Day 3

Day 3 began with a visit to the CSC Formation House in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, where Padre Carlos gave a tour of many newly renovated spaces and spoke about the formation process for those discerning CSC vocations in Latin America.  The group also watched parts of a documentary highlighting local mission trips in which religious and lay members of the local CSC parishes work together to minister to a variety of remote communities throughout Mexico.  It is an impressive and inspiring endeavor that requires much organization and dedication.  Link to documentary (in Spanish) here

Then, the group traveled to Santa Cruz Chapel for a brief presentation on the many ways in which local chapels work together to organize major feast day festivities each year.  Carnival rides, food vendors, visiting performers, games, prayer, special Masses, processions...the organization required is tremendous and yet volunteers from each chapel eagerly pitch in and make these annual traditions live on for each generation.  Since the feast day celebrations are major fundraisers for the chapels each year, participation from all chapels throughout the parish is encouraged.  This year, Santa Cruz chapel hopes to use funds raised during feast day festivities to purchase new pews for their church.

After visiting Santa Cruz chapel, the group then went to Santa Rosa chapel where they learned about many traditions related to Día de los Muertos.  They learned the history of the Day of the Dead, the symbolism of elements that are included in traditional altars as a way to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have passed away, and then shared a meal in memory of a young parishioner who was honored on the altar that the church community had created for the presentation.

Later that evening, the immersion group went to Mass at San Matías chapel, enjoyed dinner at a local restaurant, and received a gift of fun festive sombreros in honor of the Independence holiday celebrated on September 15th each year.  These types of sombreros are sold at many road-side stands at this time of the year, along with Mexican flags, festive T-shirts, noise makers, and so much more...people have fun wearing them during the Independence Day festivities and the group had a good laugh while modeling them at the request of Father Pedro Carreño, CSC.