December 3 Our Journey in Solidarity took us to historical sites of the early Dominicans in Morelos, Mexico.
We left Cuernavaca in our CCIDD blue van, all 13 of us. Vicente from CCIDD staff was our driver. It was about 75 minutes to arrive at OAXTEPEC. The nine visitors plus Renesa Tang Pack, Internatioanl Domincan Volunteer with us in Cuernavaca and Aline Ussel OP, our guide. In the small village of Oaxtepec we entered the ex convent of the Dominican Friars from around 1528. We were given a tour and the key elements of the restored facility were explained. The Dominicans were assigned these regions to the west of Cuernavaca as the Franciscan friars stayed in Cuernavaca and the closer communities. Frescoes in color were still in place on the ceilings in most areas. The structure is a large two store building with wide cement and stone walls and pillars. It is square with the open courtyard in the center. On the first floor was the de Profundis hall and the dining room. In the dining room we were able to see a partial drawing of Jesus with the thousands and the multiplication of the loaves. Outside in the courtyard on the pillars there were life size frescoes of many saints, tha majority being Dominican saints. These were quite striking in their clarity after some 475 years. Each corner had on the walls drawings barely visible of scripture scenes of the life of Jesus. The second level housed their large dormitories where each friar had plenty of space a magnificent view outside.
currently the facicilty is used by the community for children's religious education classes as well as a public library.
The church structure Sister Aline explained well for us. The interior is Gothic in a pure style. It is stark and austier. The original sanctuary and altar had been replaced with a more modern neo classic strusture. There were only a few statues, one being St. Dominic. This church and convent are known to be the first or one of the first of the Dominican institutions in Mexico. The museum was used for education for the community and had several displays of medicinal plants, small animals and insects in the area. Children are givien information on distinct poisonous insects to avoid and plants to be used for healing. Tourist come to the area. It is good to sees the community using the facility.
Later we traveled about 20 minutes to another village in Morelos, Tepoztlan. Sister Aline gave us a tour of the church and museum/ ex convent of the friars. This structure was developed a little later than that in Oaxtepec.
This convent had simple frescoes in the ceilings in the walkways. the one room which was the dining room had frescoes of various Dominican saints. It also was a two story structure. It was known that many more friars lived in Tepoztlan. Being imersed in the midst of the mountains, the views were stunning from the second floor. The church facade was the most interesting with the mixture of religious and Indigenous spiritual images. Inside there were varios clothed statues, a lovely Pieta, carved in wood. Mary's face was filled with anguish as she embraced her son. Jesus taken down from the cross. Another modern and valuable piece of art at the church in Tepoztlan is the mural design at the entrance to the plaza in front of the church. there is a gigantic mural all made with a variety of seeds, differnt sizes and colors. It shows the Aztec histoy as well as the presence of the Dominicans in the parish. Each year the mural is redone after the rainy season.
As Dominicans we appreciated the opportunity to walk where our ancestors have walked and pray in their space as well. Today both churches are ministered by diocesan priests. We enjoyed a delicious meal in the market, eating tacos, tlacoyas, and drinking horchata. What a grand journey into our past to know the places and persons who have gone before us.
Journey of Solidarity in Mexico
Cuernavaca
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