One of
the weekend viajes (trips) we went on
during our Argentinean excursion was the trip to Iguazú. The group departed on
a 16 hour bus ride with the hope of seeing some amazing sights, which fortunately
was exactly what we did. Las Ruinas de San Ignacio de Mini were stunning to me for a few good reasons ill explain later.
First, some background information about the ruins. Of the 30 Jesuit Missions that are conserved in Northeastern Argentina, San Ignacio de Mini is the largest and best preserved. Because of such cultural importance, the UNESCO has declared this place a World Cultural and Historical Heritage Site. A large portion of the original structure has been conserved and restored almost perfectly, while other sections are still in the restoration process.
I found the level of restoration and conservation to be utterly fascinating. But, most of all, when I strayed away from the group and really examined the red stone and architechture, I pondered how these building came to be and who built them. In the answer lies the humanity in the issue of the Jesuit Missions. Was it right for the Jesuits to spread their belief if it meant changing the culture of the natives (guarani)? There are a lot of elements to take into account when discussing this issue, but I think that although the Jesuits were certainly a lot nicer than the conquistadores, the culture was nearly destroyed. The style of converting people to the Jesuit belief in Argentina is very to the style of Jesuit teachings in los Estados Unidos (the US). I feel as though the Jesuits at Brophy have taught me to embrace other cultures and be open to new concepts. I wish that the Jesuits who started missions involved more of the native culture in their mission. This might have saved a culture that will be missed by humanity.
In conclusion, the ruins were an extremely interesting experience for me. It was so cool to see some of the Jesuit symbols, such as IHS, in their most ancient form. But, the striking reality of the destruction of a culture somewhat took away from the experience and made me think about the humanity of the issue. I am excited to take my experiences from the ruins back to Brophy and share them with my fellow classmates and teachers. The tricky issue of religious missions and the conversion of groups of people is an unseen topic in the Brophy classroom that I would like to see change.
The well maintained and restored entrance to the main plaza.
A side view of the red stone pillars.
by Jordan Brewer '10
