Institute for Pastoral Initiatives News
Sister and her Guardian Angels
By Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski
When an invitation from a Bishop arrives in my email inbox, I usually don't have to think twice. Any chance I have to speak with Bishops and Clergy about the work we do here at the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives is an opportunity not to be missed.
The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives was founded to be a bridge between the University and the universal Catholic Church. The Institute team strives to ‘read the signs of the times’, explore the needs of the Catholic Church and bring our best resources forward to support the mission of the Catholic Church.
Before I left for my trip to Aruba, I began my research on the Diocese of Willemstad and discovered it is even more diverse than I imagined. The diocese encompasses the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean: the countries Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Saba. These islands (countries) are almost on either end of the Caribbean but still one diocese. The distance is amazing. On the bigger island of Curaçao is where Bishop Luigi Secco resides.
The focus of my talks would be the implementation of the Antilles Episcopal Conference’s recent Pastoral Letter on Communications: New Ways of Being Church in a Digital Milieu. I am a special consultant to the AEC Bishops.
I came to learn that of the 45–50 priests associated with the diocese come from 5-7 different countries around the world speaking different languages. Thus Papiamentu, the indigenous language enables them to communicate within and among the six islands (or, countries, yes, each is its own national country).
So, you may wonder, how did I communicate a full in-service day for the clergy and evening for the catechists? With a lot of assistance! My power point presentations were translated into Papiamentu and I had two assistants with me the entire time translating along the way. I identified them as my ‘Aruba Guardian Angels’.
As we proceeded to the conference room, Fr. Juancho prayed and blessed the room. This is one of their traditions. What amazed me is that nearly 75 hotel support staff were present. They also wanted to receive a blessing. Remember this is a very Catholic country!
Later in the day, I met with 45-60 catechists eager for an evening catechetical encounter. I must admit I was getting a bit tired because I had not stopped since 4:00am. I wondered if I had any more energy left. However, once I began greeting them and witnessing their enthusiasm, the joy they expressed for their vocation as a catechist and desire to learn, it only kindled a new fire within me.
As the day ended, I decided to sit on the balcony and contemplate. A full moon cast beams of light across the Caribbean Sea, the sky dotted with a galaxy of constellations. I pondered the long lineage of Mission Helper catechists that I am privileged to be associated with and able to continue their legacy.
God has wondrous plans!
The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives oversees many university and global projects, including the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation or VLCFF (Find us on Facebook) as well as the Forum for Young Catholic Hispanics, Christian Meditation in Catholic Schools, Special Needs in Faith Formation, Chaminade Scholars pilgrimage from Assisi to Rome. Catholic Schools for Tomorrow, the Forum for Young Catechetical Leaders, and the Caribbean School for Catholic Communications.
