The Triduum

For those of you unfamiliar with that name, it refers to the most sacred days out of the entire year: the evening of Holy Thursday through the evening of Easter Sunday. And no wonder! A lot happens in those 3 days (and yes it is 3: Thursday evening to Friday evening, Friday evening to Saturday evening, and Saturday evening to Sunday evening). It is by far my favorite time of the year and it was another beautiful year celebrating it here in Benque.

So on Holy Thursday we had Mass in the evening which I must admit, I was worried would be filled with all kinds of horribly stereotypical Hispanic music (aka cheesy and awful), but it was actually really wonderful. There was of course a marimba because that's the special occasion instrument, but it was just a cultural experience that still felt like sacred Mass music. I should also mention that the music for the Triduum is some of my favorite, so not being in the States for it is hard, but like I said, Benque did a great job of balancing Belize and the sacredness of it all. After Mass on Holy Thursday, the Blessed Sacrament is processed to what's called an altar of repose because all tabernacles are empty on Good Friday. Well it's the same here obviously so we processed around the block with Fr. John carrying Jesus in the front under a canopy and then as is tradition, there was an opportunity for prayer until midnight at the altar of repose. Now having gone to Franciscan University and especially after being on the Liturgy Committee last year, my visual of an altar of repose is very...European? You know what I mean? On the altar with a tasteful arrangement of candles and flowers and it's very solemn and beautiful. So to be honest, I was kinda nervous what I was going to walk into on Thursday. But once again, my little self was blown away by the beauty and fidelity to culture. There was a little tabernacle under a beautiful canopy with candles and plants all around and it was very striking.

This dinky picture doesn't convey the beauty and sacredness that was all around it either. It was just so still and peaceful, all of us praying in Gethsemane with Jesus.

Good Friday, I always feel guilty on Good Friday because even though I'm in the solemnity of it all, it always seems to be a good day. There are always a couple of big things on Good Friday in Benque, the first being a live representations of the Stations of the Cross. It starts in one part of Benque and traces the Way of the Cross ending at the church and all of our boys were in it (except Joe because his sister was visiting), so that was really great to see. Then of course there is the service in the afternoon which again was beautiful. Adding to the beauty was the fact that Fr. Juan was the celebrant and since he was just ordained in January, I was just so moved by him celebrating his first Good Friday as a priest. Then that night they had one final procession. Now we've been processing all week, but they were all the prelims, leading up to this Good Friday. It all started that morning when there were people scattered throughout Benque along the route of the procession. See all along the way there are "rugs" for the people in the procession to walk on and the rugs are colorful and in all kinds of different designs. Us girl volunteers (along with a lot of other people) helped Mary with the one going down the Church steps

Beautiful right? All of the rugs are made out of colored sawdust, so all morning people had their stencils and their hoses getting it just right. Michael took a couple pictures of some others.

This one has uncooked beans and rice for the cross. Of course it would, but it's neat to see how people used different materials.

So for most of the procession route there were these beautiful, colorful decorations on the road, so even though it was supposed to be a solemn procession, it was kinda fun seeing what the next rug looked like. Well that evening we actually had the procession which had 2 andas (the floats that are carried): the smaller one had Our Lady of Sorrows and then there was the huge anda that needed 40 men to carry it which had the body of Jesus on it. The idea is that it was a funeral procession for Christ, so there was incense and torches carried to light the way along with a band playing funeral songs. Everything but the band was nice.

 The front of the huge anda

You can see the statue of Jesus on top

The procession lasted 3 hours and the only reason why it was ok at all was because it was Good Friday and if Jesus died for my sins, then surely I could walk around Benque slowly for love of him. I mean it's not like I had to carry the giant anda.

Then Holy Saturday came and as much as I love Holy Saturday, it's also kind of an awkward place to be in: Jesus is dead and in the tomb, but most of the day is spent getting ready for the Easter Vigil that night and I was especially excited for my kids to receive their Sacraments. A lot of the day was normal though, making breakfast, reading, relaxing, and then when the afternoon came is when things started to get real. There was some grocery shopping to be done and some mental preparation for Easter Sunday when we would be leaving for our vacation (more on that!). But finally night came when we all got spiffed up for the Vigil Mass and some of us headed to the park and the rest went to save seats in the Church. The reason why some of us went to the park is because at the beginning of every Easter Vigil is the lighting of the new Paschal Candle and along with any regular person who wants to be there, all catechumens and godparents are there and 5 of us volunteers were godparents this year. So we started at the park for the candle lighting bonfire.

