Focus on the Xaverian Effort in Bolivia
The following is a reflection from
Edgar Bonilla. A graduate of the Brothers' Teacher Training School, Edgar was one of the first lay teachers at Carmen Pampa in the 70's and returned to the Colegio in 1996.One basic factor that impacted my life and pointed out the road I was to follow in life was my entrance to the Xaverian Brothers' Colegio San Francisco Xavier in 1965.
As a young person coming from the town of Guanay*, from a middle class family of scarce resources, with five younger brothers and sisters, being accepted at the Brothers' school meant salvation from an uncertain future, since, at that time, only five out of a hundred young people ever succeeded in studying due to economics and the condition of the roads. There weren't any!
During those days, I had the opportunity and good fortune to know the first Brothers to arrive in Bolivia. I can remember Brothers Julian, Thomas Aquinas, Gerald, Dreux, Paul of the Cross and Marian. But those who left a profound influence on me were Brother Nilus and Brother Loyola, (today called Brother Martin).
Five years of study, in very close contact with the Brothers, allowed me to get to know the Xaverian charism. How do I understand this charism? In a very simple way, I see it as the life of the Brothers. Above all, it is their spirit of handing themselves over completely to their ministry, their deep knowledge of young people, their understanding of the needs of young people, and their religious spirit which is reflected in their acts of Christian and fraternal love.
Brother Nilus used to like to get to know, to share, live with, and above all WORK with each of us. What I miss are the trips he would take with us by canoe back to my hometown of Guanay. I also remember an occasion with Brother Loyola when I told him that I had thoughts of embracing the religious life. He knew me better than I knew myself and nearly died laughing! Then he told me with great seriousness that he would support me. And he did so. However, time would show that the course of my life was not the religious life.
As a colleague of the Brothers, I had the opportunity to know them very closely and to understand what they pursue in the formation of young people. My last experience with the Brothers, (Brother Edward and Brother Daniel) and with Sister Christine convinced me that my call was to teach but to teach with that charism that the Brothers have.
I only wish that I were able to say that I have the same charism of the Xaverian Brothers! However, I do have the confidence of following them and doing what they taught me to do: to love, to share and to live in the Spirit of God.
Edgar Bonilla Paniagua
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*Guanay: is a mining town to north east of Carmen Pampa located on the River Zongo. Formerly one reached Guanay only by boat-balsa dugouts! Click here to return to the article.