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CAM SVD Celebrate 150 Years with Family Fair in Chiriquí
The celebration began with a solemn Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Monsignor Luis Enrique Saldaña Guerra, OFM, who offered prayers of gratitude for the history and mission of the Congregation. In his homily, the bishop congratulated the Divine Word Missionaries for their tireless evangelizing and pastoral work, encouraging them to continue being brave witnesses of God’s love and hope.
Concelebrating with the bishop were several SVD priests, including Fr. Mateo Yeng, SVD, Superior of the Central American Region (CAM), who addressed the community with words of gratitude. “This celebration is an opportunity to renew our missionary commitment and continue being light in the midst of our realities,” he expressed with joy and thankfulness.
The pastor of San Francisco de Asís, Fr. Alberto Kobha, SVD, also offered a message of appreciation to all who made the event possible, highlighting the collaborative efforts of volunteers, sponsors, and families committed to the mission. Fr. Mauricio, OFM, former pastor of the community, gave an emotional greeting to the SVD missionaries and encouraged those present to nurture missionary vocations and continue sowing the Gospel with generosity and dedication.
Following the Mass, the Verbita Family Fair unfolded as a space for community fellowship, bringing together expressions of culture, gastronomy, art, and fraternity. Families enjoyed dance performances, music, and singing, recreational activities for children, and a wide array of booths offering traditional foods, vegetables, agricultural products, handicrafts, books, SVD Bibles, and a parish bazaar with assorted items. The event also featured the highly anticipated “bingo regalón,” promoting wholesome fun and family unity.
More than just a festive gathering, the Fair was a genuine testimony of communion between the missionaries and the communities they serve. In every detail of the event—from the Eucharist to the cultural showcases—the missionary spirit that has defined the Congregation since its founding in 1875 by St. Arnold Janssen was powerfully present.
