The members of the Betania Foundation and the Betania Choir had many profound religious activities during Holy Week, hand in hand with the Church, offering her their support, presence and music in different parishes of the Capital City and Miranda State.
On April 14, 2019, Palm Sunday, with the repertoire of the Betania Choir they participated in the solemn Mass at Santa Rosalia Church in Caracas, accompanying Father Juan Carlos Silva. The event included a procession, blessing of the palms and prayer. At the end of the celebration, the leader of the Betania Choir, Professor Maria Auxiliadora Bianchini Leon, was invited to address a few words to the people, stressing on the importance of evangelizing, and supporting the Church and her priests. She also recalled the promise of the Blessed Virgin to her mother, the Servant of God Maria Esperanza, to bring reconciliation to Venezuela stating, “Our Lady Reconciler of All Peoples awaits us in the Sanctuary of Betania, with her message of reconciliation; first, to reconcile with Jesus, Our Lord; then with ourselves and with our families.”
On Holy Monday, they accompanied Monsignor Henry Padilla during the celebration of the Eucharist at 6:00 p.m. in La Caridad del Cobre Church, in Santa Paula, Caracas, where at the end of Mass they offered a short classical music concert. Monsignor Padilla requested: “May the Mother of Heaven always accompany you, so that you may continue your role as evangelizers and bearers of the message of peace, reconciliation and love.”
On Holy Wednesday, the parishioners of El Hatillo, in Caracas, moved the statues of the Nazarene, the Sorrowful Mother and St. John to the Bolivar Square, where the parishioners congregated to participate in an outdoor Mass, presided by His Excellency Bishop Jose de la Trinidad Valera Angulo and assisted by a large group of priests, deacons and seminarians, accompanied by the music of the Betania Choir.
On April 19, Holy Thursday, they traveled to the Sanctuary of Betania to participate at the 1:00 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the washing of the feet. The Eucharist was celebrated by the Rector of the sanctuary, Father Jhonfer Camacho, who said, “Our God is with us, especially at times of grieving and trial.” On the same day, the celebration of the Last Supper of the Lord, the 40th anniversary of the Betania Foundation, the 38th anniversary of the Betania Choir and the birthday of the leader of the choir Maria Auxiliadora was held at the facilities of the Sugar Mill in Betania.
On Good Friday, at the Sanctuary of Betania, parishioners and members of the Betania Foundation were invited by Mother Ana to hear a talk on the Prodigal Son by Mrs. Maria Gracia Bianchini Gebran. In addition, she shared her testimony of how she saw Our Lady on March 25, 1984, and remarked, “She (Mary) has taken us to Christ, that gentle maiden, so delicate, because if it had not been for her ‘yes’, we would not have had God come down to Earth among us. He came to teach us to share, to make decisions, to have mercy on others, to share what we can with others, as in these difficult times in which many people are giving a hand to their neighbor silently, truly choosing what is righteous, a true handshake without expecting anything in return.” Afterwards, the meditation on the Seven Words, the commemoration of the Passion of the Lord, the distribution of Holy Communion and the adoration of the Holy Cross took place.
On Holy Saturday, the Betania Choir accompanied Father Diego Hernandez during the ritual of the Easter Vigil of the Resurrection of the Lord at Santa Ana Church in La Lagunita, Caracas. Father Hernandez concluded his homily by saying: “May we find the light of Christ in the darkness of our night. At the end of our lives, may we meet with this eternal light: the Christ who lives and reigns gloriously forever and ever. Amen.”
