Parishes benefit from 'sistering'

At times, the eyes of Rev. Clemente Peneleu Navichoc of Guatemala, reflect pain -- as when he recalls the years when his church was used as a torture chamber by the military.

At other times, his eyes are wistful -- as when the Catholic priest, who is also indigenous Mayan, reflects on his dreams for helping to end the wide-scale oppression and poverty of his people.

Mostly, however, his eyes reflect a joy of life and a love of God. Father Clemente was at St. Mary's Church in Crescent last week, visiting the parish that has twinned with his impoverished congregation for two years as a "sister parish" -- to the benefit of both (see separate story).

Benefits

Speaking through an interpreter, the pastor of San Pedro Jocopilas parish in the El Quiche Diocese of Guatemala, said that the "most direct benefit" of being paired with St. Mary's has been "the feeling of solidarity" between the diverse parishes.

"Being able to return home and share with my people the spirit of caring, commitment, acceptance and understanding that I have found here will, in itself, help to relieve some of the suffering," he said. "I can excite them with the confidence that not all white-skinned foreigners are like those they have seen or heard about before. I hope they will also share the feeling that we are truly connected with a larger parish, led by a pastor who possesses a profound spiritual presence."

Father Clemente paused, then added apologetically: "I am sorry for what have said about the whites. I do not wish to hurt or offend, but in my country there is such a long history of white strangers lying to and taking advantage of [the native people], mostly through political tools and corporate strategies."

Distrust of whites

He said skepticism and distrust of white foreigners grew steadily over the years because they often "masked over" what they were doing.

"They were very diplomatic as they took away our land and other things that we valued," he explained. "Because of this, it has been hard for many in my region to trust white-skinned foreigners. I think, though, that the bonds of friendship we are forging now between our two parishes at the grassroots level is helping to rebuild that trust. The people are learning that not all whites are like the ones who came before."

Father Clemente said his goal while visiting Crescent was to help the people of St. Mary's "become more sensitive to the situation in San Pedro, to touch their hearts and to open their eyes to the harsh conditions that are a reality of life in my land."

Seeing America

During his two weeks with Father Broderick, Father Clemente took two out-of-state trips: to Vermont to visit a monastery and a family of Guatemalan refugees, and to Kansas to learn more about a reforestation program. He is returning home this week.

He said that New York's topography, with its many high elevations and forests, reminded him of Guatemala in many ways -- "only much, much bigger." Vermont's pristine countryside took his breath away.

More than anything, Father Clemente believes the bonds of friendship between the "sister parishes" have been strengthened during his American vacation.

Taking back prayers

Asked what he hoped to take back with him from St. Mary's, Father Clemente replied: "I ask only for the prayers of the people of St. Mary's for the people of San Pedro, and also for prayers for truth and justice in our land, especially among government and corporate leaders."

Guatemala is a land of "tremendous struggle and violence," Father Broderick said. "It has the distinction of having the longest civil war in Latin American history. It began more than 35 years ago, but the violence has decreased dramatically since the signing of a December 1996 peace accord."

During much of that period, many Church leaders, catechists and others suspected of supporting human rights and social justice were tortured and executed. In all, more than 100,000 people were killed, 50,000 to 60,000 became foreign refugees, and another million were displaced or disappeared.

Spiritually, a First World Country

Guatemala may be a Third World nation economically, but spiritually it is a "First World" country, according to Rev. Richard Broderick, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Crescent.

"There is much we can learn from Padre Clemente and our sister parish in Guatemala," stressed Father Broderick. "Our affiliation with the parish of San Pedro Jocopilas has opened windows for us regarding the celebration of many of the things that we, as a culture, have left behind, especially those involving nature and the Earth in its simplicity."

North Americans, noted Father Broderick "often push our individual traits so far that we lose our sense of balance. Being in the presence of Padre Clemente has helped many of us reclaim that part of our spiritual richness that was left behind in our quest to progress in other areas. His people never lost that connection with, that respect for, nature and the Earth."

Sacrifices

Another thing that has deeply impressed Father Broderick about the people of San Pedro is the level of sacrifice they are willing to endure in order to be active members of their faith community.

During a visit to Guatemala earlier this year, for example, Father Broderick discovered that hordes of parishioners had walked up a hill for an hour after the road from their remote village ended so they could attend church where 36 Baptisms took place.

What he remembers most about that community was that "in the midst of deep poverty, they shared a richness of faith and a profound sense of community we don't often find in communities here. That is why I say they may be Third World materially, but they are First World spiritually."

'Two-way street'

Kathleen Hatfield, pastoral associate of St. Mary's, says that the Crescent congregation is getting as least as much back as it is giving through its sister-parish project.

"It's definitely a two-way street," she said. "We are able to give financially and materially to improve such things as literacy and health concerns, but the people of San Pedro give at least as much back to us in other ways. I have certainly been enriched spiritually by the experience."

Helping out

Among the projects sponsored by Catholics from Crescent are:

* The installation of a telephone in the San Pedro parish center;

* New tires for the jeep that enables Father Clemente to minister to those in remote villages;

* A literacy program that teaches children to read; and

* A project to build energy-efficient wood stoves to replace hazardous open fires in Guatemalan homes.

A special project that recently made the connection between the sister parishes more real was the stitching of a "Friendship Quilt" made by 40 members of St. Mary's parish family. Father Broderick presented the quilt to the San Pedro parish community when he visited there in February. (AH)

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