Climate Change and Cristosal

 I am catching up on two days. All have been packed with visits and events. Each day, we start before sunrise and conclude late into the evening. For me, this is not tiring but invigorating.  

Let’s start with the dedication of the Anglican Communion Forest in Central America located at El Maizal in El Salvador.  It was a two-hour drive from San Salvador, and we were warned it would be warm (minor understatement).  The drive was spectacular, and the people are beautiful.  I feel so at home in Latin America. 

The faithful traveled from various parts of the diocese, and the service was an outdoor Eucharist filled with singing.  The warning about the heat was an understatement.  The humidity hovered around 88%, and well into the third hour, the “feels like” temperature read 106. 

We traveled another hour and had lunch on the Pacific Ocean at a restaurant that leases on property owned by the Diocese of El Salvador. The view and the food were spectacular. Following lunch, we drove 45 minutes to visit with the staff and clients of Cristosal. If you have not read about their work, I will provide a link at the end. Hearing these women's stories was heartbreaking, and I am in awe of their courage.  

It was a day of hope, humidity, and heartbreak.  We returned late to the hotel and prepared to depart the following morning.  The bus was scheduled to pick us up at 2:45 a.m. for a 5:00 a.m. departure to Panama City.  In bed by 11 and up at 1:45 a.m.   As you know, I am an early morning person and was the only one revved up and talking on the way to the airport.   All seemed to look at me as if I was off my rocker.  

The offering was beautiful.  Many gave everything, money, food, corn, and seeds. 

Panama City is filled with skyscrapers, and the view upon arrival from the air is jolting.  To see the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico on opposite sides of the airplane window is an experience I will not soon forget.  We landed, traveled to the hotel, and began another series of meetings.  The work of the Anglican Communion, the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and the Compass Rose Society has just begun.  

I will leave you with pictures of the dedication.

Days 3 and 4. Migrant Center, St. Óscar Romero and Ignacio Ellacuría

The last two days were difficult to describe.  We spent yesterday at the Casa Myrna Mack, which is a respite center for migrants who are traveling through Guatemala. Founded by Jesuits and named after a migrant activist, Myrna Mack, who was martyred, the center is part of a network that also provides education and advocacy for migrants and offers programs to address the violence and displacement due to climate change, which are the main reasons people need to leave their home. 

There are no pictures, just a heart that was breaking listening to the stories of migrants from Venezuela who walked to Guatemala City with young children.  Looking into the eyes of the parents worried about their children and the long, uncertain, danger-filled journey ahead.  Looking into the eyes of the children, sensing they are far away from their homes, not understanding why, just reaching out seeking reassurance that everything will be alright.  We must be the church and embrace both parents and children.

Today, we once again began the day early.  I got up at five and walked the streets of San Salvador.  We then had a press conference on Climate Change and our blessing of a forest tomorrow attended by Archbishop Welby, Bishop Alvarado, and Bishop Julio Murray of Panama.  

We spent the day at the chapel where Saint Oscar Romero was murdered and sat in his room.  We then visited the Cathedral and met with the Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar Alas. I had the privilege of walking and talking with Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez.  He was a close friend of St. Romero, served on his staff, and led the cause for the beatification of Monsignor Romero.  He held my hand as we walked around the Cathedral, and I asked him to bless my Virgin of Guadalupe medal that Jude and Suzanne gave me 25 years ago.  He laughed and said, “Eres Mexicano.”

Praying at St. Romero's tomb closed the circle. I represented the Episcopal Church at the Vatican when they made Oscar Romero a saint. This deeply reminded me of one of the reasons I wanted to be a priest. 

The afternoon was filled with emotion.  Fr. Ignacio Ellacuría has been the one who formed my personal theology.  He was one of the Jesuit Priests murdered at the UCA.  Many years ago, I wrote my Master’s Thesis on Fr. Ellacuría.  I have seen many pictures and read everything he has written. It seemed I knew the grounds where he lived and was brutally murdered along with Fr. Ignacio Martín-Baró, Fr. Amando López Quintana, Fr. Juan Ramón Moreno Pardo, Fr. Joaquín López y López, Fr. Segundo Montes Mozo, Elba Ramos and her daughter Celina.

I could not speak at times, but something shifted inside when we viewed his relics, especially his books, pens, and glasses.  To stand in the place where he thought, reflected, prayed, and composed.  To think this is where the words left his hand and were placed straight into my heart; I was surrounded by his presence.

Day 3 2 VI 24 Balanyá Guatemala

 

It never fails to take my breath away.  Whether sharing a meal with the Dine at Good Shepherd Mission, Ft. Defiance, Arizona, celebrating Eucharist along the El Paso/Juarez border, or sharing the peace with the faithful at St. Andrews in Ramallah, the Holy One left me speechless once again.  We spent the majority of the day at Iglesia Santa Cruz in Balanyá.  Our Mayan siblings have a deep and resolute faith despite the challenges of climate change, hard labor in the fields, and often being forgotten by others. 

The region around Balanyá is the most important agricultural area in Guatemala.  The indigenous Mayan population largely work the fields. They are experiencing drought, and the crops desperately need rain.  Climate change is affecting their rainy season, which was supposed to start in May, but they have not seen any rain. For years, this congregation had worshiped in a parishioner’s house or the rented rectory, and St. David’s Church in Radnor provided funds to purchase land on the edge of town.  In 2014 and 2016, St. David’s parishioners worked with the congregation to build a beautiful church building.

I am humbled and reminded of how much work I must do to match the faith of those in Navajoland, immigrants, and Christians in Palestine and Balanya.   Their faith is not dependent on what goes right but rather is a constant deepening built not of sand but a foundation built on solid rock.  

At the beginning of the service, we said special prayers facing East, West, North, and South.  It reminded me of my Mesoamerican Indigenous great-grandmother saying the same prayer to each sacred direction.  Tears welled in my eyes as my soul was once again touched in the presence of a holy people.  We have much to learn, and we will continue the journey together.  I could only reflect that God knows them deeply, and they know God profoundly.  Thank you for blessing me with your presence. 

Cardinal Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Roman Catholic Archbishop of Guatemala stopped by after services of Corpus Christi to greet us. 

Day 2 I VI 24 Guatemala City

The day included visiting the national museum, meetings with the various diocesean committees, and an Evening Prayer service at the Cathedral. I was most moved by an art exhibit created by migrant children. I encourage you to reflect on these drawings and feel the emotion these “our” children express.  It is not a political issue but drawing near to the heart of Christ and doing those radical things God has called us to do.  There are no differences or excuses; we carry the name of Jesus Christ.   

A dream beyond the border

Tears and Suffering

Migration as a family

The Road of Death

Because of Love

“Solitude in the desert”

Tears in loneliness

The American Dream

Migration brings death

One can leave ranch but, one's ranch will never