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Screen_shot_2013-02-19_at_4.26.29_PMThis year the Pallotine Sisters will celebrate 100 years of presence and outstanding services in Belize. The centennial of the arrival of four German sisters in Belize on March 17th is being celebrated under the theme "Grateful for the Past Hopeful for the Future." Presently there are 21 Pallotine Sisters in the country who will be paying tribute to their work with a number of activities taking place country wide. Here in Orange Walk and exhibit has been set up at the Banquitas House of Culture by the Pallotine Sisters. The exhibit, which was officially opened yesterday, speaks about the life of Vincent Pallotie and the work of the Pallotine Sisters in Belize.

Carmelita Perez reporting�

Imprinted in these photographs is the life of Vincent Pallotie the founder of the Pallotine Sisters. On the other hand these photographs speak about the years of work carried out by the Pallotine Sisters in Belize. While the pictures portray the life of different people, they have one thing in common. They are all on display at the Banquitas House of Culture in celebration of the Pallotine Sisters 100 years of presence in Belize.

Sister Consuelo Burgos- Provisional Superior Pallotine Sisters In Belize

"Last year and in January of this year we closed the canonization, the golden celebration, of Vincent Pallotie our founder who became a saint 50 years ago. We are also showing the pictures of our first sisters coming to Belize; how they travelled, how they first moved to our first place in Benque. They came in to Belize on March 17th but just when went right through to Cayo, Succotz and finally Benque Viejo and that where we began mission. So all these pictures show some of the beginning and also some of sisters working in all the districts."

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Nearly one hundred years ago on March 17th 1913 to be exact, 4 German sisters arrived in Belize and by way of the Belize River arrived in Benque Viejo Del Carmen. The sisters were to travel on the Titanic but somehow missed what was thought to be the unsinkable ship. Adamant to embark on their trip the sisters boarded another vessel without knowledge of where they would be headed. After traveling for many days the sisters arrived in America and while looking for work met a priest who brought them to Belize.

In October of 1913 the sisters started the house in Corozal and in 1931 the novitiate was constructed in Punta Gorda. But captured in these photographs is not only the history of the Pallotine Sisters but also some of their greatest achievements in Belize.

Sister Consuelo Burgos- Provisional Superior Pallotine Sisters In Belize

"Our sisters have a universal apostolate so whatever we do; we do for the glory of God. Whether it be in education, which is our big apostolate having Pollitie High School, pastoral ministry and nursing. When we first came here it was a lot of nursing, education, really running schools. Government asked that our sisters be in charge of taking care of schools across the country and a lot of our ministries at the beginning were about health care and education. We continue right now with mostly education pastoral work. As the sisters age and we become less capable then we move to different apostolate."

As the exhibit was officially declared opened to the public yesterday, it captured the attention of both young and old. Students of La Inmaculada Primary School listened attentively as Sister Adalberta Chuc explained in detail the life of Vincent Pallotie while Sister Consuelo Burgos spoke about the Life of the Pallotine Sisters in Belize.

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary an official mass will be held at Saint Joseph Parish in Belize City on March 10th and on March 17th the reenactment of the sister's arrival in Belie will take place in San Ignacio. This will be followed by a youth jamboree.

CTV3


Pallotine Sisters mount exhibit in Orange Walk


Pallotine Sisters exhibit

The Pallottine Missionary Sisters have mounted an exhibition at the Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk Town. Love TV's Dalila Ical reports.

LOVETV


PHOTOS: Centennial Celebration of the Pallottine Sisters in Benque Viejo

Today the Cayo District welcomed many faithful visitors and the Pallotine sisters for their Centennial Celebrations and re-enactment of their arrival.

The Centennial and arrival of four German sisters in Belize on March 17th,1913 is being celebrated under the theme "Grateful for the Past Hopeful for the Future".

Presently there are 21 Pallotine Sisters in the country who will be paying tribute to their work with a number of activities taking place country wide.

CLICK HERE to see more photos....


Pallotine Sisters by the Macal River


Pallotine sisters by the Macal River

The Pallotine Sisters celebrated their 100th anniversary in Western Belize this past Sunday. The event began as a group of sisters started their walk on the historic boat landing and departure area of the Macal River in San Ignacio Town. It was a hundred years ago that the founding Pallotine Sisters had to travel using basic modes of transportation such as the Cayo River Boat to get to the old "El Cayo Landing" with intent to provide services to the Cayo area.

In quiet modes of reflection to the route once taken by their predecessors, the Pallotine Sisters stopped in San Ignacio for a brief morning visit where they were welcomed by the Catholic faithfull and delegations from other parts of the country. Mayor John August took the opportunity to greet the sisters congratulating them for being exemplary models to Belizean women. The sisters then stopped in San Jose Succotz where they were met by the local marching band and a large number of villagers. The experience for the Pallotine Sisters continued in Benque Viejo, where several of them took to riding a horse- powered device for over a mile in distance. The townspeople followed along with the Sisters, to end at the local High School Auditorium, where an open mass was held. A sign hung on the side of a house nearby announced, "Welcome Back to Benque, Pallotine Sisters".