It's a very beautiful ceremony with a lot of rich symbolism. Oh for those of you that don't know, the Easter Vigil is my favorite Mass ever. I cry every single year and even though this year was in Spanish it didn't matter. I had Joe carry tissues in his pocket for me because it was bound to happen. Luckily, the misty eyes didn't come until we were at least in the Church which was plunged in total darkness (as per tradition) throughout all the readings since there are 7 readings for the Vigil that recount salvation history. It was actually during the readings that I first started to tear up. Then when it comes time to sing the Gloria, all the lights come on and the bells are rung to let everyone know we were moving into celebration mode! It also helps to wake everyone up. I literally had to nudge Joe more than once. But the rest of Mass was beautiful especially when it came time to administer the Sacraments.

Look at them, making their profession of faith! After invoking the prayers of the saints, it was time to baptize these little ones! I was full of nerves and excitement because since we were on the end closest to the font, Jose Miguel (my godson!), Joe and I were first.

AND THEN HE WAS BAPTIZED!!!! No more sin, forever belonging to God as one of His own. Much to my surprise (and relief), I didn't cry! Have no fear though, as soon as we walked away from the font and got back in line, Jose Miguel and I looked at each other and then I was sniffling. And I had 3 more kids to see baptized! Of course none of the others were godchildren of mine, but I still just spent a whole year with them watching their interest and desire for the Sacraments grow. But do you want to know when I really lost it? Communion time. It's tradition that the new Catholics receive communion first since it's their first ever. Before they even stood up to get out of the pew, I was tearing up, and by the time I went to receive (which wasn't long after since all the godparents were sitting in the row behind them), I was straight up crying. I think Fr. John was a little puzzled. But thankfully I have a good Joey who didn't wait for me to ask to give me my stack of tissues. It was so wonderful and I still cried for a few days after just thinking about that moment of each of them receiving Jesus for the first time ever.

And here they all are! The new little Catholic kids and the godparents! I must admit, my favorite part of this picture is Elmer giving a thumbs up.

And Joe and I with our godson! So much goodness. So much joy.

After a few pictures, us volunteers went to the boys' house to celebrate Easter coming and Lent ending! Lots of chips and candy and such things. But eventually we went to bed, or at least I did because it was late seeing as how Mass didn't even start til 9:30. But I like it that way and it was another glorious Easter celebration. I'll write about Easter Sunday/our trip to Anitgua another day (soon I promise!). Meanwhile, thank you so so much for any prayer you offered for those 4 kids. Please keep all of us in your prayers as we only have a few more weeks of school left. Crazy!

Also, a quick weather update: it's miserably hot and humid here with no escape. Any of you that still need sweaters or jackets, 1) where the heck are you?? and 2) you think you'd rather have the heat but I assure you, you would not. So snuggle up in a blanket for those of us who desperately wish we were able to!

St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us.

Totus Tuus, Maria.

Holy Week

I've been quite slack with this blog last week and this week and while I may be excused for last week (with it being so busy with many different things going on), I'm afraid I have no good reason for posting on a Thursday. This has been our first week of break, so I have had no school this whole week! Which means it's been spent doing a lot of reading and going to a lot of processions. That's what they do here in Belize, especially in Benque. Each night (except last night) there has been a beautiful (albeit long) procession to help celebrate Holy Week. It officially started on Palm Sunday when we all went to the entrance of town and walked behind a man portraying Jesus riding on a real life donkey.

So we followed the donkey and 12 men dressed as Apostles to the Church for Mass as people riding in the back of a truck sang hymns. It looks like it was sweltering and while it certainly wasn't cool weather, it was breezy and therefore not miserable.

Speaking of Apostles, Joe and Michael got to be two of them!

