Today is the last Sunday of the Church Year, the Feast of Christ the King. This day reminds us that God is in church, not earthly kings or presidents or political parties or whatever. God is in charge, and Jesus is Christ the King of the Universe.
In Honduras, this day is the feast day of the Delegados de la Palabra, Delegates of the Word, who run our churches.
Delegados de la Palabra are men and women of the parish who receive special formation to lead their communities. They: prepare and celebrate Liturgies of the Word on Thursdays and Sundays; conduct funerals and novenas following deaths; visit the sick; baptize infants who are in danger of death; celebrate Quinceañeras; care for the buildings of the church community; complete necessary paperwork for sacraments such as Baptisms, Confirmations, Weddings; and the like. They also ensure that their community has catechists to teach the faith to children, youth, and adults. In cases where the community does not have catechists, Delegados step and in meet the catechetical needs of the people. Delegados also ensure that the community has music for liturgies, well-prepared lectors, and that on days when a priest comes to celebrate Mass, everything is ready. They are the official Catholic presence in their communities, and in some respects, they are like “priest-extenders.” Without them, the Catholic Church in Honduras and many other Latin American countries would be in sad shape.
The photo above is of Norbin Ortiz, a Delegado of Costita, a community of Curarén. The name of the Costita church is Our Lady of Suyapa.