“It was a time of great emotion, accompanied by nostalgia, a mild nostalgia”
Commemoration of the 5th. Anniversary of the departure of Father Ignacio on October 27 and 28, 2018 in Santiago de Chile organized by the TOV PIL Foundation.
Guides from different parts of the world were present: Colombia, United States, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Spain, Philippines, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Paraguay, England, Portugal, Mexico and Venezuela.
As Father Ignacio always taught, the way of prayer is what leads us “from the enchantment of God to the enchantment of life,” those days of commemoration could have no other beginning than prayer. Thus, on the morning of Saturday 27, the Guides lived a desert in places where Father Ignacio often went to pray. About 240 Guides went to Curve 21 on the road to Farellones, and 80 Guides to Cajón del Maipo.
On the same day of October 27, in the Villa Maria Academy School, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., there was a Prayer Vigil, led by Sarita Gutierrez. Before the beginning of the Vigil itself, there was the presentation of a song in Homage to Padre Ignacio, whose lyrics was written by a Venezuelan Guide and is part of the booklet, “Florecillas, Spiritual Notebook,” published in commemoration of the 89th anniversary of the birth of Fray Ignacio. The music and arrangement were done by Ignacio Aranda and Monica de Pablo. The whole Vigil took place in a climate of deep and exciting prayer, remembering conversations, prayers, songs, prayer methods. After the Vigil the family gathered for a time of fraternization, accompanied by snacks and refreshments.
On Sunday 28, the commemorative Mass was held, at the San Antonio de Padua Church, where the celebrant was the Fray José Miguel, who informed us that Fray Ignacio had been the parish priest there. At the end of the Homily, with great emotion and joy all of those who were present, listened as Fray José Miguel, the Provincial of the Capuchins of Chile, informed us that following the regular procedures of the Order, it had been decided to begin the Cause before the Congregation of Saints.
On the afternoon of October 28th, many Guides visited the tomb of Father Ignacio in the Parque del Recuerdo Cementery, and others attended the previously scheduled visit to the remodeling work at the Foundation House.
