Father Angelo Esposito.
Christmas, a great opportunity to visit and celebrate with the little natives. Father Angelo Esposito, a priest ordained in the Jubilee of 2000, has been in Guatemala for 15 years, in the jungle on the border with Mexico. «Christmas? I will be around with the off-road vehicle from 6 in the morning to celebrate in the villages and towns of the parish throughout the day, until late in the evening.” A trip to the 300 square kilometer parish, to bless and pray with the indigenous community. Asphalt roads are a rarity, “mostly, if they are free of ditches, it is already a great fortune”, he admits. «I have to wake up at dawn to reach the villages scattered in the forest», continues the priest who spends hours confessing, celebrating and partying with the little Mayans of Tacanà. «It also takes 4 hours of travel, with sections on foot or on horseback, traveling for a whole day to bring the announcement of the birth of Jesus among the barracks and mission hospitals”he says before preparing the off-road vehicle for the journey.
Christmas lunch with poor children in the rural communities that are scattered along the border with Mexico is one of the most beautiful moments. «Without forgetting the Posada of the monaguillosbreakfast with around 600 altar boys who, in the many communities visited by the priest, faithfully follow the liturgical celebrations”. The Christmas Eve Mass in the villages cannot be missed. «It’s a truly exciting wait», confides the missionary originally from Naples. A unique climate, capable of bringing back emotion and enthusiasm lost elsewhere “like the joy for the Child who will save us”.
From Vesuvius to Tacanà, the lands of volcanoes are the backdrop to the mission that created an unprecedented harmony between distant peoples. A channel of solidarity, a source of development for indigenous populations. Catechesis on the mountain, celebrations in the parish, meetings in the villages with the deacons and then seek funding for Los Angelitosthe pediatric clinic created for the small Indians of the forest. A channel of solidarity, a source of development for indigenous populations which, especially at Christmas, intensifies thanks to visits and celebrations in the villages.
There are many faithful, the church does not contain them, often many, even if in the cold, listen to the celebration outside. You walk on foot and with a mule, who has one. Here the roads are only traced. Dust, mud and stones are normal. For those who are not used to it, the effort is tripled, but in the end, you have to get everywhere. In addition to the Gospel, Father Angelo brings medicines and the possibility of healing. «I’m preparing for the ophthalmology day», he explains, a race against time, a coming and going of appointments because the party must be for everyone.
(In the photo above, the pediatric clinic in the forest)
