On 11 January, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Cochabamba, Bolivia, there was a thanksgiving Mass for the 100th anniversary of the pontifical approval of the Teresian Association.
Archbishop Oscar Aparicio presided and two other bishops and several priests concelebrated. Elizabeth Saucedo gave an introduction in which she explained what pontifical approval meant to the Association. She also pointed to the features that define the charism of the Association. Elisa Estévez, a member of the General Council, was present at the ceremony.
During the liturgy there was singing and dancing. The congregation was made up of TA members, friends, co-workers and neighbours of the TA here. For the offertory, we offered some fruits of the earth and of the educational and social mission being carried out by the TA in Bolivia since 1943.
In his homily, the archbishop said that it was important to celebrate events in the local Church. He felt honoured to preside as archbishop, and he thanked the Teresian Association for its presence there and its evangelising service. He was impressed, he said, by how quickly it had taken root. He stressed that the seed also grew because of the life of its founder who gave his life as a martyr. He then commented on the Gospel in which Jesus says, ‘you are salt and light’. This is well expressed in the vocation and charism of the TA.
The Mass was broadcast live on radio and television by the Servicio de Capacitación en Radio y Televisión para el Desarrollo (SECRAD) de la Universidad Católica Boliviana, Unidad Académica de Cochabamba. A video of the broadcast can be seen here.
TA Info.
TA Translation Team.
Published in News