Echoes and grateful memory

CELEBRATION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FRANCISCO PALAU'S PASSOVER IN PERU

It is a privilege to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the passing of Francisco Palau y Quer, our founder. His passing into eternity on 20 March 1872, after having cared for those infected with cholera in Calasanz, Huesca - Spain, together with the first sisters, is a reason for gratitude and an inspiration for us also to live in solidarity and commitment to life in all circumstances.

Those of us who are part of the Carmelite family in the Province of "Santa Rosa de Lima" have celebrated this great event in different ways in each place of our presence in Peru and Bolivia. In this note we share some echoes of the experience of our friends and companions in mission, the lay people of the community of Villa María del Triunfo in Lima.

Celebrating these 150 years of Father Palau's death means a time of grace, as it coincides with this stage of my formation in which I am entering into a greater commitment in this journey within the Secular Missionary Carmel (CMS), so I see it as a sign of God calling me through the Carmelite Missionary Sisters to love him in the style of Father Palau.

                                                                                                                      (Dayana Carrillo and Alcides Bolivar)

Celebrating 150 years of Father Palau's Easter means for me his living presence in my being through his spirituality and charism that motivates me to live, feel and serve in the Church, which endures throughout the world thanks to the faithful witness of our Carmelite Missionary Sisters, and as a member of CMS strengthens my commitment to love God and love my neighbour.

                                                                                                                                                         (Sara Atao)

Francisco Palau has taught me to be more charitable towards my neighbour than before. I am very grateful to the sisters for allowing me to enter their path, they are the seeds in the world of the charism of their founder and to celebrate 150 years for me is a great joy, I can only thank God.

                                                                                                                                                         (Eva Ñahui)

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Father Palau's death reminds me of his living and dynamic legacy that he left to the Carmelite Missionary Sisters and to all of us who live Father Palau's charism, sharing a prayerful, fraternal and missionary life, building fraternity wherever we are. It renews my spiritual life to continue announcing the Gospel and commits me to be attentive to listen and attend to the needs of my near and distant neighbours with whom I share my gifts.

                                                                                                                                   (Mery Agustín Gutiérrez)

Celebrating 150 years since the death of Father Palau is a very beautiful experience, it opens a path of mission for me to serve our brothers and sisters who need us most and I am sure that we will accomplish all that we set out to do with the accompaniment of the sisters, the grace of God and the inspirations of the charism of Francisco Palau.

                                                                                                                                            (Miguelina Quispe)

Carmelite Missionary Sisters Peru.