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Writer's pictureSébastien Bangandu

My immersive experience in Mexico

I had a good experience with my Assumptionist brothers in Mexico learning the language, the culture, and participating in the mission with them for almost three months. I was in Calmeca, Puebla from June 8 to June 15 doing mission with the youngsters and adults and talking to them about vocation.


The people are generous, kind, and sociable. We arrived in Calmeca on Saturday and on Sunday, we presented ourselves to the parish priest, Father Enrique. There were a lot of people attending the Sunday Mass and many altar servers serving the Mass. The parish priest gave us permission to organize activities and participate with people in their daily tasks.


I enjoyed running and playing soccer with the youngsters. On Thursday afternoon, we had adoration, we prayed and listened to music with the community. On the following day, we visited the sick. It was a good experience for me. After Calmeca, I went with the brothers (Eduardo, José, and Rafael) to Zapoapan, Veracruz. We had a week of mission from June 15 to June 22.

I went afterward to Tlilapan, Veracruz for one month. On the first week, I participated in an annual retreat with my Assumptionist brothers. We spent and enjoyed our time together praying, reflecting, and living our brotherhood.


I treasured my time with my Assumptionist brothers. In the following weeks, I worked at the center called “The House of Mercy” in Orizaba from Monday to Friday, helping to prepare food for the migrants. In the afternoon, I had class with a teacher named Filomena to improve my Spanish.


There was the town feast during my stay in Tlilapan. The patron saint of the parish is Saint James the Apostle. The feast began on July 23 and finished on July 28. After the Mass on July 23, people put in front of the main entrance of the church a handmade and decorative façade.


After the people finished putting up the façade, there was food for everyone including the beer and entertainment. Everyone was entertained by a person carrying a pyrotechnic bull. The following day, the community gathered in the church to change the vestment of Saint James. They incensed and danced around him.

On the morning of July 25, the people gathered in front of Oxxo to receive Bishop Eduardo. He celebrated the Mass honoring the Patron Saint of the town. The parishioners showed their devotion to Saint James by decorating the Church. Also, they showed how excited they were to receive the bishop with a handmade carpet inscribing, “Welcome to Tlilapan Bishop Eduardo.”


The atmosphere of the town was filled with joy. The two sides of the street were filled with vendors and games. The town feast continued until Sunday. On Sunday, there were other communities that pertain to our parish came to Tlilapan for Mass. In the evening, there were boxing matches and music as well.


From August 18 to 25, I participated in the pilgrimage with people from the United States, France, Canada, and Mexico. It was an enriching and unforgettable experience. Toward the end of the pilgrimage, on the Saturday of August 24, we participated in the Mass of final vows of Brother Rafael Huerta.

The last part of my experience in Mexico was in the community of San Andres. I participated in the activities of the community as well as the parish. I accompanied some of the fathers in the celebrations and I liked very much the commitment of the Assumptionist brothers in the parish ministry and the general atmosphere in this town located in the southern part of Mexico City.


Those were some of my experiences in Mexico. I give thanks to God and my Assumptionist brothers. Hopefully one day, there will be more young people who will join our community and our Assumptionist brotherhood.

Hno Binh Nguyen, a.a.



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