Fiesta de La Virgen del Carmen

(procession Molino Blanco)


The traditional feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Latin America is celebrated on July 16th. Our Lady of Mount Carmel if the patroness of the Carmelite Order, the first of whom were Christian hermits living on Mt Carmel in the Holy Land in the late 12th - mid 13th century.

Nuestra Señora del Monte Carmelo is the patrona de la nación & sus fuerzas armadas in Bolivia. There seems to be a plethora of churches and chapels named for Nuestra Señora del Carmen here in Bolivia. Each celebrates their feast close to the actual feast day. In the parish of San Pedro where I worked my first time in Bolivia, there is not one but two chapels who have choose this patroness, in the parish's vast territory.


(the road between pueblos)



I have fond memories of accompanying Fr. Richard one of my most favorite Bolivian priests to the countryside to celebrate two masses at each of the chapels. Fr. Richard had been in Rome when I returned to Bolivia. He returned this year from Rome to become the pastor of San Pedro. Fr Honny, the former pastor of San Pedro, had been "promoted" to work in the archbishop's office and in 2010 was given a new parish to pastor within the city limits to be closer to work. He is now close enough to walk, though it takes 20 minutes, an improvement to the increasing traffic that created commutes up to 45 minutes long. Interestingly both priests are from the same hometown, though ordained almost a decade apart, are two of a larger group of priests who have origins in the same town.


(approaching Kuluyu)


Upon Fr. Richard's return to Bolivia, I asked if I could accompany him yet again to celebrate the feast. We enjoyed catching up on the ride up the mountain. This year the feast fell on a week day, the first chapel in Molino Blanco had a small mass and procession, deciding to have a larger procession with folk dancing on the following weekend when the children were not in school.

The more remote location the pueblo of Kuluyu is nestled in the mountains north of Sacaba. I know a couple of families that live there and had hoped to see them. One set of parents is working in Argentina this year, and I hope to check on their children, who are being taken care of by the grandparents and aunts.


(procession back to chapel Kuluyu)


Kuluyu celebrated this year with one mass as well as a solemn procession. School was canceled for the day and people held off from working in the fields to join in the festivities. Fr. Richard and I were invited to share in the midday meal prepared by the women of the pueblo. Lorraine who is a former FMS lay missioner ministered to this pueblo and is still fondly remembered. I was asked if I were her sister!!


(Kuluyu)