La Perla Celebrates

Can you take another report on another visit to another village? Each one is different. This is one of the churches celebrating its patron saint today, The Virgin of Guadalupe. When our two Jeeps arrived at the edge of town (not far from the city where we live), we all got out and handed over the keys. Someone would make their way through the crowds and park the cars near the church.

Then the bishop and the deacon were given flower garlands for around their necks, and with the pastor,we all started the walk to the church. There, stretching in artistic splendor ahead of us, was a kilometer of flowered carpet, made from the colored sawdust. This was on the main road straight through town, took hours to make, and had to be protected from traffic, children and dogs until the bishop arrived to tread on this labor of love. The mayordomos told us folks worked from 5 am that morning to create this, and there were many who had hardly slept at all in several days, creating the floral facade on the church front, the inside columns completely covered with densely packed flowers, all colors, as well as many other surfaces.

As we processed toward the church, we were vigorously accompanied on both sides by a large, well trained drum and bugle corps of youth. The leaders kept them all on target with intricate maneuvers with their own trumpets. All along the route, families presented their children, who, as tradition dictates, were dressed in native costumes. The little boys like San Juan Diego, who received the vision of Mary over 400 years ago; they have little wooden crates on their backs, like a peddler. The girls are charming little beauties in a variety of local indigenous costumes, braids intricately interwoven with bright ribbons. They carried miniature baskets of fruit.

When we arrived at the church and entered, we noticed there were NO pews, they had been removed so more folks could crowd in and it was wall to wall, as well as down a side passage, and all the way through the entrance out to the street. Folks stood patiently for the 2 hour mass. It is customary here for EVERYONE to kneel during the Consecration, no matter how hard or dirty the floor, but it was literally impossible. They couldn't move.

The youth choir were all dressed in light pink capes, with 5 or more guitars, accordian and percussion. The acolytes, boys and girls were also in the indigenous garb. One small boy solemnly carried his chalice to the altar, then turned and grinned proudly at me from ear to ear. He was a sweetie. At the end of mass the band played, the choir and people sang, the fireworks went nuts, bands outside continued to play, and the children mobbed the bishop for a hug. Then we all made a break for the bathroom, and went to a nearby home for a marvelous homecooked meal. About 12 nuns from a teaching order went with us. Some of them remembered Dick from years ago and could sing his songs perfectly.

Last stop today: home to rest, start packing and entertain friends who drop in for a chat.