Semana Santa

Traditionally, the teens and caregivers of la Ceiba get to go to the Farm for “Semana Santa” or Holy Week. Sor Keidy gave us approval, so Palm Sunday morning we headed to Trujillo. 

Honduran spirituality is great in the fact that you don’t only celebrate on Easter Sunday morning, you live out every moment leading up to that glorious morning.  The Farm is no exception to this rule.  So during our week off we attended a combination of 12 different prayer/ communion services.  Last year I remember I was simply tired by the end of the week.  This year was different.

This year we were on vacation from the constant city noise of la Ceiba, I did not have to dead bolt any steel gate doorways at night; I didn’t even have to cook lunch.  We were with the rest of our finca family, we did run to natural watering holes, and we did spend afternoons with the littlest kids on the playground.  Our perspective was renewed.  We were not obligated to attend prayer or decorate for an event; we were given the opportunity to experience holy week with the beloved children, adults, and neighbors of the finca.

As I attended all the services I was truly touched by all the hard work the delegados (ministers of the word/ lay people who help out at church) and Franciscan sisters put into the many events.  You could tell they worked very hard to create a truly special holy week.  In the end, it was truly special, from the Stations of the Cross with the neighbors, to the entombment of Jesus on Friday night led by the cutest little angels ever, to the candlelit vigil complete with chanted psalms by Erin Lucia; one could sense a special spirit of Easter looming in the air.

Late Saturday night as we packed up, readying for our early departure the following morning, it was bittersweet.  I was at the same time not quite ready to leave the incredible natural beauty of the farm, but also so grateful for an entire week of shared moments with our beloved finca community.  Easter is supposed to be a time of great joy and light.  This Easter was truly joyful, in that it reminded me countless times what great light the entire finca community has granted my own life, and the lives of so many others.