A group of representatives of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, including its archbishop, visit the parish La Sagrada Familia of Sabana Yegua in the Dominican Republic
From the 17 to the 24 of January, Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee visited Sabana Yegua with a group of pilgrims from Wisconsin to celebrate the 35 years of twinning between his archdiocese and the parish of La Sagrada Familia, located within the diocese of San Juan de la Maguana.
Since 1981, diocesan priests from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee have been staffing the parish La Sagrada Familia, and for the last thirteen years it has been diocesan priests of Milwaukee who are also members of the Community of St. Paul. This fruitful relationship has been guided throughout the years by the theme “Sharing Faith and Friendship”, and it has greatly enriched both sister churches. Today, thanks to this relationship of mutual support, both Milwaukee and San Juan de la Maguana know more about solidarity than they did 35 years ago.
The visit of Archbishop Listecki and his group included meetings with different pastoral groups of the parish, as well as visits to the various social projects we carry out in the region (children development centers, health clinic, the construction of latrines, the professional training center...).
On January 21, a Eucharist was celebrated in the community called Proyecto 4, coinciding with the feast day of Our Lady of Altagracia, protector of the Dominican Republic. This celebration was presided by Msgr. José Grullón, bishop of San Juan de la Maguana, and he reminded everyone that the chapel in Proyecto 4 —which has been recently remodeled— was the first site of the parish, back in the early eighties. On Sunday, the 22, another Eucharist was celebrated in Sabana Yegua, this time with Archbishop Listecki presiding, and the following day the group of pilgrims traveled to Higüey, to the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia, to give thanks for the relationship between the two sister churches, Milwaukee and San Juan de la Maguana.
The celebration of the 35 years of collaboration left everyone involved with a feeling of deep gratitude to God for sustaining this beautiful twinning in faith and friendship, and the desire for the relationship to continue to grow for many more years to come.
Since 1981, diocesan priests from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee have been staffing the parish La Sagrada Familia, and for the last thirteen years it has been diocesan priests of Milwaukee who are also members of the Community of St. Paul. This fruitful relationship has been guided throughout the years by the theme “Sharing Faith and Friendship”, and it has greatly enriched both sister churches. Today, thanks to this relationship of mutual support, both Milwaukee and San Juan de la Maguana know more about solidarity than they did 35 years ago.
The visit of Archbishop Listecki and his group included meetings with different pastoral groups of the parish, as well as visits to the various social projects we carry out in the region (children development centers, health clinic, the construction of latrines, the professional training center...).
On January 21, a Eucharist was celebrated in the community called Proyecto 4, coinciding with the feast day of Our Lady of Altagracia, protector of the Dominican Republic. This celebration was presided by Msgr. José Grullón, bishop of San Juan de la Maguana, and he reminded everyone that the chapel in Proyecto 4 —which has been recently remodeled— was the first site of the parish, back in the early eighties. On Sunday, the 22, another Eucharist was celebrated in Sabana Yegua, this time with Archbishop Listecki presiding, and the following day the group of pilgrims traveled to Higüey, to the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia, to give thanks for the relationship between the two sister churches, Milwaukee and San Juan de la Maguana.
The celebration of the 35 years of collaboration left everyone involved with a feeling of deep gratitude to God for sustaining this beautiful twinning in faith and friendship, and the desire for the relationship to continue to grow for many more years to come.
