Dear brothers and sisters on the journey: with joy, enthusiasm, faith, and dedication we have been coordinating since February our Paschal Mission in 2025, together with Francisco Nieto the parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows parish, with Don Julio, leader of the communal activity of the Potrero Largo village, and the leaders of the neighbouring villages in the Municipality of Guatavita, Cundinamarca.

We were able to carry out our mission with seven lay people from Bogotá, three from the Corpus Christi parish, Marlon, a young man on vacation, , Miller, a musician from the region, and two young professional persons. We formed a Mission team and future lay people preparing to become members of the Aggregation, which is the basis for having a team of a vocation apostolate.

We were there from the 12^th to the 20^th of April. From Monday to Wednesday, more than 100 farmers attended our talks coming from their cattle farms and the cultivation of potatoes and other crops. During the Easter Triduum, we held a communal service comprising more than 500 parishioners whereas more than 900 brethren in the faith attended the Easter Vigil.

The mission was carried out in two villages of the region, with visits to the sick and people living alone, Easter celebrations for children and the youth, as well as mini-retreats for women, men, and couples - good people of faith who are deeply rooted in the celebrations of this great week.

I repeat what was stated in the evaluation made by the team participating in the mission, namely that there was a very positive attitude evident in the activities of each person and in the group work, the message presented was actual and adapted to the region of mission so that the faith of all participants could grow and mature. It is suggested that the work and accompaniment of the community should be continued.

We were struck by the people’s willingness, joy, faith, humility, ability to share the Eucharistic Spirituality, the work the participants carried out responsibly every day, also by their hospitality, their welcome, their affection, and their kindness. To continue our accompaniment and work, we have offered them the prospect of attending the celebration of Pentecost.

I thank the parish priest, the members of the group of the communal activity, the work team, and the community that welcomed us by their generosity and closeness.

Father Álvaro Vásquez Sarmiento, sss
Community of Bogotá-Corpus Christi
Province of St John XXIII
Boletín Informativo Provincial – April 2025