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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 1 2 



usually are much smaller, although in some cases 

 the walls are of brick and the floor of cement. 

 At none of these smaller chapels, however, is there 

 a shelter for worshippers. 



SACRED FUNCTIONARIES 



The present padre, as has been indicated, does 

 not live in the village but comes over each Satur- 

 day from the seminary in a neighboring town 

 where he teaches during the other days of the week. 



He used to ride over on horseback ; since the re- 

 cent installation of the local bus line,=*' however, 

 he comes by bus. While in the village, he uses a 

 room in the rear of the church and takes his meals 

 at the fazenda, which lies at the edge of the village. 

 He returns to the seminary Sunday evening or 

 Monday morning. 



His predecessor was an older man who, until his 

 death about 2 years ago, had lived for many years 

 in the village. He appears to have been an espe- 

 cially able man, well liked and respected through- 

 out the community. "He was a mighty good 

 padre,^'' said a villager. "Everyone thought highly 

 of him. He wasn't above talking with anyone, no 

 matter who he was, and at festas he always had as 

 good a time as his people." "He never came near 

 you," said another villager, "without stopping to 

 chat a bit." 



The present padre is a younger man, about 33 

 years of age. He is somewhat shy and retiring. 

 His failure to participate heartily in festas as did 

 his predecessor and, due to being absent during 

 most of the week, to visit about the community 

 with local residents other than a few who assume 

 a prominent role in the activities of the church, 

 is adversely commented upon. "He means well," 

 said a farmer, "but he doesn't seem to be able to 

 put much life into festas.'" "He's a good man," 

 said a villager, "but we don't see much of him ex- 

 cept at Mass or in the processions." His youth 

 and lack of effectiveness in public address also re- 

 duce his prestige. "He's a good man," said a 

 farmer, "but he's too young." "He fulfills his ob- 

 ligations faithfully," remarked a villager, "but in 

 his sermons and when he reads from the gospels 

 he doesn't have that warmth of expression you 

 like to see." 



^'' See Transportation, p. 95, and Isolation and Contact, p. 104. 



Each Saturday evening the padre officiates at) 

 a resa ^^" and each Sunday morning at two Masses. 

 He is also present at the more important religious 

 festas and participates in the processions on these 

 occasions. On the "day of the Holy Kings" 

 (Epiphany) he passes through the village, "bless- 

 ing'' the homes of his parishioners and sprinkling 

 holy water in each room. On occasion, he also 

 "blesses" a new house which a local inhabitant has 

 erected and, on Palm Simday, branches of palm 

 brought in to the church by parishioners. 



Three local boys, serving as acolytes, assist the 

 padre at Mass and reza. They range in age from 

 9 to 14 years. Each is quite proud of his func- 

 tion. 



The capelao is a layman who, on request, directs 

 a religious ceremony at a private home, a wayside 

 cross or chapel or at the cemetery, repeating pray- 

 ers and chanting hymns. A capelao in the village 

 knows of 10 other persons in the community who 

 are capeldes. Nine of these, like himself, are 

 men. Several other persons act as assistants, in- 

 cluding a few women. None I'eceives any remu- 

 neration at any time. One of them explained : 



You become a capelao by learning from others. When 

 a small boy, I was always going to Mass and reza. My 

 mother also taught me many prayers. My father was a 

 capelao ami, when he died, my older brother became one. 

 One day, a neighbor asked him to say prayers at his house 

 and I went along to help him with the responses. My 

 brother told me I also ought to become a capelao. Not 

 long after that, they were having novenas at the Santa 

 Cruz. I went to see what I could do and I got along quite 

 well. Since that time, I too have been a capelao. 



On occasion, members of the Apostleship assist 

 the padre with religious activities. One of these 

 assumes an especially prominent role in festas, 

 especially in arranging the processions. Of her 

 activities, she says : 



I decorate all the andores (platforms for carrying 

 images) that are used in the processions. And when the 

 time comes, I help get everyone lined up and In order. 

 I put fresh flowers in the church each Sunday and I also 

 decorate it whenever there is a festa. At Mass, I take 

 up the offering and sometimes I help read the prayers. 

 When the Bishop came for the christening, the imdre 

 told me only the Sunday before that he would be here 

 on the following Wednesday. I asked the padre "What 

 can be done in so little time?" He said, "Do what you 

 can." Monday, I went to town and bought everything 

 I needed. I came home and made little paper pennants 

 to decorate the streets. I got flowers and put them in the 



=" See Mass, Reza, and Novena, p. 154. 



