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El P. Jorge bautizando a un niño wichí Fr Jorge baptizing a wichí child in Santa Victoria Este Pfr. Jorge tauft ein Wichi-Kind in Santa Victoria Este |
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Cada mañana, la salida desde el albergue municipal Each morning, the Schoenstatt missionaries set out ... Jeden Morgen brachen die Schönstatt-Missionare auf… |
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Una vivienda wichí de madera con una lona de plástico A wichí house made of wood and plastic foil Eine Wichí-Hütte aus Holz und Plasitikfolie |
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Las cámaras llamaban la atención de los más chicos. The camaras attracted the attention of the youngest ones Die Fotoapparate machten vor allem die Kleinsten neugierig |
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Las mujeres buscan la leña y el agua. Women collecting wood and water Die Frauen sind fürs Hols- und Wasserholen zuständig Fotos: Tomás Garón © 2007 |
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As we left the city of Salta, slowly the missionary experience that we thought we had began to vanish. It was evident that we were leaving our world, that although it is very complex, it is safe and known. From Tartagal, the closest city to our final destination – onward, the landscape was transformed into a reflection where poverty and of being forgotten prevailed. There were arid roads that were precarious and that become impassable with any amount of rain, the vegetation was dry and destroyed, and the lack of resources for hunting and collecting are concrete symptoms.
However, it was a paradoxical sensation when we arrived to the main town of this remote municipality. There are contradictory signs in this hidden place: there are some vehicles, but it is very difficult to find gasoline. There are no newspapers or any kind of publications, but some precarious houses have satellite TV antennas. Small groups of hogs and of chickens are seen everywhere in the town; it is very difficult for these animals to find food.
Hope is in concrete people
We began to understand the panorama little by little, although the first certainty remains unchanged: Santa Victoria Este needs help. A second truth is something that is more encouraging. There are some people who work daily for this place, giving hope and extending their horizons. The school teachers, many of whom come from better places, make of their profession a daily heroic deed. They are also the ones who understand this reality and they are the ones who call for progress.
Another "center of hope" for Victoria is the convent of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters, a congregation that originated in Catalonia. Three sisters live here (Nora, Anunciación and Vilma) who become enthused with each extended hand that arrives here. They have been transformed into the cornerstone in the life of the town through their activities: a children’s dining hall, computer courses, radio, prayer workshops, etc. They have proven that there is always a future, a light is lit when there are people who give their energy to a noble task.
The essential mystery of the presence of Jesus
A day before we arrived to Santa Victoria, the van in which we were traveling broke. This made it necessary to resort to any means to go out in the fields and to any people who lived in the small villages. Father Jorge Díaz. The pastor of the area was making his monthly visit at this time, so we were able to accompany him on his travels during a few days. With great optimism and simplicity, far from any liturgical frivolity, Father Jorge brought us close to the essential experience of an encounter with Jesus. Thanks to God, we experienced the grace of his presence in this place that seems to be forgotten by everyone.
The small place of Saint Michael was celebrating the feast of their patron saint with a Mass in their new chapel, a small building without walls, made of cement and a metal roof. There were also three First Communions and a spontaneous and surprising number of Baptisms, of which the majority were aborigine children. Beneath the midday sun, we experienced an authentic Mass that was truly charged with sincere emotion, while we awaited the arrival of the missionary doctors who sent us on this project.
Part II coming soon
We still need your support to continue onward!
- TO COLLABORATE WITH THIS MISSIONARY PROJECT: Agustin Trovato: agustintrovato@hotmail.com
- TO COLLABORATE WITH THE PROJECT OF HEALTH CARE: Dr. Alejandro Nolazco: nolazale@britanico.com.ar