Sister Parish Update: Inmaculada Concepción, 22 de Abril, El Salvador
Saint Clement has maintained a relationship with our sister parish in El Salvador, Inmaculada Concepción in the community of 22 de Abril, since 1987. Parishioners from Saint Clement have traveled down for visits to the community, and a portion of our funds from Clement Commits are used each year to support the parish and other social projects that take place in the community.
In March 2014, a group of parishioners traveled to our sister parish and experienced a wonderful week visiting our friends there. This trip included visits with host families, interacting with children of the guadería (day care center), the elementary school children, and children in the School Under the Sky (a project which brings book, puzzles and games to the street for children). Our group also spent time learning and reflecting on the church in El Salvador, and especially the role played by priests who spoke out for peace during the years of their civil war. We participated in a march to celebrate the Venerable Archbishop Oscar Romero, and visited the University of Central America where six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her 14 year old daughter were murdered in 1997. We continued to build friendships with our brothers and sisters in 22 de Abril by attending mass in the parish church, visiting the finca (farm) of the social projects which helps to supply the community with eggs and vegetables, and also made a visit to a home for the elderly run by an order of nuns which our sister parish supports. Though the trip can be a bit exhausting, it also offered gifts to each person who participated.
Many of you will recall that in 2013, a group of parishioners from the church and school made a visit to the community, and donated a number of computers. We're proud to say that there is now a young man, Ferman Rivas, a lifelong community member and graduate of the school of the social projects, who teaches three computer classes to students from the school.
The church is thriving under the leadership of Father Santos who continues to focus on young people, hoping to give them alternatives to the gang influence which is so prevalent in 22 de Abril. Father Santos is a blessing for the community and has truly reinvigorated the church. On December 12, 2014, Father Santos, along with the replica of Guadalupe (a gift made possible by our own Fr. Manuel Dorantes and the generosity of Saint Clement parishioners), led an annual procession of parishioners of Inmaculada Concepción to the neighboring community of 10 de Octubre to celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe, beloved especially by the people of Central America. Parishioners and their children who dressed in traditional clothes marched and sang accompanied by Father Santos on his guitar.
In addition to the spiritual gifts that Father Santos has brought to the parish, he, with the help of parishioners, has added to the physical attributes of the church. It has been painted in a lovely blue and white and now has a stained glass image of Mary as well as a few other stained glass windows. Upon seeing Mary in the stained glass window, a young man from the parish remarked that he was so overtaken by emotion that he cried. This is a very different church than the one with its corrugated tin roof that greeted the first Saint Clement parishioners in 1987. Although some of the physical characteristics have changed, the faith and spirituality remains the same.
The community continues to struggle with issues of poverty and gang influence, but the people are resilient and never seem to lose their sense of hope. They are always open and welcoming to us. We are blessed to have them in our life.
Saint Clement parishioners are invited to build their own friendships with our sister parish in El Salvardor on our annual trip, scheduled for March 25-30, 2015. If you are interested, please contact Rachel Gunderson or Rebekah Rashidfarokhi.
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