Meeting of the CCA post-novices in Aguarico, Ecuador

The post-novices of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay met in the Apostolic Vicariate of Aguarico, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, from July 17 to 31. Thirty-three post-novices participated in all, including two from Northern Mexico and one from Germany who is doing a year of formation in Peru. The friars were guided by formators and animators from Ecuador, making a total of forty brothers who participated in the meeting.

The days began at Quito, with a sharing on the first day with the General Minister and with Br. Hugo Mejía, General Councilor for the Spanish language. The General Minister spoke on PCO VIII and on certain questions regarding the post-novitiate formation phase, responding in a particular way to the questions of the brothers who were present.

On the next day, Most Rev. Jesús Esteban Sádaba, OFM Cap., the Apostolic Vicar of Aguarico, spoke on the history of the Capuchin mission in the Ecuadorian Amazon.  He also highlighted the life and martyrdom of his predecessor Bishop Alejandro Labaka, OFM Cap., and of Sister Inés Arango, Capuchin tertiary, who gave their lives to save the Huaorani, whose land had come to be occupied by oil companies. (www.alejandroeines.org)

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the 19 and 20, the brothers made a day-two walk, an event that is organized each year by a group of Capuchins, from Quito to Coca (Puerto Francisco de Orellana, the headquarters of the Vicariate) in order to renew the memory of Alejandro and Inés, and for the purpose of defending life in the Amazon. The General Minister, Br. Mauro Jöhri, was with the friars on the last leg of the walk. At the end there was a Mass at the Cathedral of Coca at which Bishop Jesús Esteban presided. The cathedral houses the remains of Bishop Alejandro and Sister Inés.

On Thursday morning, the brothers were organized in groups of two in order to go in mission to twenty small communities spread out in the jungle. Some of these communities were formed by colonists and others by indigenous people. As guests of various families from Thursday to Sunday, the friars’ purpose was to visit with them and gather them for celebrations of the Word of God. For many of these folks, it is a unique experience.

The second week was given to studying PCO VIII through conferences and meetings in groups. Brothers Alexander, José del Carmen, José Luis Cereijo and Carlos Azcona contributed with anthropological, biblical, and spiritual readings of the PCO. Each evening there was the fraternal and joyous experience of the brothers from different countries presenting their post-novitiate and the cultures of their peoples.  There was also a chance to spend some time and share with the Capuchin Poor Clares, who have a monastery in Aguarico, as well as with the missionaries of the various orders and congregations that work in the Vicariate.

The culmination of the meeting came on Saturday with a visit to a fraternity located fifty-one kilometers into the jungle, where the Eucharist, some free time, and the joy of being together were all shared.

Dreams, plans, and hopes were recorded at the end of the meeting in a document that gathered up the group work of all the brothers. Our hope is that within four years, other CCA post-novitiate brothers will be able to participate in such a mission and meeting in order to help them to journey together in formation.

Br. José Luis Cereijo OFM Cap