“Pizza is a sacred and spiritual act”

Monday, March 30, 2026 – San Juan de la Maguana

We have settled into the slower pace of life overseas.  We used to have this saying in Peace Corps that if you got one thing accomplished per day then that was enough.

Today we had mass planned for 6 pm in the cathedral – and we did that.  Whew!

We tried to find the post office and send postcards – but no luck.  We tried to make it to the outdoor market, but by the time we were ready to leave, we were told it was too hot for us to be out.

So, we settled in.  I taught Alfara the 12-year-old some more card games and how to shuffle.  Siri had some good downtime with Rivin where she confided that she has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer, which she says has gone well, and surgery is scheduled for nex week.  We are even more glad we came to visit now and just happened to move it up two weeks. 

You just never know everyone’s story – so best to slow down and let them tell you themselves.

Last night we did make it out to the festival – a bit too late to see the parade (Rivin said she really doesn’t like crowds and now her story puts that in context), but still with enough time to see the amazing costumes and the music acts.  We settle on a bench to see Sergio Vargas – a meringue legend from the 80’s and 90’s.  We find out later that while Rivin is a big fan, Fefen is not.

We make it to cathedral and this time I am ready with the Google translate app during the bishop’s sermon.  He actuallly talks slow and repititive enough we can get some of what is said ans the phone is translating about 60%.  As expected, this being Holy Week of Easter, he talks about the love of Christ and it is for everyone throughout the world – there are no exceptions.  We are pleasantly surprised that he calls out the United States and other states for starting wars that are killing people and espeically children – he reminds us that all life is valuable (Sort of our own mini No Kings Protest)  He then goes onto to talk about the role of the Church and how people need to come back to the church and attend daily church.  The Bishop is very animated as he preaches, so I look down on my phone and see it type out “…PIZZA is a sacred and spiritual act…” I look at Siri and we both giggle slightly, we are still in church.  I am thinking something got lost in translation or this is a bishop who is really trying to connect to the younger crowd. 

Later, as Siri is explaining this to Katy and Fefen, she fills me in on what it should have been.  “MISA (‘mass’) is a spritual and sacred act.”

Top bad – I was looking to see him connect this to “blessed are the cheese makers” or something else profound.