Spreading Christ’s message to the end of the earth

AT MISSIO Scotland we often speak about the mission countries and territories that we support throughout the world and there’s perhaps no more fitting an example of what constitutes the latter than the villages of Chipaya and Ayparavi in rural Bolivia.

As we turned off the pothole-ridden motorway that we had been on for two and half hours, the terrain became even more unforgiving, but the off-road vehicle proved it was aptly named as it rumbled gamely along the dirt tracks, and almost an hour later, Chipaya emerged through the dust.

The village is located 155 miles from the city of Oruro in Bolivia, in the western part of the country, close to the border with Chile and near the Coypasa salt flat. The Uru Chipaya people who inhabit this village—and the nearby village of Ayparavi—provide a modern window into the past. It is believed that they are the only living remnants of the Tiwanaku civilization, which predates the Inca by 2500 years. Their unique language and customs haven’t changed for millennia, and they have preserved their culture to this day.

The people speak the Pukina language—which means ‘communication with the divine’—and they have also preserved their music, using instruments such as the tarka, the guitarrilla, the qoku and the zampoñada. During Sunday Mass, attended by the Missio Scotland team, both the traditional instruments and the language were utilised to colourful effect. The women make traditional clothing on looms with dedication and care and mothers lovingly pass on these skills to their children. The men, meanwhile, grow quinoa and tend to their llamas and sheep.

There’s not much to the village itself. It sits close to the Lauca River, it has a town hall, two schools, a couple of shops, the Santa Ana Church and houses that are a mix of adobe buildings with corrugated iron roofs and the more traditional circular mud houses with thatched roofs. Walking through Chipaya at certain times during any given day, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’ve stumbled onto an abandoned film set, but there is much life here as well as wonderful, hard-working and faithful people.

Missionary in their midst

In the midst of those people, is Fr Rosendo Tactaca (above), an Argentinian priest who is enjoying his second stint as parish priest to both villages. Fr Rosendo has a wealth of missionary experience in countries throughout South America, but he freely admits he knew nothing of his new parishes prior to arriving.

“Vocation is a calling, but the broader meaning for me is that God has called me to serve—to serve, even in places I didn't know, like Santa Ana de Chipaya parish,” he said. "I didn't even know it existed, but here I am, called to serve.

“My vocation is one of the greatest supports in my life. I love the example of the mission of Father Segundo Llorente too. He spent 40 years in Alaska. I always think of him, his anecdotes, his writings, his solitude—which is admirable—his union with God, his prayer. Examples like his encourage me to continue living my priestly ministry, and above all, with great joy.”

While Fr Rosendo hasn’t been in his village parishes for nearly the same amount of time as Fr Llorente had in Alaska, he has taken on board many of the same qualities in his own mission and developed such a strong relationship with his new parishioners. One such parishioner in Chipaya told us: “Fr Rosendo is very popular, and he always beautifully explains the Word of God, so much so that the Gospel he gives to us touches us very deeply.”

That closeness to the people that Fr Rosendo has cultivated isn’t just visible inside the confines of the Church. Before Mass we witnessed him talking to and laughing with parishioners. After Mass he sat down to a meal with them—even feeding some of the youngest parishioners. He displayed his football skills while visiting the local primary school. And he shared cocoa leaves with the men farming or the women weaving at their looms. He has even learned their languages Quechua and Aymara to further immerse himself in their lives and their culture. He very much sees the people of Chipaya and Ayparavi as family and the feeling is mutual.

“The great joy of being a priest here is that I get to see my children grow in spirit,” Fr Rosendo said. “I see those who are already professionals grow too. When they were children and young people, I've had to correct them, be a companion, a friend and a father to them. That's the positive part of being a priest—accompanying and being part of the lives of others, not just a small number, but a broad range of people.

“Today I can honestly say that there are many young people who are professionals and others have already started their families elsewhere who have introduced me to their children. For me it’s like an infinite joy of fatherhood—young people make me feel like a grandfather too—and it's a massive positive about being a priest, of having followed my vocation and of spreading that joy that only the Gospel and prayer can give to the priest.”

Challenges in Chipaya

His love for the parishioners of Chipaya and Ayparavi and closeness to them are no doubt the reasons why he understands the challenges that they face and their acute needs so well. To that end, in Chipaya, he has asked Missio Scotland to help provide and improve new technology for the parish hall there, which we have agreed to.

“The incorporation of technical equipment in our parish responds to a strategic need to strengthen the comprehensive development of children, youth, and adults, especially in rural and marginalised urban environments where access to these types of learning media is limited,” he lamented. “Fundamentally, in early childhood development, the first five years of life are a key stage for physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development, as children acquire knowledge through visual means. Likewise, today, more than ever, young people need access to more technology to strengthen their knowledge.

"Equipping the parish hall will better, more appropriately and dignifiedly deliver Catechesis to children and young people. We will also offer family training courses, courses on orientation and environmental care, and Catechist training. We are also in the process of translating the missal into their language and offering studies for various groups in formation. The idea is to develop young leaders capable of making a positive impact on society, men and women of goodness and truth, capable of promoting the common good with a genuine conviction that a just and peaceful society can be achieved.”

Supporting the growth of the Faith and making an impact on the lives of the people in Chipaya is perhaps easier than the project we have been asked to assist with in Ayparavi, as, unfortunately, the people there do not even have a church hall to call their own. Therefore, Missio Scotland has agreed to provide the funds to begin to help make this dream a reality.

Assisting Ayparavi

Ayparavi is an extremely remote, distant and isolated village, especially in winter due to strong winds and sandstorms making it difficult to access. On our trip we experienced a brief, but blinding sandstorm, so we can testify as to how difficult that must be for villagers on an annual basis. We also had to cross the River Lauca at three points to reach Ayparavi both during the day and, more challengingly, at night. In winter the low temperatures can freeze the river and in late summer, into autumn, its rising waters—caused by heavy and permanent rains—can make it impossible for even the most capable of vehicles to pass through. So, the need for somewhere other than the church for the Catholic community to congregate was evident.

"I want to build a hall with a kitchen and bathrooms for the people,” Fr Rosendo said. “There is no infrastructure of a suitable size here where the Catholic community here has a large, enclosed space. Sometimes we limit ourselves to having soup inside the Church, which isn't the right thing to do.

“We do not have a dignified space where we can have Catechetical formation, talks, courses for parents, classes for children and young people and a space where children and young people in school can do their homework. 

“We are limited because we have nowhere to host the activities that we would like to have or invite other communities or groups. We want the space so that we can receive visitors and welcome them with dignity.”

"I would like to thank Missio Scotland for helping us and collaborating on these projects,” he continued. “We are immensely grateful to all of you. Jesus Christ clearly said: ‘I was hungry and you gave me food; I was naked and you clothed me.’ He also said with profound joy: ‘Come, you blessed of my Father, to take part in the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." Perhaps in this world there is no reward but gratitude, but the eternal reward is in Jesus Christ for you.

“I came to Chipaya to fulfil the mission God has prepared for me, that God has entrusted to me—to spread the message of Jesus Christ, a message of hope and joy even to the ends of the earth where I least expected it. I offer infinite thanks for the support of Missio Scotland and its benefactors to help those most in need and to assist me fulfilling this mission."

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