For years, Missionaries of the Precious Blood in Colombia have held “popular missions” during Holy Week and in anticipation of Christmas. “We have been invited to many areas of Colombia and have had many good experiences. Each mission was the product of the hard work of our members, seminarians and lay associates,” said Fr. Jose Deardorff, C.PP.S., the director of the mission ad experimentum.

Now that the mission has opened its Center for Reconciliation, the Missionaries decided to extend that message to include an annual mission on the theme of reconciliation. It would take place in an area affected by years of violence.

Fr. Jose writes:

On July 5, all those on the mission team were present in our parish in Bogota for the celebration of the Eucharist, in which all were called forth to initiate their journey. The team consisted of 30 people: three members, seminarians and lay people. After a 12-hour bus trip, the team arrived in El Convento and immediately began the mission with a procession of the mission cross and the image of Our Lady of the Precious Blood, Woman of Reconciliation.

One of the most important activities of the mission was knocking on doors and visiting families. Before we entered into the theme of reconciliation, we wanted first to listen to their stories and create an atmosphere of confidence. For many years, the paramilitary was present, leaving in its path much uncertainty, distrust and death. They have since left the region but there are still signs of violence. Many people are afraid to talk openly. While we were there, the police were put on alert because of a bomb that exploded at a local oil field. There was talk about that, but the people remained very reserved as to what that actually meant.

During the day, we held sessions at the school for the children and youth. Many of the sessions included storytelling, arts and crafts and skits. The younger members of the team presented the sessions and were amazed by the response of those who participated. At the end of the school day, we organized a soccer tournament. Some of us older members actually won one of games against the older high school students, thanks to the skills and energy of the seminarians.

Each evening, we celebrated the Eucharist with the people and preached on the theme of reconciliation. We could not go very late because there’s no electricity there, plus most of the population are farmers and are up with the roosters. One evening we had a reconciliation service around a bonfire. It was an opportunity to reflect on their need for healing and to create a new future together. Confessions were heard and a sense of peace filled the hearts of all present.

As a team, we felt it was surely a time to listen. Many shared their pain and the suffering they had endured. Some feel responsible for many things that has happened over the years and find themselves being judged, at times even by their own family members. We hope that we left them the seeds to participate in a continual process of reconciliation and at one point to forgive one another.

On the last day, we celebrated the Eucharist in the morning then shared a meal together. There was a true sense of celebration but at the same time a sense of sadness as we packed our bags to return to Bogota.

We hope to return at Christmastime so that we can continue our work with the people there. The people are poor but they are so generous. Their hospitality outweighed the hardships we faced and left us with joyful, happy hearts.

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