Reflection by Sister María Cecilia Peña Moreno (translated by Matthew Greeley)
We departed for the Dominican Republic full of happiness and hope this June 23 unaware of all that lay before us and of how we’d be received by our Dominican community.
Personally, participating in the diocesan mission experience in San Pablo Parish in San Francisco de Macorís, I am simply grateful to God for allowing me to get to know a new culture and to witness firsthand the material and spiritual need of the people, who despite their hardships, are joy filled, welcoming and warm.
During our week there, we worked on renovating 3 chapels that are used by people who live a distance from the town for liturgical celebrations. I also got a lot from sharing our message of love with families in the area, who were, in return, so open to us and who were so faith filled.
The celebrations were very lively and everyone participated enthusiastically. Their pastor, Fr. Hipólito, was attentive and the community really appreciated him.
Our missionary group was diverse. Not all spoke Spanish. But everyone spoke with their hearts, allowing everyone to adapt to our new surroundings quickly, to connect as Church, and to really gel as a solid group, giving us the confidence to share our experiences each day in our communal prayer and reflections and in the work in which we engaged daily. This sense of community came with a real feeling of gratitude to God for His presence in our midst.
It was also just fun to enjoy the Dominican landscapes, the beach, historic places and the culture that added to our experience of being Christian missionaries.
As part of our commitment to this mission, as a group, we continue to pray for the communities we got to know in the Dominican Republic, that they may grow and be faithful as Christians. We also hope to look for practical ways to support the community of San Pablo in the next year and during our next mission experience there next summer…everyone has expressed how they want to return next year.
The experience also brought to my heart moments of mission in my own country of Colombia, reminding me of the connections made with people and of excellent friendships.
Lastly, I have again felt the joy that I get from serving others, and the joy of stepping up as a missionary. I felt how God uses me as an extension of His Kingdom, as it says in scripture: “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.” (Acts 20: 35)