Despite the fact that Uruguay is the least Christian country in South America, I am amazed at the increase in piety whenever there is a Christian holiday to be celebrated. Its seems that even communists and atheists are converted, at least for the duration of the holiday. To show this piety, the majority of Uruguayans who are able gather in those parts of the country nearest to Jerusalem where the holy week events first place. This means that they force themselves to do penance in the hot sun on the beaches of Punta del Este and La Paloma.
Since I am Orthodox, my holy week comes a bit later and will probably be commemorated in a slightly different way.
Holy week, which is also known as Tourism Week (because everyone in the country tries to be a tourist this week), and by three or four other names I cannot remember, is the Uruguayan equivalent of US Labor Day weekend–it is the summer’s last hurrah and everyone tries to take a four-day holiday, if not the entire week. For the last time until Christmas Montevideo will become a virtual ghost town. Stores and restaurants will be closed and services will be hard to get.
This week is also only the second time since its inception in which our Thursday night Open House gatherings will be canceled. We will resume a week later on March 27.
To those of you Commemorating the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, I extend my prayers and best wishes.
Just a a little thought on this matter. In almost 30 years living hear, religion or ¨spirituality¨ is not, I would say a strong point of the Uruguayan people in general. Although you may ask any one on the street about their faith most would say there Roman Catholic. Of course most of them never go to mass. In most cases they just want you to piss of on the matter.
This has to do with there educational system and culture as well. They have been taught to fear and distrust religion in general. Certain phrases like ¨ Religion is for the weak ¨ ¨ Grandmas stuff ¨ was a pretty common en-grained thought. Government in this country has generally been very jealous for minds and hearts of the people(that is one of the reasons why they changed the name to tourism week).
But this has left a empty void in there lives… That why in these last years we have noticed surge in all things spiritual. People have have desire to find meaning in there lives. A spiritual purpose that goes beyond the difficulties and problems of there lives that takes them to something more substantial. As a evangelical pastor we have had steady growth in numbers since the last 6 or 7 years. More and more are open to talk about there spiritual needs and to make true commitments to our Lord Jesus Christ. And this in itself is a great blessing for this country, and thats a reason to celebrate!
P.S. Just found about this site recently. Love it , keep up the good work.
Left by JonathanSchisler on June 10th, 2008