It was in 1913, that a group of sisters from Germany began their process of adapting to a new culture and climate and in the ensuing century, their followers went on to contribute greatly to Social Welfare and Education. In the 1920, the Pallotine Mission built a convent in San Ignacio, where the sisters were stationed and from there labored selflessly. A similar pattern of mission was established in Benque Viejo, where the Pallotine Convent still stands.

The Guardian


100 years of sanctity with the Pallottine Sisters

The Pallottine Sisters on Sunday celebrated one hundred years of working in Belize since the arrival of four young nuns in 1913. The order is small, but its achievements are many, especially in the area of education. The sisters were German, but settled in Benque Viejo Del Carmen where they taught English to the mostly Hispanic community. Today, because of the challenges of finance and human resources, the Pallottines maintain a presence only in Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize City and Punta Gorda, but their sprit and works have inspired the entire country. In celebration on Sunday the sisters and many of the faithful performed a re-enactment of the first arrival on March seventeenth, 1913. Freelance reporter Mike Rudon was in Cayo on Sunday and has the story.

Hector Silva Sr., Historian

Hector Silva Sr.

"On the seventeenth of March, 1913, four nuns that left Germany came to the United States looking for a place where to mission. They landed somewhere in New York and they met a priest that was serving in Belize, vacationing up there. This father was Father Bersabel, and so Father Bersabel told them look, Belize needs missionaries, and they came to Belize City and from there they reported to the Mission that was there, and they said look, the West needs, so they came by riverboat, the old riverboats that brought cargo and people. They came and they landed in San Ignacio at the old boat wharf that they called El Cayo landing."

Mike Rudon, Reporting

One hundred years ago the four nuns on a mission of spreading the word of God and serving the community must have been greeted with excitement and anticipation. Today as they performed the re-enactment of landing in el Cayo they were welcomed with open arms by the faithful who showed their appreciation for the many good works of the sisters.

Hector Silva Sr.

They came through this road and they came to Benque Viejo, but they stopped somewhere here, because at the time this was small villages."

Where they stopped on that fateful day one hundred years ago was San Jose Succotz, and today they were escorted with great pomp, ceremony and spirit to the Roman Catholic Church in the community. Onlookers and residents lined the streets with signs and banners expressing their appreciation and love for the nuns.

Hector Silva Sr.

"They came here and then they proceeded to Benque Viejo, and they were received by the people there in huge numbers."

The passing of the years did not diminish the welcome, or the mood, which was a curious mix of reverence�and celebration.

Hector Silva Sr.

"And so they established themselves there at some very old little thatch houses and so, and eventually they built a convent."

In Benque, thenuns were greeted by Mayor Nicholas Ruiz, who gave them the symbolic keys to the city, and the journey then ended at Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School, where a special mass was planned to highlight and celebrate one hundred years of service.

Rocio Carballo

Rocio Carballo, Vice Principal, Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School

"An occasion like this is extremely memorable for Benque Viejo, since this is an occasion that many of us will not be able to see again. We know Benque is an extremely religious place, and the people do practice their faith, do evangelize, and the Pallottines coming here I think is manifesting that indeed we welcome everything that comes from our Lord, and the religious aspect of everything, it started here, and it continues here, and it is alive."

That spirit was alive today, and present at every stage of the re-enactment of a remarkable journey, and a remarkable century of service, sharing and community. Mike Rudon for News Five.

In Friday's newscast the Pallottine Sisters discuss the challenges they face in today's world, and the hope and faith they hold strong despite those challenges. Be sure to tune in.

Channel 5

Thank You, Pallotine Sisters

BY: Hernan Ochaeta

With very grateful hearts and nostalgic memories, we have begun the celebrations marking the one hundred years of service by the Pallotine Sisters to the people and country of Belize.

It was on June 2, 1921 that the first four Pallotines arrived in San Ignacio, known then as El Cayo. These four German nationals were Sisters Dominica, Radigundis, Sebastiana and Veronica. They had left their families, homes and country to serve us, mainly as teachers in our primary schools of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. Over the years, these four pioneers were joined and succeeded by others, including our own Belizean Pallotines.

Hundreds of us - our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our aunts and uncles, our cousins and friends, our own parents and grandparents - were touched by the positive influence of these committed followers of Vincent Pallotti.

And they knew so much!

They taught the traditional classroom subjects. They taught vegetable gardening behind the convent. The girls learned sewing and other related skills. The boys learned woodwork and the making of statues and figurines. They encouraged the arts - dancing, drawing, painting, singing, acting and public speaking.

And for the majority of students in the 30's, 40's and 50's, the formal academic training received from the Pallotines may have been the only one in their lifetime. But it was exceptional! In the pre-Hawkesworth Bridge and pontoon days, with the flooded Macal River during the rainy season, those assigned to the Santa Elena School braved the risen waters in wooden dories to comply with their teaching duties.

And with their wise, professional guidance and strong commitment to education, their equally dedicated classroom aides emerged - Juanita Saldivar, Ruth Ochaeta, Rosalia Awe, Dalila and Hilda Bejos, Marcelina Castillo, Julia Requena, Laures Llinas, Teresita Harrison, Julia Rodriguez, etc.

They and their aides taught in the days and years when teaching was a vocation - not an occupation. Words are too pale and too poor to thank the Pallotine Sisters adequately for all their work and their sacrifices in the western vineyard of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, as well as our entire Belize.

May God reward them!

The Star

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