May Newsletter

Parroquia San José Obrero

~ St. Joseph the Worker Parish

       Casilla 09 01 5825, Guayaquil.       E.mail sanjoseobrero05@hotmail.com
 Dear all,Yes, I am back to base once again. I was going to write, back to the interminable dust, to the mosquito net over the bed, to the electrical blackouts (I will write till the battery runs out) but that would be a false picture I would be planting in your minds. I am also back into a situation where a lot of good can be done, to a population that needs the presence of a priest, to a people that don´t spare themselves in expressing their love and friendship.  Material comforts have their place but at the end of the day it is the people that really matter.

FROM BISHOP TO PRESIDENT 

When I was at home I read that Bishop Fernando Lugo was President elect of Paraguay. He has of course been suspended by the Vatican but I don´t doubt that he has made this option (from the ministerial priesthood to be the social and political prophet of justice) with a clear conscience and for no self interested motives.  Paraguay has known one party dictatorship for the last 60 years.  I remember when I was in the country eight to ten years ago presidential elections were being prepared.  One saying which ran from one end of the country to another was that the government party could present a stuffed doll for the presidency and it would be elected.  Such was the control that it had over the finances, institutions, trade unions and the public organizations of the country.  Fernando Lugo worked in Ecuador for a while, was very much loved and admired by the people and when he returned as bishop to Paraguay he asked that he might be able to work in the poorest area.  He got his wish.  Now we all hope that he be as outstanding and loved as President as he was as a priest. A tall order but with God nothing is impossible.  

Recuperation from Hip Operation 

As many of you will know I had a second hip operation and have been at home in Uist to recuperate.  I am grateful for the way my family and the people of Uist received me.  I have a special vote of gratitude to Mary and Alana and the people of Bornish.  They didn´t spare time nor effort in attending to my needs and I appreciate the fact that they were always very happy to be of service.  When a person is “at the mercy” of another it is not what is done but the willingness shown that is most important.  I also wish to thank the priests for their friendship.  Bill Docherty will now be relieved that he does not have to ferry the elevated chair in the priestmobile from day to day, from church to clinic, to shop to everywhere!    Thanks Bill!

FOOD 

The price of food has sky rocketed during the past year.  Rice which is the stable diet (for every occasion when they eat) is now double the price; a small roll of bread which cost 5 cents when I went home in March now costs 7 cents in May.  They were small in March but they are even smaller in May.  What can be done?  Carlito enjoys my welcome back cake!  Food riots in Haiti have resulted in five deaths and there is general discontent with governments all through Latin America.  Of course there is no lack of explanations for all this.  When I was at home in Uist I heard that the ton of fertilizer which cost ₤200 last year now costs ₤400.  It is the harsh reality of our capitalist system.  We cannot complain that now that the people of China and India, because of recent prosperity, are now eating more food but we can complain that the basic food of poorer countries, such as rice, maize, sugar etc, are now marketed for the production of biochemicals to power our sports and luxury cars thus condemning whole populations to greater poverty and even to starvation.  The question of justice as regards the distribution of the world´s wealth is a very grave problem indeed.

ROADS – STREETS 

The heavy winter rains are over but there are casualties – the streets! General Wade would only take one look and demote himself to the rank of private rather than attempt to repair these streets! Anyone who can travel at more than fifteen miles an hour must surely be a candidate for Formula 1 racing! Children are following the cars to see if they can collect fallen false teeth with valuable fillings! It is honestly that bad.  My chosen transport will be the two walking sticks for some time.  

WEB PAGES

I am indebted to Graham Nicholson for drawing up a web page for me.  It was done rather hurriedly and will be improved in the future.  It has the advantage that it is easy for me to access it. If you are interested you only have to print the following address:  http://www.fathercolin.org.uk/ and you are there.  I have just tried it - it works!  There is also a Diocesan Web site which is quite interesting. In a similar way type:  http://www.rcdai.org.uk/ and there are many interesting articles to be explored. I also have a page there. Happy reading to you all. I think that I should draw this letter to a conclusion. However, my thanks to you all and the assurance of my prayers. Fr. Colin.