My room

Here is a photo of my room and one of my house. I have my own door on the side. Probably the best part about it is the tree right outside which shades my entire room for most of the day, keeping things cool. A great blessing in this tropical land!!

The Patronales

Here is a short log of my first experience with the Patronales, an important celebration here in Banica. The Patronales is roughly 9 days of celebration culminating in the feast of St Francis on October 4th. Everything started on the 24th of September with a procession up to a cave near Banica where many people believe St Francis appeared. Two processions (one from banica and the other from Pedro Santana) met up and processed with statues to the base of the hill leading up to the cave. The picture gives you an idea of how many people participated...and these were just locals!


Here is an image from inside the cave. People come from Banica, the surrounding campos, the capital, from places far away or even from Haiti. The pilgrims come witha promise to fulfill. Some may have promised to climb up to the cave barefoot, or to rub the dust from the cave on their faces or wear franciscan garb etc... While Banica is full of people who are in town just to see family, experience the spectacle and/or party, many do come truly as pilgrims and their faith is very moving and real. Do they love St Francis and Our Lady!! Though I did witness the danger of people honoring St Francis without giving Our Lord His due, I definitely saw that the cult of the saints is alive and well here, and something that this culture understands.