Two Comunidades Hispanas Ignacianas Begin in Staten Island, New York
October 30, 2019 – OIS's Comunidades Hispanas Ignacianas gathered at the Parish of Mount Carmel in Staten Island for the first time on Sept. 24, 2019. Mass celebrated by Fr. Hernán Paredes. This year, there are two Comunidades at the Parish of Mount Carmel, one offered in Spanish and the other in Mixtec, an indigenous language of southern Mexico. Nearly 70 people attended the Mass, including the program leaders, the participants, and their families.
In his homily, Fr. Hernán highlighted the value of the Comunidades Hispanas Ignacianas program and the significance of having a Mixtec community so committed and enthusiastic about engaging more deeply with Ignatian spirituality in their own language. During the Mass, Andrés Fabián, one of the programs leaders for the Mixtec Comunidad, offered a deep-felt introduction of the Comunidades and why, especially for the leaders, it is both a real challenge and a blessing to be able to participate in the program. Fr. Hernán also gave a special blessing both to the guides and to the materials that participants will use in each of the program sessions.
The Comunidad facilitated in Spanish held its first session of the program itself on Oct. 8, 2019. The topic for this first part of the program was “What are the Comunidades Hispanas Ignacianas?”
Fifteen people participated in this more than two-hour session in which the local leaders for the Comunidad explained the program. The participants introduced themselves, prayed together, and had the opportunity to share ideas, doubts, and suggestions with the group.
The Comunidad facilitated in Mixtec gathered for its first session of the program on Oct. 22, 2019, also on the topic of “What are the Comunidades Hispanas Ignacianas?” Fifteen participants attended this session led by Aida Reyes and Andrés Fabián.
Despite the challenges to forming this Comunidad in Mixtec, the leaders did a great job making this opportunity available. Because the participants only speak Spanish partially and have difficulty reading and writing, the leaders have translated and adapted the material so that everyone can participate and contribute to the group.