News 20 -- Sept. 23, 1999

“One of the persons who has touched my life deeply is Dom Helder Camara. When news of his death arrived recently, I was brought to tears. In the six short years of living and working on the streets of Recife, our paths crossed frequently.”

[In some of his letters Larry used the word womyn as his way of expressing the equality of women and men.
campo = farm field or farm region. Campesino(a) = peasant farmer]

Newsletter #20

Sept. 23rd, 1999
Guatemala

Dear Friends,

As I wrote today's date above, it dawned on me that it was around the same time last year that I began a newsletter to you all. And I reflected that on Sept. 24th,
1968, fourteen of us entered the Federal building in downtown Milwaukee, filled huge mail bags with 1-A files of young men and womyn to be called to serve in Vietnam, carried the files to the plaza across from the Federal building, doused-drenched the files in Napalm and lit. 'ZOOM,' a bonfire beyond all bonfires, too hot to roast marshmallows, for sure.

Thirty-one years later and aware that at least two of the original group have gone to their eternal reward, I pray that some thoughts will flow this morning that will reflect worthwhile memories for both of us.

We are on the brink of a new millennium, which is not news to any of us. But as believers, it may and hopefully does imply a great deal of things. Jesus Born of Mary; blood shed in birth as well as in death of the Beloved Son of Mary and Joseph.

Reflection tells us we are beginning and will experience a new Pentecost, a renewal and new birth across the face of the earth. As the planet disintegrates in rapid measure and the social climate spells a spiritual doom, a burial of the values that Christ's birth, death and Resurrection shed upon us, where does this lead us?

Do you know what our diocese of El Quiche is doing to celebrate this grand Jubilee year? We are planning a "Santa Mision.” A 'holy mission' loosely translated. Remember years ago when missionaries came to our local parishes for a week or two? Their long missionary capes touching the ground and the missionary cross flashing before our eyes? Fire and brimstone. Repent: now is the hour. Long sermons in the evenings. The church filled, the candles lit and everyone waiting in long confessional lines to have their sins forgiven. It was a moment of grace for all. Vocations sprung often from such occasions. It was a time of blessing for the entire parish. And I for one will never forget the inspiration that fired my heart and the teenagers that I hung out with.

The Santa Mision today may not resemble that of the Mission 40 some years ago but its goal perhaps is much the same. To bring alive the faith that is dormant and to live it out within the context of our daily life. Here in El Quiche, Guatemala, for example.

Our bishop, Julio Cabrera Ovalle explained the Santa Mision, to take place in all the parishes of the diocese, as a time of grace and blessing. A time to implement a new Pastoral Plan for the years 1999-2003.

A Jubilee year indicates a time of rejoicing, giving thanks, coming together in prayer. A time to recall our history, our struggle and to restore our energies, animate our spirits and commit ourselves once again to the basic and important needs of our indigenous community.

Anyone coming to our area called Playa Grande, El Quiche, have discovered an area rich in natural resources. A tropical area amidst mountainous regions covered with forests of diverse plants and trees, a tiger or two and a variety of animal life.

Playa Grande is only a small part of the extensive diocese located in the Northern extreme of Guatemala. Eighty five percent of the population of the state of El Quiche are Indigenous and of Mayan descent. The diocese has an extension of 5000 square miles, meaning differences in climate, food and fruit products and the style of life determined by the climatal condition in which one lives.

Bishop Julio, in the Presentation of the Plan Pastoral bids us to turn our minds and hearts to the history of our diocese; to a reflection on the presence of God when the Church was little or non-existent in El Quiche. Four priests from a bordering diocese began exploring these virgin lands across their diocesan border. The time was the early 50's. People making their way to Playa Grande in recent years, if returning at all--ha-- having adventures to describe; the treacherous roads, hot climate, scorpions, wild life and their dreadful bouts with malaria, diarrhea, worms, etc...

But in 1950 roads were non-existent in the State of Quiche. These four priests and a few catechists from the diocese of Quetzaltenango ventured through the hills weeks and sometimes months on end. Among the Indigenous population was discovered a blending of rich cultural tradition with Christian religious practices of devotions; the rosary, novenas, 'las posadas.'

Theirs was a thirst indescribable. A thirst to be formed into a religious community profoundly deepening the religious values they already knew.

In 1955 three Sacred Heart priests made their way into El Quiche, found these newly found Christian communities and slowly but surely over the next several years began to add meat to the bones of the people's basic religious beliefs. The missionaries began to proclaim the people's rights to the land and to organize the communities to defend their rights.

When the communities felt energized and ready to spread the 'good news' to all, they were met with opposition. Government troops were sent into the villages to gather up the leaders; womyn and men, who were then tortured, drugged, and forced to give false testimony against members of their own community.

In 1967, after years of sacrifice of crossing El Quiche several times on horseback and by foot, up and down the mountainsides, through knee-deep mud and down-pouring of torrential rains, the missionaries grew more and more united with their people in a common faith and work as a Christian community. In 1967, the diocese of Santa Cruz del Quiche was formed, and Mons. Humberto Lara Mejia was named bishop.

Following the Second Vatican Council, the creation of cooperatives began springing up across the newly formed diocese. Maryknoll Father Guillermo Woods, prominent in this undertaking, shared the enthusiasm of the indigenous community as the people learned new methods of construction, carpentry, wood carving and the making of beautiful hand-made crucifixes to be used in their chapels across the diocese. Womyn worked cooperatively in weaving beautiful 'ropas tipicas' and other elegant hand-woven items. But as we know, the plane of Padre Guillermo was shot from the sky as he and his companions were returning from the U.S. with medical supplies and other necessary materials to carry on the work of the cooperative -- 20th of November 1976.

A spirit though had been sown in the hearts of the Indigenous people that could not be destroyed. The living spirit of Guillermo Woods and the other martyrs of El Quiche would and does live on. And the blood soaked land of Quiche would flow like a river of living water through the veins of the Indigenous community. The names of the Sacred Heart priests -- Padre Jose Maria Gran, the 4th of June 1980, and Padre Juan Alonso, the 15th of February, 1981 -- would be added to the list of martyrs in the diocese. Unknown to everyone at that time, the name of Mons. Juan Gerardi would be renowned on the list of those martyred in Guatemala -- April 26, 1998.

It is so important, as Mons. Julio Cabrera insists, that this history become part of our very nature. That the blood of the martyrs of Guatemala be the very source that encourages us to continue the struggle that our martyred sisters and brothers have begun.

As I reach this point of sharing with you, I feel myself filled with gratitude for my own personal history and life experience that includes most, if not all of you reading this newsletter. Where have our paths crossed? And how many times? And in how many ways?

One of the persons who has touched my life deeply is Dom Helder Camara. When news of his death arrived recently, I was brought to tears. In the six short years of living and working on the streets of Recife, our paths crossed frequently. Dom Helder possessed the enthusiasm and love for life beyond what words can express. On two occasions he came by way of a city cab to celebrate Midnight Mass on Christmas eve with the street people. Can you imagine the scene? What a scene. He had come alone, as if he had announced this celebration to no one. He chose to do this because this is where his heart truly would have him--alone amongst the 'chosen ones.' Anyway...

Isn't it neat that we are still around to bring in the year 2000--together? With all the memories we share in common, all the desires and hopes we believe will come to pass, the Spirit of the Living God is wanting to imbue her creation--all living things, despite or perhaps because of who we are, in a festival of hope beyond comparison.


Lorenzo