News - Prelature of Ayaviri - Celebration of Peruvian National Holiday in Ayaviri with Mass and Te Deum

the Eucharist, highlighted in his homily that "To speak of our country is to speak of the land of our fathers, of the legacy which is not only physical, material, and geographic…but at the same time all that rich human, moral and spiritual reality which we have vitally inherited: their values, the ideals for which they gave their lives, the faith they witnessed to, the high aspirations they discovered in their passage throughout this world, which they followed and which they taught us."

He also mentioned that despite "the diversity of languages, cultures, geographies, and ethnicities" which characterize Peru, their also exists a deep unity which makes us "all feel Peruvians, children of this country, brothers and sisters in a nation," and that this unity is often threatened by a multitude of conflicts and problems which are palpable to all and which await just solutions. It would be "easy to take recourse to complaints, protests, mutual accusations or even in reactions which arise from resentment, frustration or even hatred."

The Bishop made a strong call to unity, a unity founded on the fact that we are children of a common Father, we are brothers and sisters and should therefore help each other mutually, being jointly responsible for the future and destiny of the country. That is why "…if calumnies appear, let us know how to forgive from the heart. If there is injustice let us know how to dialogue. If there is a spirit of division let's search for the path of unity even more." At the end of his homily he said that God wanted the best for the country and he desires before all that there be peace in our hearts and in our families.

After the Eucharist the traditional Independence Day parade took place in Ayaviri town square. The Bishop together with the other local authorities applauded the different delegations who expressed their patriotism through this civic event.

Ayaviri, July 29 - A Mass and Te Deum were celebrated in the Cathedral of Ayaviri July 27 for the anniversary of Peruvian independence (July 28). The main civil, political and police authorities of the province used the occasion to give thanks to God for all his blessings and to ask for the peace and unity of all Peruvians and for the new government of Peru.

Bishop Kay Martin, who presided the