Clergy Retreat at La Palma, Chaletanango

Top- Mural by local artist Juan Carlos who has taken the well-known Llort style in a new direction.
Middle Top-Padres Alex Tobar and John Habeker relax on the patio
Middle- The Very Rev. Dean Bower and Rt. Rev. Martin Barahona hold a discussion after breakfast.
Bottom-Bishop Barahona and Rev. Ramiro Chavez discuss the morning service.



The weather was perfect for the clergy retreat in La Palma, which is a small village up in the northern mountains of El Salvador and is well-known for its artesans. The time of relaxing, spiritual reflection, and learning was much-needed by the clergy who are all in very intense work situations here. It was a time of building and strengthening relationships among the clergy and remembering to slow down and take care of one's self in the midst of all that is going in the neighborhoods and parishes. The retreat was led by the Very Reverend Richard Bower and focused on fostering the spiritual growth of the clergy. I was lucky enough to be asked to handle the music for the retreat and was graciously included in all the discussions and teaching, which was very beneficial for fostering my own spiritual growth. As things pickup with the music and get busier, I'll need to be even more aware to focus on setting aside time to commune with God and develop my interior life to better handle what occurs in the world around me. To be able to get to know the clergy from around the Diocese and to hear their stories was amazing. Their personal stroies about their spiritual journies in El Salvador are powerful and I hope that one day they will share them with the wider church, especially the church in the U.S. The Episcopal Church in the United States has much to learn from the Anglican/Episcopal Church of El Salvador- much to learn about relationship and mission and how to do God's work in spite of limited resources, in spite of violence and poverty. "God is not in the church buildings," the Bishop told Amy and I once, "God is in the world--in the streets." This is where the Anglican Church of El Salvador is thriving out in the campo, in the streets, where God is calling his people to work. These were a few meditations I mulled over at the retreat. It was challenging and edifying.

Jamming In San Salvador

The The Very Reverend Richard Bower jams with the Director of
the Diocesan Office for Human Rights, Jose Lopez in our apartment
for Vince's B-Day.  

Messages from the children of San Andrés Apostol Episcopal Church and School to Gulf Coast Hurricane Victims

Above: Students from San Andres Apostol

create cards for Gulf Coast hurricane victims.

Below: The completed cards

The children's messages:
“We love you with all our heart. We love you a lot, with this hurricane we hope you are well. The day it arrived we were praying.”

“Don’t be sad, my brother, God loves you. This flower is about to be born, like you in the heart of God. Be happy like this bear and this squirrel.”

“I hope that you are fine after the Hurricane Rita and that you can return to your homes.”

“Dear people I want to tell you that I hope you are very well in your houses. Be careful with the hurricanes. I would like to meet you one day.”

“For those who suffered the Hurricane Katrina, I wish you luck and that your family members are well.”

“We love you a lot and are sending you these cards to tell you we love you. We know that the hurricane left you without a house.”

“I am very sorry, don’t feel alone. May God bless you a lot. Don’t be sad my brothers and sisters. We know what has happened to you.”

“El Salvador is with you. Friend, I am sorry about what has happened, but don’t loose heart, keep moving ahead. May God help you to move ahead and be strong.”

“I want to tell you that we are praying a lot for you. I am very sorry for what happened.”

“For the United States. Lord, I ask you to bless the United States.”

“I desire for those who suffered Hurricane Katrina that they have faith and that nothing else happens to them.”

“Don’t be sad, all this will pass, I’m telling you as a friend. Everything that you lost God will give back to you, and I believe God will give you more than you lost. God bless you.”

“God is the light of the world. God bless you. In our country we hope that you will be protected by our almighty God. After this tragedy, we hope that you get better with blessings from the almighty.”

Independence Month Activities at Colegio Episcopal San Andrés Apostol

September was a full month at Colegio Episcopal San Andrés Apostol, the pre-k through sixth grade elementary school I became director of when I assumed responsibilities as clergy-in-charge of the parish. September 15 is Salvadoran Independence Day, but the festivities really last for the entire month of September. A Salvadoran friend told us that it was only recently, as a part of the peace accords that ended the Civil War in 1992, that the schools started teaching 2oth Century history- up until then, history lessons stopped with Central America's independence from Spain in 1821. According to our friend, that was why the Month of Independence traditionally got to be such a big celebration.

At San Andrés, the Independence Month festivities included three parades around the neighborhood featuring the school drum and trumpet band (recently funded by a donation from our sister parish in Massachusetts) and baton team, numerous "actos" featuring the singing and dancing talents of the students, a contest/fundraiser to see who would become the "Queen of Independence," a drawing contest on the subject of peace, a sports day, and a science fair. Click on the pictures below if you want to see them in greater detail.

Amy poses with the four-year-old "Queen of Independence" of Colegio San Andrés Apostol.
Two students work on their contest drawings on the theme of peace.
Students and teachers recite the pledge of allegiance in the church, decorated for Independence Month.
Members of the band march through the neighborhood on the parade route.
Two candidates for ¨Queen¨ share a vehicle in the candidates´¨coming out¨parade. Picture a line of these!
The baton team in action.
The banner carriers head up the parade.

The drum and trupet band, or ¨Banda Paz¨ stands at attention before the parade begins.

I just have to tell you how much I love these kids already! I feel like I have 82 children. Besides being extra-adorable (I really think they got an extra dose of cuteness- maybe it's the Spanish!) they just have such pure hearts. The fourth-grade girl who was the incumbent Queen looked like a super-model riding on the taxi at the very front of the first parade, and after she passed on her crown, she was just as happy marching with the other children in her school uniform at the back of the last parade. They come from low-income working families and do not have much (monthly tuition is $10, going up to $12 next year, and we could use more money for scholarships), but they are so ready to give--they have such open hearts. I really want to give them the best education possible, and we've got a start-- small class sizes (10-20 versus 50-60 in the public schools), enrichment activities like the ones you see above, and for next year greatly improved computer and English classes due to the generosity of friends, with the possibly of an environmental stewardship class as well. I hope that some of you get a chance to meet "my kids" in person! I'm sure they'll steal your heart as well. -Amy

La Copa del Obispo- preliminaries

La Reverenda leads the girls team from San

Andres Apostol in a prayer before the game

San Mateo, Lourdes plays San Jose del Congo

Bottom picture: San Juan Evangilista hammers

it out against San Marcos, Izalco

It was a rainy Saturday morning in Lourdes for the preliminary games of the Copa del Obispo (Bishop's Cup) for the section in which San Andres Apostol resides. San Andres Apostol kicked butt and set themselves up in good position for the tournament in two weeks out in Ahuachapan. The tournament will consist of teams from all over the diocese and should be a lot of fun. They take their futbol (soccer) seriously here and even the preliminary scrimmages has an intensity to them.