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2004
Visit to Guatemala
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On
June 22, 2004, nine members of St.
Mary’s, including Father Tom, were on
our way to visit San Pedro Jocopilas,
Quiche, Guatemala. San Pedro Jocopilas
is St. Mary’s sister parish.
Father Tom and one
other member of our little group had
visited San Pedro before. The rest of us
were completely unaware of what the trip
has in store for us. You might say that
we were pilgrims in a strange country. A
few of us had taken a Basic Spanish
course just before leaving. We learned
words and verbs now all we had to do was
put them together. Not easily done but
we did get by! The folks in San Pedro,
of Mayan decent, speak Quiche and some,
mostly the men, speak Spanish. |
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After landing in
Guatemala City we walked a short
distance to a Guest House for a nights
rest. The next morning we were driven to
San Pedro. We could hardly contain
ourselves! There were exclamations of
joy as we were driven up the road
approaching San Pedro and our eyes
feasted on the snow white façade of the
newly restored church of San Pedro. (The
church had been partially destroyed
during the 30 year Civil War when the
military used the church for their
headquarters carrying out torture and
massacres in the building and by an
earthquake.) The restoration was carried
out with help from St. Mary’s. Seeing
the completed restoration was extremely
moving.
Upon our arrival
we were welcomed by Padre Juan Vasquez,
pastor, who was recovering from a recent
automobile accident. His smile, vitality
and energy masked his discomfort.
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There in San
Pedro we witnessed customs and
ceremonies incorporating Mayan
traditions with Catholic traditions. We
ate, sang, danced, laughed and prayed
with a Mayan community that has endured
much hardship, indignity and poverty yet
their faith, their friendship, their
pride in their heritage radiates from
their inner being. The experience is one
that none of us will easily forget.
When it
was time to depart we were sent on our
way with music and hugs; wishing us well
with an invitation to return.
One comes
away from such a profound experience
with the awareness of us not me;
how together we can accomplish great
things; overcome the many prejudices
that separate us; to understand the real
meaning of solidarity—we walk
the path together… |
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