It's ok to giggle at them..we did

Then we had a very lovely Palm Sunday Mass. I honestly can't remember what happened the rest of the day, I think we all just took naps and read! There was one little surprise later that evening when 2 men from the parish came over unannounced (much to my chagrin) with none other than...the donkey! Apparently it needed grass and shade and since our house is technically owned by the parish, we're the only place in Benque with grass and shade. So we had a pet donkey for maybe an hour which was quite exciting and confused the world out of our puppy. And of course the only natural thing to be done is to get on it. And that's exactly what Jack did.

 

 Just another day in the life of Jack White.

But for real.

The rest of this week has been spent with a strange fluctuation in the number of people here. Joe left on Monday to meet his sister and her fiance in the Cayes for a few days. Tuesday, Jack left to meet his girlfriend also in the Cayes and both parties come back home today. Also on Tuesday, Katie and Elisabeth left with Jack to go pick up Elisabeth's sister, but they came back on Tuesday so it was just during the day that it was incredibly empty in the volunteer community. And so we've just been sleeping, reading, processing, praying, and enjoying the downtime so we can actually enter into the beauty of Holy Week. This really is my favorite time of the year, and though I know I'll miss a lot of things of the Triduum (Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday) like the music and having Mass in English, I'm just going to enjoy Holy Week Belizean style. Beyond processions and a marimba, I'm not really sure what that entails. 

Please pray for my little catechumens who are receiving their Sacraments at the Easter Vigil! None of them are baptized and they are all so excited! But as Fr. Scott so lightly put it, "This will affect you for all eternity!" Of course he's right and it is a really big deal, so any and all prayer are appreciated. 

This is also the most sacred time in the Catholic Church but also for all of humanity, whether people realize it or not. Take advantage of it. Go to Mass. Celebrate the gift of the Eucharist and the gift of the priesthood today. But most of all remember that this entire weekend is about love. And not that Hallmark crap that gets shoved down our throats, but a real love that disperses all fear and overcomes death. That's the kind of love that is given to you. That's the kind of love that's given to me. Who would want to refuse that?

We must also never be afraid to embrace our crosses. Only when we cling to our cross are we able to see the life that lies past it.

 

St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us.

Totus Tuus, Maria.

Just Life

Ok I am a little sorry for not doing a regular update last week and for doing it late too. But I didn't feel like writing a post on Tuesday because it was such a good Tuesday that I just felt like staying in it and not getting absorbed in the world of blogs and internet and not Belize. But as a result some of the finer details from the past 2 weeks might slip through the cracks. Oops!

Since 2 weeks ago, Kelley has left which of course sucked. The only enjoyable part was the I was the only one to drive her to the airport which means we had 2 hours in a car with just us and good music. I hated bringing her though and when there was about a half hour left in our drive, I suddenly said, "Wait, what am I doing? I don't agree with any of this! Why am I bringing you to the airport??" Kelley just laughed at me of course because we both realized how funny/ironic it was the person who wants her to stay the most is the person shipping her off. But such is life. So that was Friday.

Oh yeah! Then Saturday was the day Tim and Jamie, the British med students left. None of us could believe they had been here for 4 weeks already and it was very sweet to see that they were sad to leave us and Benque. But we all had our typical French toast Saturday breakfast with them before they headed out. But Saturday was in fact a great day because I had not one but TWO skype dates. One with the one and only Lana and the other with Katherine Furness and both of them were so wonderfully long! I just miss having each of them in my life so much. Plus it's also really annoying to be like, "Ok let me catch you up on like the past 3 months of my life."

Sunday was a super great adventure day! Monica, Joe, Jack, Eric, Jeremy, and myself hitched a ride with Fr. Scott to a spot on the river not far from us that you can rent tubes from and we went tubing! (Katie, Elisabeth, and Michael each had other things they already committed to). I don't how far of a distance it was, but it was about a 1.5-2 hour float which was a perfect amount of time. At the end, we met back up with Fr. Scott who needed to visit a family in that village, so we all went over and, in typical Belizean fashion, were fed a super delicious late lunch. Can you guess what it was? Rice and beans with chicken and potato salad. But the chicken was flavored really scrumptiously and the rice and beans were by far the best I have had in the past 7 months. I wish my plate was just filled with the rice and beans! But I suppose it's a good thing it wasn't because they also had a cake they had made and served us. Overall, it was a perfect day, one that you wish could be every day of your life. 

