A Humble, Joyful Servant

Last weekend, we celebrated Chile’s biggest national holiday, Fiestas Patrias.  Chileans go crazy for the 18^th!  Throughout the city, there were many large carnivals/ fondas (about 100xs bigger than the one I described in the previous entry that we had at our school).  Our weekend was full of different events, starting with a Mass and dinner on Thursday and ending with a barbecue and mini-fiesta at our house on Monday.  I was able to spend all of Sunday (the actual 18^th, Dieciocho) with the host family that I lived with when I studied abroad, which was so much fun and such a blessing.  They took me to a giant carnival called the Fonda Intercomunal.  There, I got to see a huge horse and dance show that depicted the history of Chile…starting with the dances and horse-riding of the indigenous Mapuche, moving through the  colonization by Spaniards in elegant horse-drawn carriages, introducing the classic “huaso” (cowboy) dances, and incorporating dances from Easter Island, the Argentinian tango, traditional Peruvian dances, and, of course, the national dance of Chile, the cueca.  I also got to see a rodeo, which are very common in Chile due to the country, huaso cultural tradition.  Here are some pictures from the different weekend events: 

With members of the Church choir at the Church Fonda

Chileans out on the dance floor dancing the beloved cueca

People at the big Intercomunal Fonda watching the horse/dance show

    Getting ready to start the show

The Mapuche riders and dancers

SO MUCH MEAT.

Many of the kids dress up in traditional huaso/huasa clothing for the carnivals.  Precious.

  Getting ready for the rodeo.

Probably my most favorite celebration of the weekend occurred last Thursday.  Each year the Congregation of Holy Cross awards the Spes Unica award to honor a member of the community who represents the spirit of Holy Cross.  The words "Spes Unica" are borrowed from the motto of the Holy Cross Brothers, and mean “our only hope.” (the full motto is "Ave Crux, Spes Unica!" or "Hail the Cross, our Only Hope!").  While the award is typically given to someone well-known throughout the community or country for their research or other accomplishments, this year, it was awarded to Don Patricio—a man who works at Colegio Andacollo (my school) selling posterboard, staples, and other school supplies and helping with maintenance.  He was one of the first people I got to know at Andacollo, first because I am always asking him for different supplies to use on retreats and for classroom activities J, but more importantly because he is one of the most warm, thoughtful, and genuine people I have ever met.  He was one of the first to welcome me to the school and has never ceased to be someone to turn to for help or to simply chat with during recess and lunch breaks. 

Don Pato doesn’t have any diplomas to boast of.  He doesn’t spend his day in important meetings or with an organization working to solve big world problems.  He has never travelled to other parts of the world.  Rather, he spends his day opening school doors and closets, selling school supplies and helping to set-up and clean-up during school events.  And yet, he was selected to receive one of Holy Cross’s most important awards.  For anyone that knows him, it is not hard to see why.  Mother Teresa once famously said: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”  Don Pato is a man of small things.  But he is loved, admired, trusted and valued by the people around him because everything that he does is done with a humble and joyful heart.  He is such a gentle person and consistently offers himself unconditionally to be of service to others.  You know how there are certain people that you meet that instantly make you want to be a better person and  just do what they do?  Don Pato is one of those people for me, and, from what I have seen, for many other people as well. 

I have to say, I was very proud to be a member of Holy Cross during this ceremony.  Although it was no surprise to anyone who knows Don Pato why he was selected to receive the award, I think that it was a surprise that he was actually selected given what I said earlier about the award usually going to someone more well-known throughout the city or country.  I don’t mean to say that people selected in years past were not worthy nor that fame negates merit, but I often think that, in our world, the people that most sincerely and fully live out the Gospel message of humility and unconditional service and love often go unnoticed and unrecognized.  God knows that it is just as hard (or even harder, in my opinion!) to live joyfully and humbly day in and day out as it is to accomplish many things or make a large impact on society.  For this reason, I could not have been more happy that Don Pato was awarded the Spes Unica—he is a beautiful example for all of us of the grace that shines in the most humble, small, and seemingly insignificant actions.   

When Don Pato stood up to give his acceptance speech, I was sitting in the choir looking out at the congregation, and I never saw so many thrilled and smiling faces.  Then, to add to his already incredible life witness and story, during his speech he shared part of his difficult journey to faith in Christ during the years of the dictatorship when his family was the victim of death and torture and had to flee their hometown to escape the oppression.  He shared how he met Holy Cross priest Padre Roberto (a U.S. priest who has been in Chile for over 40 years),who, amidst the great suffering and heartache that Don Pato and his family were living, began to tell them about the suffering Christ and the faith and hope that are offered through the Cross.  Don Pato is someone who has truly lived and experienced the Holy Cross motto, “Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope!”  He has lived through things that I could never imagine, but instead of hardening his heart to the world, he gives thanks that, through suffering, he was able to develop a profound faith—a faith that he knows will sustain him and illuminate the way that God’s grace is present even in the many difficulties and challenges of life.