Visiting Panama for the first time fascinated me
so much. The more than two hours traffic
jam from the downtown bus station to Las Mananitas gave me a slow
introduction of Panama City. From
passing the poorer sections where tenements and many older buildings provided a kaleidoscope
of different beauty, to the towering high-rises and landscaped private villas
gave such a power and status contrast in a small nation. My thoughts were interrupted with the warm hugs of Sisters Jane Zawadzki and Laura Guladew to welcome me.
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| Srs. Laura and Jane, Panama Canal |
The Sisters place in Las Mananitas is a very
comfortable bungalow with a wide garden space that rolls down to the green
slopes of grass. Different fruit trees showed promise of fruits in the next few
months. Moreover, Bam-bam, the dog, adds
to the lively atmosphere of the sisters’ home.
The neighborhood is mostly Afro-Panamanian. For the first time, I met people of African
descent with Latin American rhythm ---and it is so wonderful to have such
experience. The loud music, laughter, and casual greetings reflected freedom and informality. I learned that Las Mananitas was once a poor
community. Now, the community is
beginning to experience certain amenities of recent economic developments.
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| Sr. Marvie and new friends in Tamarindo |
The two weeks at Centro Pastoral went by so
quick. I interviewed the two Sisters who
are working in the 'granja' (farm). The
pastoral center produces its own electricity from solar and it has rain
catchments that supply the water all year round, even during drought
season. Although not totally 100% carbon
neutral, the center is an example of off-grid lifestyle. The Silvo-pastoral approach to organic
farming is very much practiced. The farm
supplies its own feeds to the farm animals.
The farm also provides produce and dairy for consumption at the
center. Our day at Centro Pastoral begins with a quiet
prayer and meditation at 5 o'clock in the morning. The staffs gather for a short prayer with the
Sisters before all the work start. All gather
for lunch like one big family.
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| Sr. Melinda Roper leading the Celebration of the Word |
Since I was visiting the week before Christmas, I
had chance to go with Sister Melinda Roper to visit the mission stations in the
villages for the celebration of the “Posadas.”
Posada is a prayer tradition in Church, telling the story about the
journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus. This is very popular in the Latin American
Catholic Church. The prayers and singing
witnessed to the beautiful and great faith of the people gathered for the
celebration of the Word.
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| Map location of Sta. Fe, Darien, Panama |