There are two things from last week that I wish to point out.
1) My futbolito team had their semifinals game last week and guess which team they played against? The teachers. It's the only time I betray my fellow teachers and root against them. And the score kept going back and forth, tied then a broken tie and eventually the time ended with the score tied again. And so they went to a sudden death penalty kick shoot out where they alternate one team kicks, then the other, and so on. And even those were tied! Up to the very end when Jack scored on my little Francis and won the game for the teachers by 1 goal. It was heartbreaking (for me anyway) and the boys were really disappointed. But it was a great game and they played really hard! I'm still proud of them. (Unlike yesterday when they had their 3rd place game and most of them weren't even there, but that's still sensitive)

2) Teacher evaluations have been going on and I was evaluated this past Tuesday. I was a little nervous leading up to it, but my HOD came into my best class (1st Form girls) and I think he scared them more than he scared me! Not that Victor is scary by any means, but the girls were extra good and attentive. I met with him a couple days later to go over the evaluation after my 2nd Form boys class. Now to understand everything about this, know that I love the 2nd Form boys. But they are incredibly immature and defiant and disrespectful to everyone. Their behavior has hit a new low this semester and very often my Thursdays end with me feeling super incompetent as a teacher and rather subhuman. So that's what I was going off of when I met with Victor and he had very few minor suggestions for me and overall was really impressed with my lesson, my method of teaching, and the relationship between me and the students. And as great as it was to have someone say "Oh you're good at teaching" what it really meant to me was "Look you're not a failure and wasting your time!" So praise God for that.

This weekend all the male teachers went camping from Friday after school to Saturday around 5:30 pm which meant Girls Weekend!! Friday night Brynne came over with baby Sophia and we ate box mac n cheese for dinner (which was super delicious) and we watched North and South, a British mini series based off a book by a Jane Austen contemporary. You know, it didn't seem stereotypically girly until I wrote it out just now. But haters gonna hate, it was a great 4 hours watching it from start to finish. Though it was only Monica, Brynne, and I who made it all the way to the end. The boys were still gone Saturday so I skyped with Laura, one of my best friends from college. I hadn't talked to her in way too long and I had almost forgotten how much she makes me laugh. Oh it was just so good talking to her! And then that night, it was almost like the boys were still gone because we didn't know what time they were getting back, so we made plans to go to dinner in Cayo with Mary and Berny (2 of Fr. John's sisters and fellow teachers) and man, they are so much fun! So we stayed out with them til about 11 just having a good time, trying to ignore the really strange Jesus concert that was happening in the main square right by the restaurant. 

Sunday was uneventful on my end, but the boys were quite busy because they decided to be way super awesome and make dinner for us! And dang, was it nothing short of delicious. Us girls went upstairs on the veranda to get out of the way and while we were up there, we got our appetizer which was individual yogurt parfaits! Then for dinner they made a quiche with sausage, onions, peppers, and plenty of cheese!! And that wasn't even the end. For dessert, they made us a coffee cake with a cream cheese filling layer which was particularly exciting for me since I gave up cream cheese for Lent. Even if they hadn't cooked us this great dinner, them being gone for the weekend just gave us girls a renewed appreciation for these truly awesome men we have down here with us. 

And so here we are, into another week, getting closer and closer to the start of our Easter break and all the Holy Week festivities. I'm very much looking forward to it all (no, not just because we have no school! Though that is a huge bonus). If you could please pray for my little ones preparing to receive their Sacraments at the Easter Vigil, I would really appreciate it! They're starting to get nervous, as they should, since this isn't just joining a club. But they're also excited which just makes me even more excited. Man, I'm just gonna be crying all during the Mass!

Well have a happy Tuesday! And to celebrate you being you, do something good for yourself, something like turning up a good song really loudly and singing just as loudly. Trust me, it's good for the soul.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us.

Totus Tuus, Maria.