BLESSING OF THE CROSS & CONSECRATION OF CENTRAL AMERICA November 27th

 November 27, 2014After receiving authorization from Monsignor Rolando Alvarez, Bishop of Matagalpa, for the Mission to work in that Diocese and directly with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the Mission’s team in Nicaragua was present, as special guests for the Mass, Blessing of the Cross in the Mountain of Apante and the Consecration of Central America to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The day began with Holy Mass in an open field, presided by Monsignor Jose Domingo Ulloa, Archbishop of Panama, to commemorate the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Diocese of Matagalpa. Bishops of the Episcopal Secretariat of America, parish priests and religious men and women of the Diocese were present, along with over 7,000 people who received communion under the sun. The most emotionally charged moment of the Mass occurred when the Apostolic Nuncio, Fortunatus Nwachukwu, who greeted the crowd on behalf of Pope Francis, officially baptized the Mountain of Apante where an enormous cross was built at the peak, as “Mountain of Peace”. The change of name caused the thousands of those present to cheer loudly.After Mass, the crowd began their pilgrimage up a steep path to the Mountain of Peace… to the foot of the cross, located about 10 kilometers from the city of Matagalpa. Once at the cross, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Archbishop of Managua and President of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua, along with the Bishop of Matagalpa, Monsignor Rolando Alvarez, blessed the cross and consecrated Central America to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Patricio Slim, Vice President of the Mission, and representatives of the Mission in Nicaragua, along with Bishops of all the Central American countries were present to witness this magnificent and historical event. All the Bishops prayed the consecration prayer together as each was consecrating their respective countries to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, thus consecrating the entire region!The project, Mountain of Peace consists of a 33-meter high cross, with a beautiful 12-meter high image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the base, executed by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. The event was not only broadcasted live by almost all national television channels and radio stations, but also internationally by EWTN.The next step for the Mission in Nicaragua will be to meet with Monsignor Rolando Alvarez, Bishop of Matagalpa, who will indicate which Parishes we will be able to begin working.