On May 28, the annual meeting was held at the Bidasoa International Seminary for the presentation of Holy Vessel Cases to the senior seminarians.
A Sacred Vessel Case is one of the most appreciated gifts for a priest: a portable case containing all the elements necessary to impart the sacraments and celebrate Holy Mass in places lacking the means. Each case has a cost of 600€. The Patronato de Acción Social orders the briefcases, buys their contents and, together with the handmade albs made by its volunteers, prepares the whole case.
Although on this occasion the celebration was online and the large group of CARF members that annually attends this event - such as the coordinators of the Social Action Boardl and benefactors and friends of CARF-, the seminarians also wanted to offer the traditional show with which they thank the people of CARF for the donations and prayers that they pour on them.
The event, presented by Francisco Lucero Obiols of the Diocese of Santiago, Guatemala, began with a few songs by the mariachi of Bidasoa, in charge of Juan Armando Méndez, seminarian of the Archdiocese of Puebla (Mexico).
After the performance of the Mexican mariachi band, the seminarian Francisco Lucero, thanked CARF's Director General for his presence, Luis Alberto RosalesHaving Luis Alberto here is having the whole CARF and all the people who help".
In other years, it is the coordinators of the Patronato, with Carmen and Rosana at the head, who deliver the kits to the seminarians. This year, due to the pandemic, the people in charge were the rector of Bidasoa, Mr. Juan Alonso, together with Luis Alberto Rosales.
"Here the protagonists are you, in this paradise that is Bidasoa and then life is not the same. I want to remind you of one very nice thing: the briefcase includes a hand-sewn alb with each seminarian's measurements It takes many hours of work and prayer, so that you can keep all the collaborators of the Patronato very much in mind," said Luis Alberto.
A Sacred Vessel Case is one of the most appreciated gifts for a priest: a portable briefcase containing all the elements necessary for imparting the sacraments and celebrating Mass in places lacking the means to do so.
Costantine Malaba Sylvester is originally from the Diocese of Bunda in Tanzania. He is one of 17 seminarians who have received the Sacred Vessel Case. "It is a beautiful country in Africa and tropical, where I was born, grew up, and received both human and Christian formation before entering seminary. It is in Tanzania also where I have met God and discovered my vocation."
She thanked the benefactors and those in charge of the Patronato de Acción Social for the briefcase: "Thank you very much for the indispensable help you have given me throughout these years of formation. Thank you for your material help, support and generous dedication in prayer".
After the presentation of the briefcases, the fifth year seminarians dedicated a song to all the benefactors. Afterwards, the seminarian from Brazil, Bruno Correa, the great voice of BidasoaHe also dedicated a song to all the friends of CARF. "With much gratitude came to the end of my studies. I dedicate this song to you as a thank you".
The event ended with a few words from the rector of Bidasoa, Mr. Juan Alonso.
"I congratulate all of you who are leaving and we assure you of our prayers from here and from so many people who are present in a symbolic way in that briefcase. I want to remind you of a phrase of St. Teresa of Jesus that I like very much: 'It is impossible to have a heart to do great things in life for him who does not know he is favored by God'. That is why we must be always very grateful to the people who help us, such as Rosana and Carmen from the Patronato de Acción Social. who have been circumventing the pandemic to obtain the sacred vessels. We have a very special memory for those who are attending this event from heaven. We hope that next year at this time we will see each other without masks and face to face".
"We must always be very grateful to the people who help us, such as Rosana and Carmen from the Patronato de Acción Social, who have gone through the pandemic to get the sacred vessels," said D. Juan Alonso, rector of Bidasoa.
Bruno Correia de Almeida is another of the 17 seminarians who have received the Holy Vessel Kit. He belongs to the diocese of Rubiataba, in central Brazil.
"I am very grateful for the help you are giving me so that I can continue my formation in a university as prestigious as the University of Navarra and with quality teaching. I am certain that God will reward you for the important work of helping to form priests for the Church. I am aware that neither I, nor my family, nor the diocese could realize such a dream if it were not for your generosity. That is why I commit myself to pray for you and thank God every day for this opportunity".
These are the 17 seminarians who have received this year the cases with sacred vessels. Under each name, there is a brief account of their personal history and vocation.
