Opening the box

Opening the box

Maria, the girl featured on this year’s Trocaire Box, with Alexis – one of the Trocaire Team in Honduras

Last November, in the company of Trocaire, I visited Honduras with a group from Ireland.  I’ve written about this on the blog before (Check posts from November 2016).  I know that one of the reasons Trocaire asked us to come along was that we might help in promoting the message of the Lenten Campaign 2017.  I’ve been trying to do that over this weekend, with some thoughts in our Parish Bulletin and on www.achonrydiocese.org I also had the opportunity to have an interview on Mid West Radio’s “Faith Alive” programme with Monica Morley.  I’m grateful to Monica for that opportunity.

Meeting Maria – child featured in this years Lenten Campaign

I feel I want to make an effort to support Trocaire’s campaign this year and hope that you will join me in that.  Whatever support we can give, not least by “opening the TROCAIRE box” will, I have no doubt, make quite a difference.

There are many fine resources on www.trocaire.org and included among them are:

Resource Links:
The visit to Honduras brought me to a deepened awareness of global needs.  In going there, and I’ve said this before, I was well out of my “comfort zone”. Those who know me best, know that I like my comforts and so to be in a place where people live so frugally and exposed to such dangers – both from nature and society – is something I am not likely to forget.  That said, I had the luxury of flying to Honduras and the escape of flying away from it again.  For the people we met, this is not really an option.  It is their home and circumstances make it very difficult for them to leave that home.  Indeed I met one man after one of our meetings.  He lives close to where Miriam and Maria live and we had been told how dangerous this place is and how many in the village would like to move to an alternative location that would give them more protection against the elements and the sea.  I spoke to this man – just “hello” and a smile and he spoke back with a broad smile on his face and said something I did not understand.  One of the Trocaire team asked me did I know what he had just said and I replied “no”. The man had said “The only way I will ever leave here is dead” …. I knew what he meant.  It was his home, flawed and dangerous as it was, but always his home.  Trocaire, I concluded, is doing its best to make his home a better place.

“The only way I will leave here”, he told me “is dead”

SO “open the TROCAIRE box” this year and let’s see what we can do …..
Make it part of the home – your home, school, workplace – and never under estimate the difference your contribution during Lent can and will make.
Boxes are available in all our Parishes as Lent begins and it’s also possible to support Trocaire directly via its website

www.trocaire.org 

The last few (choc-ices!!)

The last few (choc-ices!!)

Just looking again at photos from last week, I am reminded that a week ago today we visited the Cathedral in Tegucigalpa on our way to the airport. It’s the Cathedral of Michael The Archangel and is truly beautiful.  We spent a bit of time there and its size allowed for space and its space allowed for prayer and the prayer was a connection with people we’d met over the days and people we know that might be in need of a prayer (who isn’t?)  I’m glad we had the chance to visit …..

 

Let the pictures speak

Let the pictures speak

Over the few days in Honduras I took photos.  I’ve already shared some of them in previous posts.  I’m going to include a good few of them here now, without words, since photos tell their own story.  I won’t mention Honduras or Trocaire again until Lent 2017.  So this is it!!

Meeting with a youth group and its leaders

A village visited

Short video clip of the only road allowing access to this village.  When the floods rise this road becomes totally impassible.

Shores and homes

Sharing Sunday Eucharist

Community Concerns

Should be Paradise

 

Farmers, farming, food and life


So that’s it!  Many others took photos too and chances are I am in a few of them.  These were from the other side of the lens.  They don’t tell the full story but I’d like to think give a flavour of the places we visited, the people we met and the stories we heard.  If there are sounds to accompany these photos, they might include, laughter, bits of music from time to time, an odd song, sadness in people’s voices as they related stories of fear, intimidation and uncertainty for their future, hope, solidarity, purpose, water and always welcomes with the sharing of food and kindness.

Someone jokingly asked if I’d be on next year’s Trocaire Box!  The answer is no.  The little girl who will be on it is found in these photos.  I’d like to think that come Lent 2017 my heart will be in the Trocaire Box and that I can encourage people to maintain that level of generosity that comes so naturally to the people of Ireland and that I now see the necessity for in a way, truth told, I had not fully grasped until this week.

Thanks for sharing these days with me and allowing me share them with you in the words written and the photos taken.

Thanks also to the group I was honoured to be part of: from Trocaire; Kevin and Anna, from the dioceses of Ireland, Rose, Claudine, Eddie, Damian, Dominic and Paul, from Trocaire in Central America; Harvé, Alexis, Santiago and Kristian, members of the “partner” NGO’s we met, our bus drivers and all who cared for and welcomed us.

