Ecuador
Missionary Training
The Franciscan Sisters have maintained a constant presence in Latin America since 1960. Sister Joan Gerads (pictured left), who has been working as a missionary in Latin America for over 30 years, founded Parish Neighborhood Renewal Ministry (Ministerio Formador de Comunidades Eclesiales de Base), a program that has since trained over 1,000 people as missionaries to go from parish to parish to help form “Base Church Communities.” Casa Hermano Sol y Hermana Luna, located in Cumbaya, Ecuador, is the education center that trains missionaries in spiritual direction and the development of Base Church Communities. The program is far-reaching in that it serves the countries of Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and Columbia. Often these Base Church Communities strengthen the entire community and provide the foundation for growth and progress. The goals of the Base Church Communities include evangelizing and spreading the Good News which will help strengthen the Catholic Church in Latin America.
Franciscan Associates
The Franciscan Sisters maintain relationship with Franciscan Associates in Ecuador. The associates (lay people) live their lives by the example of Saints Francis and Clare. Some associates continue the ministry programs to the poor at Casa Hogar which was started by Sisters Ramona Johnson and Berth Gerads (deceased in 2005) during the 90s. Project-ALL is also active in Ecuador.
Click to view an excellent video production by Franciscan Associate Veronica Rivadeneira (pictured left), who is from Quito, Ecuador.
Video: Associate Reflections from Ecuador.
Transcript of "Associate Reflections"
Read Veronica's message, but don't miss her articulate and calming voice in the audio of the video as well.
By FSLFAssociate
April 11, 2011 at 02:14pm
April 11, 2011 at 02:14pm
Cumbaya, a small city close to Quito, Ecuadoor, is preparing for Holy Week as usual. This year “Servidores,“ (organizers) of the Base Church Communities, lay-people, are planning a retreat for the members of their communities to prepare themselves and the people in the barrios (neighborhoods) where they live, to spend this powerful week with Jesus and with their neighbors.
In studies that have been done, it is demonstrated that only 10% of Ecuadorian Catholics regularly go to Mass and participate in the life of their Church. But Holy Week is one major exception. From Palm Sunday to Easter, thousands of people participate in the services in their churches. And then there are the customs of street processions, the outdoor Way of the Cross, and other ceremonies that are commonly called “Religiosidad Popular” (Popular religious experience). These may be led by the people or by the priest. Many more thousands of people gather and join in or are observers of these celebrations.
This year in Cumbaya, each of the 15 Base Church Communities will prepare themselves spiritually as they plan a barrio activity that will aim to include many people who have never before participated in a barrio, religious activity. Last Christmas, in one barrio the people held the novena for Christmas (9 days of preparation) for the first time in the history of the barrio. Each night the novena prayers were held in a different home. Almost the entire population of the barrio was involved. That is the hope of the Servidores in the preparation and planning for Holy Week in the Barrios this year.
The Church of Latin America and the Carribean sees the Base Church Communities (CEBs= Comunidades Eclesiales de Base) as the hope for the future. They are dedicated to renewing the faith of the people and their neighborhood's social, economic and personal lives. There will be a meeting of bishops, priests and people dedicated to the formation of the CEBs in Santiago, Chile, May 9th-13th, 2011.
PICTURED: Sr. Joan Gerads of the Ministry for CEBs (seated at right), Fr. Wilson, assistant pastor (seated at left), Gloria Guaminga, coordinator of the CEBs, and several other Servidores are planning the retreat.
The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota, is a community of Catholic women religious who follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ, walking in the footsteps of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi. We believe that the living of a poor, simple and prayerful community life is a ministry of presence and witness. Our doors are open to the public to celebrate Mass in Sacred Heart Chapel and to benefit from the St. Francis Music Center and St. Francis Health & Recreation Center. We welcome those who wish to join us as sisters, associates, volunteers, transfer sisters, friends and donors.
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