Guatemala: A Pilgrimage of Faith and Trust

By Carol Davito                                                                                                                      

Pilgrimage — the dictionary defines it as “the action of journeying as a devotee seeking a shrine or sacred place because of associations.”  This would describe the group of pilgrims gathered at Will Rogers Airport in the wee hours of July 22nd, bound for Guatemala and a visit to the missions supported by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

Here in the Archdiocese, 2006 has been designated the “Year of Father Rother.”  Twenty-five years ago, Father Rother was murdered in the rectory of Santiago Atitlan where he was pastor for the people there as well as those living in the area of Cerro de Oro.  

The Oklahoma pilgrims were journeying to Guatemala to renew friendships with the local people and to remember the life and work of Father Rother.  Some in the group had been to Guatemala already so they were eager to again experience the beauty and wonders of the area while many were going for the first time with great anticipation.

The first two days were travel days, including being tourists in Antigua, the first capital of Guatemala.  Many interesting, historic sites were visited.

The Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist, a community of indigenous religious women, have ministered in Santiago Atitlan since Father Rother’s time and presently continue that ministry.  We visited their monastery on Monday in San Andres Semetabaj.  While there we celebrated Mass (in Spanish) with them, had a tour of the convent and the younger women entertained with several interpretive dances.  Our time with them ended with a luncheon feast of native foods which they prepared.  Four sisters of this community are now in Houston where they minister to the homeless.  Thus, with the Spanish language and the English of these sisters, we were able to communicate quite well.

In Guatemala, the feast day of a town or village, in addition to being a holy day is a special holiday.  On Tuesday, July 25th, the Oklahomans took a launch across Lake Atitlan, arriving in Santiago Atitlan for a walk to the town square in front of the church.  Thousands of people were gathering for the 10 a.m. Mass which was celebrated by Archbishop Beltran.  He presented his homily in Spanish which was then translated into the local language of Tzutuhil.  The church was decorated very festively and the choir was exuberant in its celebration.  Included was a procession with a very large statue of Saint James the Apostle.  The rest of the day was spent visiting the market area, watching the children on the various rides, including three ferris wheels and visiting with the people of the town.  A ride back across Lake Atitlan again left one to enjoy the natural beauty of this area.  The lake was formed by the volcanoes which surround it and the view is breath-taking.

A group of American priests from Minnesota have staffed the mission at San Lucas Toliman for many, many years.  Monsignor Gregory Schaffer and his staff were our gracious hosts on Wednesday as we toured the various projects sponsored there, had Mass and another excellent meal.  At San Lucas, they also sell produce such as coffee and honey which many of the pilgrims bought to take home.

Thursday was the “shop til you drop” day as the pilgrims boarded a bus for the market in Chichicastenango.  By the looks of the many bags that were brought aboard the bus at the end of the day, it was a successful venture!

Friday, July 28th, the actual anniversary of the martyrdom of Father Rother and the principle reason for the visit to Santiago Atitlan by the pilgrims.  Again upon arriving there, thousands of people were coming for the Mass.  As Archbishop Beltran walked through the crowds, many of the young adults would proudly tell him they had been baptized by Father Rother whom they affectionately called Padre Apla’s.  In the 25 years since his death, it was obvious that his memory was very much alive.  The shrine to the right of the entrance of the church where his heart is buried was decorated with flowers and candles and many people paused for prayer during the day as they must frequently do throughout the years.  After Mass, the Oklahoma group went to the Peace Park and the area of the 2005 mudslides and during short prayer services in both locations, prayed for the victims and their families.  It was a very somber time.  The day concluded with a second Memorial Mass for Father Rother in the village of Cerro de Oro in the beautiful church which he had hoped to build but which was completed during Father McSherry’s time as pastor.  Again, a couple thousand people filled the church, spilling out into the courtyard overlooking the lake, for this Mass.  

The next day, Saturday, July 29th, was an uneventful return to Oklahoma.  

Pilgrimage — journeying to a sacred place because of associations - how true this is but there is so much more.  One cannot make that journey from Oklahoma to Santiago Atitlan without realizing the faith dimension of the people, of the legacy of faith and trust in the Lord which Father Rother demonstrated and of the continued unity of the people living there with those in Oklahoma who support the missionary efforts.  We who have so much can learn from these people who have so little in the way of material possessions but possess a great faith in God and love of their Church.  We came home truly blest and renewed in ways unknown prior to this wonderful pilgrimage.