Ecuador Mission Notes:
Chris Eggleton, OP (St. Martin)
June, 2007
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Catherine of Siena and
Martin de Porres,
GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR - Breezes coming in off the River Guayas
every evening refresh body and spirit as the heat and humidity
of the day wane. Our
collaboration with our Dominican family enlightens and rouses
our preaching and I realize the tremendous importance of hospitality
among us as a sign and mutual encouragement in the living
out of our common mission.
Our parish is monetarily poor. A typical monthly
salary for a 45-50-hour work week is $165.00. United States
currency is used here in Ecuador. Most of our parishioners
do not have the resources to consider affording university tuition; most
do well just to get their children through elementary, and maybe
high school. In the midst of all of this is the presence
of people on the streets of our neighborhood barrio begging for
their daily sustenance. I consider Jesus' words from Luke's
Gospel (16.20) withing the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: "And
lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with
sores." There are many real flesh and blood Lazarus' here! I
continue to be challenged to live always more simply, letting
go of whatever can book me on a one-way ticket on the grandiose
consumer train bound for a town with no name, like the rich man.
Our parish is faith rich. Saint Vincent Ferrer,
a Dominican from the late 13th and early 14th centuries, is adored
here. Every Monday we celebrate six Masses in honor of St. Vincent
(San Vicente). Even though our parish is named Santo Domingo
de Guzman (St. Dominic Guzman) everyone knows it as San Vicente. Try
getting a ride in a taxi to "Santo Domingo" and you'll receive
a puzzled look; ask for "San Vicente" and you're off and
riding! On Monday's there are many blessings with water
and with a relic of the saint placed on each forehead immediately
following each Mass. Throngs come for these blessings.
This past April 22nd we had our annual St. Vincent Day procession
and outdoor Eucharist. Processing through the streets of
Guayaquil for almost three hours we had on hand an estimated 3500
faithful devotees praying, singing, and otherwise celebrating
the feast. The outdoor Mass featured aquite the crowd with
2000 present. Some of the street vendors from near and
far filled the air with the fragrance of semi-burnt popcorn from
mini-stands scattered here and there throughout the street congregation. The
word for popcorn here in Ecuador is "canguil." In
the studium in our liturgical sacramental theology studies, the
situation concerning Ecuadoran popcorn vendors never surfaced. So
when, during the Eucharistic Prayer, a popcorn vendor shouts
out "Muy sabroso, muy sabroso!" ("Very tasty,
very tasty!") I figured to myself that Jesus would agree that
His Body and Blood is very tasty indeed, for body and for soul. After
the Eucharist I bought a bag!
May this time of Pentecost, late Spring, and beginning of
Summer be a most blessed one for you all and know that you are
in my thoughts and prayers... I beg yours!
Peace, Joy, and Love in the Fire of the Holy Spirit,
Chris Eggleton, OP
Guayaquil
|