I felt
I was back in Africa when I saw the women... coloured or
with Indian features... barefoot and carrying their little
child on the back...
And
then we arrived at the Mission, where the "Brothers"
make long journeys by foot to meet with the indigenous communities,
even risking their lives, for they are not well seen by
the "important" people. I met three young women
animators, desirous to help the community to stand on its
own. I had tears in my eyes as I shared my experience in
Africa; I showed them how to dry bananas, mangoes, tomatoes
or other fruits which are so abundant, as they do not know
how to transform them. I committed myself to finding other
recipes... for example, how to extract oil from groundnuts,
how to make small patties with crabs, adding butter to their
sauces. They wanted me to stay to train the traditional
midwives in the hills. Ah, I would have loved to stay! I
found such a friendly atmosphere, such an ambience of communion
around 'Tatic' Samuel.
We
had three days for theological pastoral meetings. I could
never determine, on first encounter who were the priests,
the religious or the laity, all were dressed in splendid
'ponchos' of local materials, so colourful and all were
called brothers and sisters.
Everything
was very moving! Forty years of commitment among the very
poor enriches one's life with the hundredfold... but leads
to persecutions... disdain, lack of understanding, threats,
a life totally given and always at risk; it's no joke! We
stayed in a family, whose son had supported Bishop Samuel.
Because of that he was called a 'demon' by the 'half castes'
because by his presence and his action, he threatened their
power and their domination. This young man, an economist
of 37 years, was kidnapped and tortured, barely 9 months
ago; his skull and a bone were then returned to his mother.
"They want us to desist, but we will continue",
said this silver-haired woman of 75 years.
San
Cristobal has been a missionary diocese for almost 500 years.
When Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, its first bishop
arrived in this territory, he preached the Gospel; he believed
in the native culture. He was a living witness of the plight
of the poor...the way the Amerindian peoples suffered on
the part of the conquerors: exploited, disdained, marginalized.
Until today, the memory, the heritage of Fray Bartolomé
continues to be a call to work resolutely in favour of the
brothers and sisters who suffer. It is also the inspiration
for their commitment to defend their rights, not only as
persons, but also as a people.
There
have been 35 Bishops in all: Don Samuel Ruiz is there since
1960, and the coadjutor bishop, Don Raul Vera, since 1995.
They have worked with 173 religious women from 34 congregations,
31 diocesan priests, 27 religious men, 100 lay missionaries
and 311 permanent native deacons almost all married.
This
Diocese is on a land blessed by God. It has 36,821 km2 of
forests, wooded mountains, dry plains. There are 1,500,000
inhabitants of different ethnic groups: Tzeltal, Chol, Tzotzil,
Chab and the half-castes; in all, there are 2,000 groups,
the majority of them are natives and living in rural areas.
The
option for the poor and the liberation of the oppressed
as a sign of the Kingdom of God remain the priority and
nothing will be able to stop them!
"Tatic
Samuel" is leaving...yet, he is still full of life,
of strength, of the wisdom of the Spirit. Don Raul Vera
has been transferred to Saltillo, a desert zone north of
the country. Who will take over? Will the Spirit be able
to blow with more power than the political interests and
the fears? The people cry out: "We want Bishops for
the poor!..." and we can extend this cry:" We
want sisters, brothers for the poor..."
I returned
with an overcharged heart. The "all things to all"
so important for us MSOLA vibrate in the deepest part of
my being, and I am able to hear, just like when I was young,
the haunting call towards a preferential option for the
very poorest.
Gloria
Sedes, Morelia (Mexique)
