Jesuit Missions

We have reached the halfway point of language school and they gifted us with mid-term week long break. It only took me breaking into tears in my last class on Friday for my professor to give me homework for the break in the form of not speaking any Spanish while on vacation. I don't know what some students did but the majority of us partook of the school sponsored (though not paid for) pilgrimage to the Jesuit missions near Santa Cruz, to the east of Cochabamba. It was a five day jaunt to five different missions. For a quick and entertaining history on the missions watch the movie, The Mission with Jeremy Irons and Robert DeNiro. For a more in depth history read The Lost Paradise by Philip Caraman. For a just-tell-me history: in the 1700's the Jesuits set up communities in South America modeled after Thomas More's Utopia and they were incredibly successful at creating peaceful and productive pueblos that educated and empowered the natives. Unfortunately, the King of Spain was none to pleased with their influence and his lack of control over so he expelled them from the area less than a century after the missions were started. Thanks to the Franciscans, the missions have been restored and preserved. On our trip we got to hear three different children's choirs singing baroque-style music that has been recovered in the churches, and the instruments were handmade using the techniques that were taught by the Jesuits. Below are two pictures from the interiors of two different churches. The first is a sample of the artwork that covers the walls and ceilings of the churches.

This is the view from the back of a different church. This one was completely renovated with new techniques and very little remains of the original style. It was a beautiful church but I preferred the ones that were maintained more to their original glory.


I think my favorite part of the trip was the Palm Sunday procession. This structure below is home to Jesus on his donkey. On Palm Sunday people line the streets with their palm offerings. They were beautifully, and creatively woven to make all sorts of designs. The best one I saw was palms woven into the shape of a sheep. The Bishop of the diocese presided over the procession and mass. Everyone in the town walked the path to the church.

It was really touching to see everyone participating in this tradition and the church was completely packed with people. They were standing in the aisles and looking in through the windows. I wish that I could bottle the spirit of the people and bring it back to the States. I also liked that our group was scattered throughout the procession but I had no problem spotting everyone. It wasn't until that day that I realized how much we stick out. It was a great trip and a really good way to kick off Holy Week Bolivian style.