San José successfully hosted 300+ people for the Diocesan Assembly. This is an event occuring every other month where some lucky parish is selected to be the locale for the bishop, priests and anyone who helps out at parish to descend and gather. In gospel style, the host is expected to feed the masses too. I couldn't have been happier with my parish's ability to pull this off. The enthusiasm for such things is hopeful, I just wish it translated directly into Sunday Mass attendance. Both Fr. Gee, with San Francisco, and I now, with San José, have done our part. With 30 parishes in the diocese we hope this honor next time will fall to our successors.
On a troubling note. Food was provided for our guests: chicken, rice&beans, salad and fresh yuca from our own farm. The lunch was individually placed into stayrofoam boxes that doubled as plates. At the end of the meal these boxes were gathered into plastic bags and taken to the dump. This dump just so happens to be on the Haitian side of the river. It technically isn't Haitian land, but no Domincans are permitted to live there. Well, I passed this place early the next morning to say Mass in my chapels located 2 hours up the Internal Highway. I noticed our white boxes scatted about the dump. They were not in their plastic bags which indicated a lack of animal involvement and sadly not a morsel of a rice grain or chicken bone to be found.
On a troubling note. Food was provided for our guests: chicken, rice&beans, salad and fresh yuca from our own farm. The lunch was individually placed into stayrofoam boxes that doubled as plates. At the end of the meal these boxes were gathered into plastic bags and taken to the dump. This dump just so happens to be on the Haitian side of the river. It technically isn't Haitian land, but no Domincans are permitted to live there. Well, I passed this place early the next morning to say Mass in my chapels located 2 hours up the Internal Highway. I noticed our white boxes scatted about the dump. They were not in their plastic bags which indicated a lack of animal involvement and sadly not a morsel of a rice grain or chicken bone to be found.
