CCST welcomes Guatemalan delegation Sept 19-26

Five of the eight delegates (top row, from left): Luz del Mar Herrarte,

Luis Conrado Pinchilla, Mario

Rene Franco, Estela Cristales; (second row): Roel Peralta.

An eight-member delegation from the Diocese of Santa Rosa will visit five parishes in the Diocese of Metuchen Sept. 19-26 in the biggest visit from Guatemala in the six-year history of the Global Solidarity Partnershp between both dioceses.

Diocesan pastoral leaders Roel Peralta and Luz del Mar Herrarte are joined by pastoral specialists Mario Rene Franco, Luis Conrado Pinchilla and Estela Cristales, along with three Santa Rosa priests for the visit, Fathers Walter Salazar, Romeo Davila and Albin Alvarado.

The delegates are scheduled to arrive Saturday evening, Sept. 19 at Newark Liberty International Airport, where they will be greeted by representatives from CCST and Queenship of Mary Parish, Plainsboro, where the Guatemalans will be hosted for their first three nights in the diocese.

Visit highlights include:

Sunday, Sept. 20 Fellowship and meetings at Queenship of Mary Parish, Plainsboro

Monday, Sept. 21 Culture Day in Philadelphia

Tuesday, Sept.22 Tour of diocesan offices, meeting with Bishop Bootkoski, Piscataway

Afternoon visit to St. Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick

6pm dinner and fellowship meeting with CCST, New Brunswick

Wednesday, Sep. 23 Day hosted by St. Bernard's Parish, Bridgewater

Two delegates in the care of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Monroe Twp.

Thursday, Sep. 24 Delegation split between St. Charles Borromeo, Skillman and St. Joseph Parish, Hillsborough

Friday, Sept. 25 CCST Leaders' Planning Meeting with delegates, Sea Bright, NJ

Remainder of tour in care of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Port Reading

Saturday, Sept. 26 departure from Newark Liberty International Airport

Check back to the blog for updates and photos.

UPDATE: Team arrived on time at Newark Airport and all were welcomed warmly by representatives from Queenship of Mary Parish at a late-evening gathering.