By: Fr. Arsenio Redulla, SCC
Arsenio (Dodong) Redulla, a Diocesan priest from the Diocese of Iligan, volunteered to work with the Columbans for three years. He was appointed to Chile. Subsequently, he decided to stay on for another three years. Here shares a little of his Chilean odyssey.
Off to Chile
From 1983 to 1989 I work as a volunteer missionary priest with the Columban Fathers in the Diocese of Iquique, Chile, South America.
Iquique
Iquique is a port city in the north Chile; it is about 2000 kilometers from the city Santiago, the capital of Chile. The Diocese of Iquique comprises the parishes within the city itself and the villages on the pre- Cordillera of Los Andes. Cordillera refers to the mountain ranges. There are around 60 villages which belong to the Diocese. The population varies; five to 50 families may live in the village.
4000 Meters Up!
To be able to reach some of the villages on the Cordillera one has to travel as far 250 kilometers or more; it takes a far 12 hours or even longer to travel, defending on time or season of the year. Some are located as high 4000 meters above the see level or even higher. The high altitude sometimes made me dizzy and it also causes nose bleeding.
The Aymara
The Aymara are indigenous people who live on the Andes Mountains in Bolivia, Chile and Peru. They used to live along the shores of Lake Titicaca which is situated between Peru and Bolivia. They had occupied these areas and had been there long before the arrival of the Spaniards.
Language Under Siege
The term Ayrama also refers to the language spoken by the people. In some areas the language is still widely spoken; It is still their first language. In others it is disappearing; it is bi lingual. The gradual disappearance of their native language is unfortunate because language is very important and very significant part of culture. Such painful reality weakens the cultural identity of the people who are already constantly confronted with and perpetually subjected to external forces and pressures. Yet, as a people in struggle they still manage to maintain their culture and identify as Ayramas.
Not so Simple
My work in Iquique involved working among the Ayrama people. My first interest in popular religiosity was revived. I felt challenged by their seemingly simple expression of faith which I realized afterwards was not simple as I first thought. Those people have been abandoned pastorally for various reasons of which politics was one. This area originally belonged to Peru until it was annexed to Chile when Peru-Bolivia lost to Chile during a war more than a hundred years ago.
Popular Devotions
It is also fascinating to learn that despite the lack of priest and catechists the Indians were able to hand down the faith to the next generations. Popular devotions are considered as one of the factor in keeping the faith alive. These people were able to invent some paraliturgical celebrations with out a priest. In fairness to the Spaniards missionaries they have left some religious practices, arts, and music, which also served for catechetical purposes.
Adoring the Llama
Some of the Cultural expressions of the Ayrama are very challenging: in fact they teach us. For example, their ritual of pouring a few drops of wine for Pachamama (mother earth) to express their care and gratitude for giving them nourishment may be a challenge for us care for the earth which is still ruthlessly exploited. The ceremony for adoring the Llama and the Alpaca (a sort of Llama) with colorful ribbons and laces on their necks may be a message for us when some animals are on the brink of extinction either because they are killed indiscriminate for profit or because their habitat is being destroyed.
In March 1989, I left Chile for Ireland where I worked with the mission promotion of the Columban Fathers. I was there for almost two years. It was as occasion for me to share with Irish people about the mission of the Columbans with whom I worked in Mindanao, Philippines, and in Chile. It was also an opportunity for me to thank the sending Church for their collaboration in the missionary activities in our sisters churches in many different parts of the world. Finally, to challenge the people that the Church is always missionary is, in self, a challenge for me as well.
The gradual disappearance of their native language is unfortunate because language is very important and very significant part of culture.