72 Network team and the group of Vedruna Laywomen of Pucallpa, we reiterate our gratitude and ask that you continue with us for many more years!
As a group of sisters we are grateful for the presence of those who accompanied us and we feel that Joaquina’s arms are getting longer and many people are reaching out to them.