God bless the work.  God bless the world.

Vincent

Specific at the Pacific

Specific at the Pacific

I am seriously tired tonight. We’ve been on the go for more than twelve hours – much of the travelling on roads that make some of my regulars feel safe and comfortable!

Our first stop was for breakfast and it was a welcome stop. The restaurant had a small zoo and behind our table were the most colourful and noisy birds!

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We travelled about 150km to the southern tip of the country and visited a lovely community.  The setting was incredible. We were taken out on a boat to view the coastline and visit a beautiful island.

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In another place I’m sure that would sound like holiday stuff, a boat trip along an incredible coastline with breathtaking views. Alas, as we’ve discovered more times than one would want this week, things are not as they seem.
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The island we visited belongs to the people but has been taken over by wealthy interests who effectively banned the people from visiting the island. Likewise the coastline. The properties I photographed belong again to the wealthy and the poor people, our travellling companions, are forced backwards into ever decreasing circles where their homes and land are confined to the minimum. Even that, if the powers have their way,  will be taken.

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The sea front properties are, to all extents and purposes, holiday homes for the wealthy who visit on occasions. According to our locals they also seek to move backwards into the property of local people.

After a lengthy boat trip we came ashore and walked a rough path to a house and generous welcome. The roughness of the path was more than compensated for by the welcome of the people, a number now swelled by women, children, teenagers and men.

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Some of the local women had prepared a banner to welcome us all. I can only imagine the time and effort that went into it. Later they presented it to Anna and Kevin the two Trocaire reps accompanying us from home.

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We spent some hours with this group. They told us about harassment, intimidation and some had been imprisoned for “trespassing” on their own property. We met.some people who have been imprisoned for trying to develop a car park. People found guilty and had to sign on twice a month in a distant police station. They were not always able for the journey so their accuser had them thrown in prison. Out now but signing on in a farther away Police Station. If they fail to sign they must return immediately to prison.

A woman told us that about two months ago she was approached by a man who told her that her property had changed ownership. She did not accept this. A few weeks later another man arrived and began to take photographs  When she asked why he told her the property was his. She did not accept this but he said if she did not leave freely, others (authorities possibly) would move her. He said she can take the harvest but after that the property will not be her’s. The harvest is in December.  She told us she has no intention to leave her property and is ready for a fight.

The fight will be a legal one as, it seems to me, these are not violent or fighting people. They’re lucky to have legal assistance and are upskilling themselves in the area of human rights and their securing. Local radio helps them share this upskilling with others.

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Trocaire in partnership with another agency has offered much support and counsel to this community.

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As we prepared to leave two of the community sang for us. They sang two songs, the second celebrating one of the Community’s role as Minister of The Word.

We sang the Fields of Athenry for them and noted the similarity between the story they’d shared with us and the story behind the song.

It seems little has changed.

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It can’t be right

It can’t be right

We left for another early morning gathering today.  There’s an injustice in there somewhere but I’ll let it sit for now!!!

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Our meeting was with a group that is protesting attacks on their territories, resources and human rights. The origin of the group is found in a 2008 hunger strike by a number of attorneys. Their concern was centred on corruption and inequality found in the justice system.

We met many people, including one lady who travelled a considerable distance that had her take a 3am Bus. This perhaps illustrates how important the group felt the need to share its concerns.

Much of the issue lies in large companies wanting to buy and ultimately control resources, land and amenities. The community vigorously opposes this and explained some of the courses of action that have been taken. In some cases where the companies secured the land, the army is now installed to prevent people accessing land and amenities they believe are their property.

They would claim limited success insofar as five regions (Municipalities) have declared themselves “Mining/Hydroelectric Free”. They also were successful in having their rights, and abuse of same, included in the Universal Periodic Review reports.

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The sense you had was of a people empowered and energised by a common sense of purpose and, at the same time, lacking political clout because of exclusion from decision making around their own lives and the future they wish for their children into future generations.

The group is well aware of the power of international advocacy and retains the hope that some of its members may enter politics and have a voice where it can make a lasting difference. One speaker summed it up well when he said: “In this country, if not organised, no doors are opened.”

Hospitable to the last, the group welcomed us and treated us to coffee and biscuits and the most refreshing fruit cocktail this side of perfection.  The role played by Trocaire and its partner is clearly significant and without doubt appreciated.

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We also saw a clinic that specialises in Natural Medicine that is supported by the local diocese. Bishop Michael Lenehan, the Irish born bishop of the diocese, had spoke to us about clinics like these when he met with us on Sunday night.

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I’m calling it a night. Can’t imagine how tired the 3am Bus woman must feel!

Maybe that’s the word of the day to “feel” for people

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