“Diospagarasunki” means
“thanks” or literally “May God pay you for it” in Quechua, the native language
of the Andes, including Peru. To me this expression holds a very profound
desire, it is as if one says: “I am so grateful to you, that that I am not capable to repay the wonderful
action that you have done for me and I, therefore, ask the Almighty that he
repay you with his abundant blessings.”
For that reason I say “Diospagarasunki” to the
Peruvian people who, for these six years, have taken me
into their hearts with such love. Each experience, each person that I
have encountered has helped me
grow as a human being. Thanks, because, with the
strength of your faith, you have helped me to have more faith in God. Thanks because you have teached me to have solidarity
for every person and to recognize each human being as a brother.
Now, I have arrived in Italy to continue my
service as a missionary, to love this people and the whole world. In these times many immigrants are arriving on
the shores of of Italy. The majority
are young people from different African countries, with a the desire
to better their life or, in many cases, in order to survive. They make a very dangerous trip in boat across the
Mediterranean Sea, a voyage that, unfortunately for many, takes them to their
death. Together, we are searching for ways to welcome them, not only with food
and shelter, but with love and fraternity, helping them to learn Italian,
assisting them in obtaining their documents so they can find work and in this
way help them move forward in their new life...
We are starting small, smiling. As many immigrants speak different languages
it is difficult to communicate, when we can’t find the words to
express ourselves we... smile, trying to convey with our eyes all the love that
we have in our hearts. It is in this way that Our Lord opens up my heart to love, not only the
Italian people, but also other new brothers. I feel “sent” to the African continent. I
have not had to travel the this continent to meet its people, but rather they
are knocking on our door.
I thank God and each human being that He allows me
to meet. I feel that these providential encounters and these experiences are helping me to see, to listen
and to love with the same feelings of Jesus.
I hope they help you too.
Diospagarasunki
P. José
Mariano
Translation from the original in spanish publised 19th of June 2014
