24 Sep 2013
Fr. Vinnie Screene MSC celebrating a wedding in his parish in Maracaibo
It was an interesting experience. One of my first Masses here in Maracaibo, Venezuela was celebrated with a packed church in pitch darkness. I had an altar server with a torch, prodigious endurance and a steady hand. This isn’t a tradition or idiosyncrasy of the Latin American Church. The night before some robbed the copper cable that ran the electricity in to the church of Nuestra Senora de la Paz ( or Our Lady of Peace to you and me ). Apparently it goes for a hefty price around here.
Celebrating Mass in my old parish in Caracas
I’m here helping out my MSC brothers and priests during the holidays. During my formation I spent two years ministering as a brother in Caracas in the barrio parish of La Santa Cruz. I had never asked to go there before my appointment, but it was one of the best things that ever happened. There’s something special about Latin America. Those who joined the MSC Vocations team in Rio for World Youth Day in July know exactly what I’m talking about. There’s a sense of energy and community in the parishes here. It’s more than just belonging. They really celebrate their faith, whereas in Ireland we have a tendency to mourn ours.
Working with youth is a key part of our ministry
Aside from the daily Eucharist our MSC priests have the opportunity to take part in wedding celebrations, baptisms, sick calls and Reconciliation. The parish of Our Lady of Peace has over 160,000 Catholics, but only four priests, three of whom have other full time ministry commitments including the director of vocations. The dedication of these missionaries to their community is second to none. For them it’s more than just growing in faith. It’s about caring for one another, supporting the youth, looking after those at the margins, and in celebrating what it means to be Catholic in the universal sense.
Fr. Yonys Mendoza MSC, vocations director, with some of our students