Parish Twinning
One of the objectives of the Parish Pastoral Plan has been to establish a sister parish relationsip or parish twinning with a parish in Mexico as a way to deepen our sense as members of the universal church. We have begun to establish this relationship with a parish in Chiappas, Mexico, called San Bartolome Apostol (Saint Bartholomew, the Apostle). Chiappas is the southernmost state in Mexico and borders Guatemala. We have made the connection with this particular parish through a referral from their retired Bishop, Samuel Ruiz, with whom I have worked on a couple of occasions. What follows is the initial response from their pastor, Fr. Javier Reyes, to our request to estblish this sister parish relationship. His response is in Spanish followed by a translation to the best of my limited ability.
Kevin McCarthy
Holy Cross Parishioner
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 11:53 PM
Subject: saludo desde San Bartolomé
Hola Kevin.
Soy Fco. Javier Reyes R.. Atiendo junto con tres religiosas y un
seminarista, la parroquia de San Bartolomé Apostol, en Venustiano Carranza,
Chis.
Recibe un fraterno saludo de parte de nosotros.
Me ha dado mucho gusto recibir tu comunicación, por dos motivos:
1º El darme cuenta que Tatic Samuel haya tenido presente nuestra
parroquiaporque creo que estamos presente en su pensamiento y en su
corazón. Tengo ya 28 años en nuesta querida diocesis de San Cristobal
y he mantenido un grande aprecio y cariño por nuestro hermano Obispo
Samuel. Las hermanas tienen 3 años de estar aquí y El Seminarista es
originario de esta parroquia y ya ha terminado sus estudios en el
Seminario.
2º El ponernos ante la posibilidad de un intercambio o mejor dicho de un
relacionamiento entre parroquias. Esta es un experiencia que puede
enriquecer nuestro caminar de Iglesia en ambas partes. Creo que el
establecer lazos de "hermandad" entre comunidades cristianas nos
fortalece en la experiencia de ser Iglesia. Pueblo de Dios, Comunidad
de comunidades.
Kevin, quiero decirte que hemos platicado quienes formamos el Equipo
Pastoral de la parroquia y vemos que si es posible ebrirnos a esta
experiencia. Creo que es buno empezar a comunicarnos para ir estableciendo
acuerdos que ayuden a que esta esta experiencia sea fructifera.
Sin más por el momento y con un profundo agradecimiento a Tatic Samuel y a
tí, por aceptar la sugerencia por él hecha, encomendemos al Dios comunidad
de Amor, esta busqueda de ser Parroquias Hermanas.
Fraternalmente
p. Fco. Javier Reyes R.
Hello Kevin,
I am Father Javier Reyes. R. I take care of San Bartoleme Apostol Parish in
Venustiano Carranza, Chiappas with three religious sisters and a seminarian.
I received your brotherly greeting for all of us.
It has given me much pleasure to receive your communication for two reasons:
First, it makes me realize that Bishop Samuel (Ruiz) has remembered our
parish because I think that we are present in his thoughts and in his heart.
I have already been in our dear diocese of San Cristobal for 28 years and I
have maintained a great appreciation and caring for our brother Bishop
Samuel. The sisters have been here three years and the seminarian is
originally from this parish and has just finished his studies in the
seminary.
Secondly, It puts before us the possibility of an exchange or better said a
relationship between parishes. This is an experience that can enrich our
way of the Church on both parts. I think that it establishes bonds of
brotherhood between Christian communities that strengthen the experience of
what it means to be church. Town to God. Community to communities.
Kevin, I want to say to you that we have been discussing this among the
Pastoral team of the parish and we will see if it is possible to do this
experience. I think that it is a good beginning to communicate with us about
establishing agreements that help this experience to be fruitful. Without
more right now and with a profound gratitude to Bishop Samuel and to you for
accepting the suggestion to do this. We entrust to God's community of love,
this search to be sister parishes.
Fraternally,
Father Javier Reyes R.