During Holy Week, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, including Fr. Dan Callahan, SA, Fr. Jan Janoszka, SA, Br. Yasser Zamora, and three postulants, embarked on a mission to the Silva region of Peru. Often referred to as “the jungle,” the Silva is a lush and rugged landscape known for its coffee and potato cultivation. Within this forested terrain lies the rural village of St. John the Baptist, where the faithful live with great devotion to Christ even though they have only occasional access to clergy. The visit centered on celebrating the Paschal Triduum with this vibrant, predominantly indigenous Catholic community. In a church with a tin roof and humble surroundings, the liturgies became a powerful testament to the presence of Christ among the poor and remote.
Holy Thursday and Good Friday
Holy Week began with a solemn Holy Thursday Mass, including the traditional washing of the feet, where Fr. Dan and Fr. Jan reenacted Christ’s humble act of service. On Good Friday, they led the Veneration of the Cross, joining the community in meditating on the Passion of Christ. Many statues, including one of St. John the Baptist, were reverently covered until the Easter Vigil.
The Easter Vigil and the Light of Christ
The Easter Vigil on Saturday night was the spiritual high point. Fr. Dan led a candlelit procession beginning with the blessing of the Easter Fire, followed by the lighting of the Paschal Candle and the communal singing of “Light of Christ.” Parishioners — many of whom walked miles from neighboring pueblos — held candles aloft in a sea of flickering lights. The Gloria was sung, and electric lights illuminated the chapel in joyful celebration. The vigil included six of the traditional Old Testament readings, offered by local lectors who ordinarily guide the liturgy in the absence of a priest. These sacred readings led into the Epistle and the proclamation of the Resurrection.
Before Mass began, Fr. Dan offered two hours of confession, a sacred time of reconciliation. Earlier in the week, Fr. Jan had also heard many confessions. The witness of these men in their ministry offered a tangible sign of Christ’s mercy and presence.
Easter Morning: A Risen People
At dawn on Easter Sunday, the community gathered again to rejoice in the Resurrection. Fr. Dan celebrated Mass in the early morning light, surrounded by people who radiated hope and joy. The traditions of the people, such as women covering their heads out of reverence, and the use of solar-powered lights and speakers for overflow crowds, illustrated a faith that is both rooted in tradition and creatively adapted to modern realities.
A Family of Faith
The Friars were welcomed with heartfelt hospitality by the family of Indilicio, who hosted them for meals and guided them through the area. Their journey to and from St. John the Baptist involved muddy roads, breathtaking mountain vistas, and shared moments of reflection. Stops along the way included the historic Our Lady of Lourdes Church outside Huánuco, where they paused in prayer and admiration of centuries-old hand-painted murals.
A Reflection of Mission
This Holy Week pilgrimage was more than a liturgical journey — it was an encounter with the Body of Christ in its most tangible form. Among the hills and villages of the Silva, the Friars witnessed a resilient joy that lives in the hearts of the faithful. Though the setting was remote, the Spirit of the Risen Christ was unmistakably alive.
