Parish Twinning Visit: October 22-29, 2008 During the week of October of 22 to 29, 2008 Transfiguration Parish welcomed five visitors from our twinned parish, Reina de la Paz, in Soyapango, El Salvador. It was the fourth annual visit. In 2005 and 2007 members of our parish visited in El Salvador. In 2006 and this October they visited here. The only returning visitor this time was Fr. Francisco, the pastor. The other four visitors were Francisca, principal of St. Joseph the Worker School, Mima, who is on their twinning committee and on the devotions committee; Zoila who is on their committee for small biblical communities, and Leticia who is head of the liturgy committee in her sector of the parish. It was a busy week which began on Thursday with a day of discussion of scholarship programs, followed on Friday by a visit to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite parish in the Bronx. The visit was hosted by Fr. Nelson, the pastor of St. Simon Stock. Upon return from the Bronx Fr. Nelson and Fr. Francisco led a discussion of the church’s teaching on social justice. |
From the left: Leticia, Mima, Pat, Francisca and Zoila |
Our visitors at St. Simon Stock in the Bronx |
One of many meetings. |
Saturday began with a morning of recollection focused on Pope John Paul II’s “The Church in America,” which contains the foundation concepts for our twinning relationship: conversion, communion and solidarity. In the afternoon two ministries from each parish shared about their ministry. Our visitors were presented at all Sunday Masses, attended the coffee hour after the 10 AM Mass, and managed to fit in a trip to Maryknoll in the afternoon. On Sunday evening two of our visitors shared their personal experiences from the period of the civil war and present day life. Monday was spent in NYC, first at Times Square, then Ground Zero, where our visitors immediately recognized the picture of a fallen firefighter, a Salvadoran from their area. After hot dogs on the street, they had a ride on the Staten Island Ferry, followed by a visit to the Mother Seton Shrine and St. Patrick’s. |
9/11 Victim Fire Fighter Dennis P. O’Berg from Soyapango |
Leticia and Fr. Francisco at Ground Zero |
Alice, Francisca and Zoila on the Staten Island Ferry |
Tuesday included school and school of religion visits and final committee meetings to discuss our twinning arrangement for the coming year. Tuesday evening our visitors met with the parish council and gave and gave a presentation on the structure of their parish council . Many parish organizations and groups participated both in discussions and in hosting meals. Our visitors lived in private homes and traveled courtesy of some generous parishioners who provided air miles. At the end of the visit; many people reported feeling a much stronger connection to our twinned parish and much more enthusiasm about the twinning relationship. It was a busy and intense time together, with many laughs and we separated feeling much closer and understanding each other's situations much better. |
Mima on Staten Island Ferry |
Pat and Fr. Francisco on Staten Island Ferry |
