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St. Francis Xavier Parish in Aguablanca - Cali |
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Sunday Nov 4, 2001, at 7:00pm, Archbishop Isaias Duarte Cancino, of
Santiago de Cali, presided at the celebration in the newly
established parish community of “Nuestra Senora de Aguablanca,”
in the barrio of Manuela Beltran.
The community, gathered that evening, remembered the journey
of “faith and action” since its beginnings, that brought to
birth today’s parish community.
The group of “Manuelas” headed the procession to the chapel. This is a group of women in the barrio Manuela Beltran who were the pioneers in obtaining the land, who erected a small chapel, and especially received the permit and title of the land. The work of the Xaverian Missionaries continued on through the dedication and the evangelizing efforts of Fr. Mula who had been serving the communities in the barrio for some 10 years.
Our mission and evangelizing efforts will never end, for many people in the barrios still do not know the Good News of the Gospel, and Jesus Christ as their Messiah.
The celebration of dedication of the parish church was very well attended, with an environment of welcome and great participation, such as the reception, the liturgy of the Word, the presentation of gifts, the singing, etc. All of us present that evening felt the warm welcome and the great efforts and sacrifices of the local people.
After the homily of Archbishop Isaias Cancino, the area Vicar read the document that made official the erection of the new parish, and the appointment of Fr. Armando German, s.x. as its first pastor. He also thanked the people at the end of the Eucharist for their welcome and support, and promised that “our mission and evangelizing efforts will never end, for many people in the barrios still do not know the Good News of the Gospel, and Jesus Christ as their Messiah. But we need to give thanks – continued Fr. German – for the presence of the Xaverian Missionaries (Frs. Mario, Ivan, Antonio, Ignacio, and others) who were the seed of the Gospel in the streets of this barrio. We are witnesses of so many generous efforts, and today we just need to follow their example, for with Gospel courage, personal sacrifices, and poor means, they were able to achieve so much.”
We give thanks to Our Lady of Aguablanca for allowing us, in these difficult times of poverty and need, to be witnesses of hope in the midst of the people who live in this parish barrio. We also ask her that, as she was the first disciple of her Son, and a true model of suffering mother at the feet of the Cross, she may teach us to be close to all brothers and sisters, so that we can form a parish family that reflects the Eternal Word of the Son of God.
(from Misioneros Javerianos de Parma - Newsletter from Colombia)