Dear Family and Friends,
 
Greetings from Lima. We have been experiencing a prolonged summer and the sun shines brightly today. A definite sign of climate change. The sunny day gives me energy to sit and complete this way overdue letter or is it my conscience moving me?
 
As is often the experience here in Peru, there was not much break between the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009.

After the demanding schedule of activities that mark Christmas and the end of the year we were immediately into the "Summer Formation Programme" of our Columban Missionary Companions (CMC).

This year was my first as Programme Director and the evaluations were positive with around the 90 mark in terms of attendance each evening. The celebration of the conclusion of the course also marked the 10th anniversary of this Columban project of service to the people and Church of Peru.
 
Then it was into the summer mission for the month of February with two groups consisting of CMC people and six of our Peruvian and Chilean Columban seminarians. We were involved in pastoral activities in a Parish in Chimbote and also the Parish of Casma. Both these towns are to the north of Lima.
 
Upon returning to Lima we began preparations for, and celebration of Holy Week and Easter.
 
There was the “multiplication” of the ceremonies and it was an exhausting but enriching week.
 
On Good Friday I walked a "marathon" joining three different communities for the traditional "Way of the Cross".  In these Communities it means walking out on the dusty paths and struggling up and down hills as the people move around their neighbourhoods stopping at people's homes and community places such as Mother's Club, soup-kitchen, Community Hall, kindergarten.  It's rough and very real-life; dusty, dogs barking, kids running around, mothers carrying babies on their backs in the traditional Andean style; people taking turns to carry a rough wooden cross, the afternoon sun bearing down.
 
The numbers were not so large this year as there are so many "distractions" these days with the "consumerization" of things and the increased promotion of Easter as "vacation time".  However, with the  people among whom I walked, recalling and making present Jesus' Way of the Cross to Calvary, I was once again challenged.
                                                      
Hearing these  people proclaim “We adore you O Christ because by your Cross you have redeemed the world”, and knowing that many of them experience suffering every day, I perceive a sense of identification with the suffering, crucified Jesus. The commitment and witness is inspiring.
 
Part of my reflection in these past months has been in terms of what I read in an article at the end of last year of the need for promoting a "culture of being human persons"; and the tremendous need for authentic reconciliation in our world. So that some day in the future it will not be necessary to have constitutional tribunals to investigate  authorities and leaders for abuses of power and violations of human rights.
 
But maybe that is only a “dream”, given the wide, deep spiral of  institutionalised  corruption, the violence, greed, social exclusion and discrimination occurring daily in Peru and world-wide.  The challenge remains to follow Jesus who was a victim of structures of absolute power, dominance, greed and fear; and ultimately died a cruel death, proclaiming from his Cross, that the way to Life is the way of the cross.
 
I'll bring this letter to an end and send it on its way. If I delay then it will remain in the "draft" section further.
 
With prayerful best wishes to each of you in your personal and family lives. In the Love and Peace of the Risen Lord,
 
Bernie Lane

Fr Bernard Lane has worked in Peru for many years