On Saturday morning, June 22, 2024, there was Liturgy of the Word in the Basilica at 11:00 a.m. for the crew and fishermen of the Spanish Trawler Villa de Pitanxo which sank off our shores February 15, 2022.
Twenty one men were lost and just three were saved. Only nine bodies were recovered. The previous day there was an unveiling of a plaque and monument in their memory at Harbourside Park on Water Street and from that site there is a view of the Narrows and the Atlantic Ocean.
The Spanish Ambassador was present as well as family members of the deceased from Spain and Peru. Sr Rosemary Ryan was asked to assist Archbishop Peter Hundt with translation of the Liturgy and the roll call of the names of the deceased.
It was an emotional time for the family members as during the roll call a member of each family brought up a white rose, kissed it and laid it in front of a photo of their loved one near the altar rail.
Five Peruvians were among the lost and Rosemary was delighted to speak with them and to learn from one family that they are from Chiclayo and know Monsefú and Puerto Eten well. The families were very grateful for the Liturgy and Archbishop Hundt appreciated Rosemary’s assistance.
El sábado 22 de junio de 2024, a las 11 de la mañana, tuvo lugar en la Basílica la Liturgia de la Palabra por la tripulación y los pescadores del pesquero español Villa de Pitanxo, que naufragó frente a nuestras costas el 15 de febrero de 2022.
Se perdieron 21 hombres y sólo se salvaron tres. Sólo se recuperaron nueve cadáveres. El día anterior se descubrió una placa y un monumento en su memoria en el Harbourside Park de Water Street, desde donde se puede contemplar el Estrecho y el Océano Atlántico.
El embajador español estuvo presente, así como familiares de los fallecidos de España y Perú. Se pidió a la Hna. Rosemary Ryan que ayudara al Arzobispo Peter Hundt con la traducción de la Liturgia y el pase de lista de los nombres de los difuntos.
Fue un momento emotivo para los familiares, ya que durante el pase de lista un miembro de cada familia acercó una rosa blanca, la besó y la depositó delante de una foto de su ser querido cerca de la barandilla del altar.
Cinco peruanos se encontraban entre los fallecidos y Rosemary estuvo encantada de hablar con ellos y saber por una familia que son de Chiclayo y conocen bien Monsefú y Puerto Eten. Las familias se mostraron muy agradecidas por la liturgia y el arzobispo Hundt agradeció la asistencia de Rosemary.
In a world experiencing tremendous challenges – “a third world war fought piecemeal; the flood of migrants…; the burgeoning numbers of the poor; the threat of irreversibly compromising the health of our planet. To say nothing of all the difficulties we encounter each day, which at times risk plunging us into resignation or defeatism”, Pope Francis calls all of us “to embody and communicate the Gospel message of hope”.
We invite you to dowload and use our Reflection for your inspiration.
Our sisters and brothers in these areas and in other parts of our world are experiencing profound suffering on a daily basis. In his Easter message, Pope Francis urged the world to resist “the logic of weapons” and made a strong appeal for Gaza’s access to humanitarian aid and for an immediate ceasefire in the area.
Bahkita, who is also the patron saint of Sudan, her homeland, was kidnapped and sold into slavery at a very young age – a victim of human trafficking. Eventuaslly freed, she became a Canossian nun and was declared a Saint in 2000.
In remarks after the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis explained that the Year of Prayer is dedicated “to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer, prayer in personal life, in the life of the Church, prayer in the world.” He added that the Dicastery for Evangelization will be preparing materials to assist in celebrating the Year.