Blog
Jacqueline Winspear has written and published a yearly novel for the past sixteen years. The setting is England during WWII. Maisie Dobbs and her associate, Billy, become involved in undercover work which is both dangerous and very important. Maisie’s life has been a series of unfortunate personal happenings which reveal not only her interesting background but also her desire to improve the “lot of the less fortunate”. Since the main characters remain consistent, the plot in each book always presents a new and novel revelation of Maisie’s life. It is like meeting an old friend once a year. Maisie’s psychological training with a renowned professor has enabled her to be a keen observer of the actions and motivations of others.
The mysteries of why people commit crimes or become involved in corrupt practices are motivated by any number of reasons. Maisie’s training and experience are key to her investigations as well as her efforts to bring forth justice and healing for both the victim and the perpetrator. The Consequences of Fear is a “must-read”.
Sister Valerie Van Cauwenberghe, csj
from Our CSJ ASSOCIATES IN ZAÑA, PERU
Part TWO
Between August and September 2020, the lockdowns and restrictions were still in place, but by October, the Peruvian Government permitted people to leave their homes 3 days per week, at certain times (e.g., only after 11AM) and on certain days, including children and the elderly, but all citizens had to stay at home on Sundays. Churches would not open until November. However, new cases continued to emerge, especially because of crowding at the markets. Sadly, on October 27th, 2020, Delicia’s father, Armando Romero, died – he was 99 years old, and had served the community of Zaña especially in the agriculture sector, most of his life – a man respected and looked upon as friend by all.
By December 1st, another donation had arrived, which was very much needed and very much appreciated by the people - it helped to provide food before/by Christmas, and again, much-needed medicine. Deaths in and around Zaña however, were constant – isolation and restrictions were a constant – and getting in and out of Zaña or surrounding towns were all hardships (police permission was needed, buying gas for whatever vehicle would take one to the city and then paying for this service); also getting food somewhere was a daily hardship, and not having seeds or enough water to plant seeds etc.
2021:
In January, Peru experienced many strikes of doctors, workers, and many other service providers, who had not been paid for many months – as a result, people all over Peru, as well as Zaña and surrounding areas, were experiencing disruptions of all kinds, especially being cut off from supplies and food, as well as not being able to get into the towns and cities for so many needed services. In late March, Associate Pola Montenegro, whose health had been failing since January, caught Covid-19, and her family was experiencing ill health as well. Associate Cecelia Odar had been helping Pola get to medical appointments in Chiclayo since the New Year; now, together with a Zaña nurse, Cecelia was able to get oxygen for her, as well as some nursing help from the Zana Medical Post. Pola began to respond to medicine and the oxygen, but after 2 weeks, the oxygen supply in Zana and the city of Chiclayo had run out. However, Pola was able to breathe easier, and is still slowly recuperating. In April, Covid deaths in Zana continued, and many friends/people from Zaña, who were known to the Sisters of St. Joseph who had lived in Cayalti, Oyutun, and Zaña, had died from Covid.
However, in the first week of May, the town of Zaña announced that the first vaccinations would begin on Mother’s Day, May 9th, and asked all the women of Zana over 60 to be available for the vaccination process. Afterward, the younger residents and then all the residents would be able to be vaccinated – a miracle that had been waited and hoped for!!
May God accompany always our 7 Associates in Zaña, and all the people of Zaña and the nearby and surrounding areas, so that people may recuperate, and grow together as a community of love and support, becoming as our Associates in Zaña bear the name, “Milagro de Amor”, translated in English, “A Miracle of Love” (after a phrase from our Founder, Jean Pierre Medaille’s, writings).
Written by Zana Associates,
Delicia Ampuero and Cecelia Odar, and Janet Zadorsky, CSJ
“Milagro de Amor” /”A Miracle of Love” – Associates in Zaña, Peru
Rosa Pola Delicia Carmen Iris Cecelia Fela
LIVING AMID COVID-19 from Our CSJ ASSOCIATES IN ZAÑA, PERU
PART I
The story of Covid-19 in Peru, as in many countries has many ‘downs’ as well as ‘ups’ throughout January 2020 to the present, June 2021. In the town of Zaña, Peru, there are seven CSJ in Canada Associates who live among their neighbours, and who have also lived through this Covid experience with them. The story in Zaña is one of resilience, strength, hardship, hope, and love; one of caring for families, villages, neighbours, friends, and all those with and among whom one lives; it is a story of being neighbour, helping, serving, giving guidance, prepared to be a voice on behalf of others in need.
Peru has the highest Covid death rate as a proportion of population in the world, according to the latest data. GETTY IMAGES
Through January, but especially by the end of February and the beginning of March, Covid-19 in Peru had begun to show devastating effects. By mid-March, the entire country was in a lockdown, and news of increasing deaths and disease spread was all over Peru. Smaller communities, such as Zaña and nearby Cayalti, were restricted and unable to travel to the larger city Chiclayo. Stringent Government rules and restrictions of trucks/people from outside the communities created widespread problems for workers, truckers, suppliers etc. causing great concern regarding food, medicines, medical aid etc. This also meant that donations from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph to Zaña could not be received, as all travel outside of the town(s) was prohibited and strictly enforced by police.
By May, there was a growing food shortage in Zaña and Cayalti (nearby) causing widespread hardship for most families who were struggling to survive; as well, the town of Zaña was struggling with outbreaks of Dengue Fever, dangerous and potentially life threatening for people. In June, news about Peru arrived from the Sisters of Mercy (who live in a nearby town) through their e-mail letter: “There is a new crisis emerging. The hunger caused by the coronavirus pandemic is feared more than the disease itself. To add to the complexity, Peru has two experiences of displacement: (1) internal displacement of more than 165,000 people who have requested humanitarian transfers in attempts to leave Lima and return to their hometowns due to job losses, and (2) hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan refugees in Peru who do not even receive the financial support offered to the Peruvian people by the Government. [P.S.: Zana Peru also has numerous refugees from Venezuela].
