| On
16th May Fr Uriel, who was acting Prior and is a monk of Guatapé,
clothed Br Joaquín and Br Edmundo in the habit. Fr Luke gave them
their pre-Novitiate retreat.
In the meantime after much searching by Fr Luis and the Bishop of Lurín's Secretary, an excellent plot of land had been found in the area of Pachacamac The Belmont Community gathered for a Chapter in September and turned its attention to Peru. First there was the good news that Brs Jorge and Alex wanted to proceed to make their Simple Profession, and this was happily approved. Also on the agenda was the move from Pura to Lurín on the outskirts of Lima, the sale of the land and monastic buildings in San Lorenzo and the purchase of a property at Pacamac for the translation of the monastery. It is just five minutes from the bishop's house, ten minutes from the parish church, fifteen minutes from Lurín (for the bank, market and the community of Cistercian nuns), twenty minutes to the sea and fify minutes from the centre of Lima (seminary, universities) and about an hour and a quarter from Lima airport. It has both water and an irrigtaion canal and well (clean drinking water at about 15 metres). Mains electricity and telephone are about 200 metres away, paved road less than a kilometre. It has apple, pear, peach and avocado trees in plenty and the 7½ acre site comes complete with 12½ acres of barren mountain which would afford protection form future development in the area, because Lima is bound to develop south in time. The only problem is the cost of £170,000. The Chapter recognized, however, that this was the best way forward for the Monastery of the Incarnation. |
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| Brs Jorge and Alex were professed on 5th October before a crowd of brethren, family, neighbours, parishioners and religious. It was a moving and impressive ceremony. Fr Leo, who came especially from Texas, was MC and Fr Uriel signed the vows together with Abbot Paul. Over 250 people were served a traditional Peruvian meal, lovingly prepared by the monastery's retired cook Don Asunción and a group of ladies from San Lorenzo. Fr Simon returned to Peru on 9th October following his successful heart surgery. | |||
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| Fr
David joined the brethren in Peru this year and was put in charge of the
six aspirants: Carlos Lloclla, Percy Gonzalez, Juan Edgar Tuesta, Wilmer
Adanaqué, Raúl Maza Panta and Gosvin Bernuy. Their aspirancy
ended on 30th November and there was a discernment process to see if they
would go on to become postulants. This they chose to do and they were accepted
to begin their Postulancy in January.
There are already half a dozen more candidates waiting to try their vocation. As Fr Joseph commented "This day was worth waiting for and repays the many doubts and sacrifices of the past." |
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