By June 30th, 2020, Peru had recorded 9,600 deaths. The Health Care system was not prepared; many households could not ‘stock up’ on food as 40% of households do not have refrigeration; market areas were a source of contagion, and 40% to 80% of sellers became infected, thus carrying Covid to their households; working persons had to use public transportation, and so contagion also spread this way, to their households as well; only 30% of Peruvians have bank accounts, so making digital payments OR receiving Government payments was digitally impossible; overcrowded homes also made the spread of the virus/contagion easier. However, on July 28th, the Peruvian President finally lifted the strict lockdown in place since March. It was only in August 2020 that Associates, Delicia and Cecelia could take care of all the people needing medicines and food especially, as donations finally were able to get through the restrictions. Meanwhile, because of the many Covid deaths, the scarcity of food and lack of seeds for growing food, the restrictions on movement in and outside of each town, and the isolation from main trucking routes and food, life was very difficult for Zaña and all Peruvians.
TO BE CONTINUED
Covid Part I of II, Written by our Zana Associates, Delicia Ampuero and Cecelia Odar, and Sister Janet Zadorsky, CSJ
Rosa Pola Delicia Carmen Iris Cecelia Fela
“Milagro de Amor” /”A Miracle of Love” – Associates in Zaña, Peru
For poet Mary Oliver it was the blue iris that gave her pause. For me, it is the yellow iris. In her poem Praying Oliver writes: “It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together …” As I stood admiring the tall yellow iris, I patched a few words together. “I see you have returned in full splendour,” I whispered. Last year, I had stood in that same spot admiring the iris. On my daily walks these past months I watched the iris bloom and die. During the winter months, this same spot was barren and frozen. There was no sign of the lovely iris. In April, when warm rays of spring sun thawed the ground, suddenly there were tips of green poking through the soil reaching for light and warmth. I watched these shoots grow tall, eagerly awaiting the first buds, harbingers of the return of the bright yellow crown of the iris. On my walks these days, I make it a point to pause and admire the iris now once again in full bloom. As it does each year, it took the entire cycle of dying and rising for this lovely yellow iris to bloom.
While I stood admiring the iris, I recalled what the Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, observed long ago: “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” Like for the iris, how we got to where are today, depends entirely on the past, that which we have lived. However, we know life cannot go on if we constantly dwell on the past and on things not in our power. Kierkegaard urges us to keep living for the future, and herein lies the paradox - not only does the past keep looking over our shoulders it lurks right here in our midst. Yes, we all live forwards but can only understand backwards. A case in point is the recent discovery of the remains of 215 children found buried at a former Indian Residential School in Kamloops, British Columbia. The news of the devastating history of this tragedy left Canada reeling. The past is never past; it reaches into the present. While we struggle to comprehend the Kamloops tragedy backwards it surely may be the catalyst prompting us to move forward, to shape a more just and equitable future for this country.
For the first time, this year Canada claimed the top spot in the annual ranking of best countries for quality of life. This beautiful country purportedly with the best quality of life, has a dark history. What a stark paradox. Vacillating between opposites is what life so often is about. There is the good, the bad, and the ugly not only in Canada but all over the world. We, you and I, and all people contribute either to the good, the bad, or the ugly in our world. We each have a choice.
On June 6 here in London, Ontario, a 20-year-old chose to brutally mow down a Muslim family with his pickup truck while they were out for a walk. As I write this, the public funeral of the four members of this family is being aired on TV. Hundreds of Londoners of all faiths came to support the family of the deceased and of the entire Muslim community. The presence of so many is a witness and reminder that darkness and light so often are juxtaposed. Out of the dark, seemingly barren earth, the beautiful yellow iris grew and bloomed. It is evident, many of the people here in London are choosing to bring light into this tragically dark moment to birth something new in this land ranked as the best country.
“The Spirit of God also hovers over us even during these dark times. ”
Even in this best country, we will always live with paradoxes. There is no need to look afar. Paradoxes are part of who we are. Thankfully, extremes like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are rare. For all of us, though, facing the paradoxes within ourselves can be a real challenge. We all know the struggles and pitfalls when we are faced with choosing between doing the good, the bad, or the ugly. At times we all stumble. We tend to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and hope to do better. Change is never easy. Changing ourselves is a real challenge. Psychologist Carl Rogers, who had great insight into human nature, famously said, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” Easier said than done.
“isn’t it odd. We can only see our outsides, but nearly everything happens on the inside”
We can learn from the yellow iris. Out of darkness beauty can be birthed. In the first chapter of Genesis, we read that when the earth was “formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” The Spirit of God also hovers over us even during these dark times. Life will never be perfect, yet we can change ourselves and help to make our world a better place for all. Earlier this week I came upon these wise words by Parker Palmer, “As often happens on the spiritual journey, we have arrived at the heart of a paradox: each time a door closes, the rest of the world opens up.” The tragedy of the pandemic, of the 215 children buried in Kamloops, and of the senseless killing of the Muslim family could be a door closing on a terrible darkness. On this side of the closed door, with new hindsight, may Canada and the rest of the world, in Kierkegaard’s words, “live forward” to a better and brighter future for all. A glimmer of light and hope is made visible amid the darkness.
-Sister Magdalena Vogt, cps
