Reflection by Fr. Mike Ignaszak on his visit to Sabana Yegua (Dominican Republic)
Father Mike Ignaszak, pastor of Saint John Paul II in Milwaukee, visited the La Sagrada Familia Parish in Sabana Yegua, Dominican Republic a few months ago, and here we share a reflection based on his homily in the small chapel at Kilometer 8 on his last day in the parish. It is based on the Gospel reading of the day.
The story of Lazarus and the rich man always makes me take stock of my life. It makes me admit something that makes me uncomfortable: in many ways, I am rich. When I was a child I didn´t think that my family was poor, but we definitely were not rich. My dad worked hard to provide for us and sometimes my mother worked too. I knew there were people that had much more than we did. Now I know that I have always been one of the richest people in the world. Even though there are many people who have far more things and much more money than I, I have never known hunger and never been without. Even after my father died when I was eleven years old, my mother went to work and provided for us. Compared with much of the world who has far less than me, I was still rich. It is difficult to be in that position, to be rich, and read this Gospel.
When I pray with the readings it challenges me to redefine what makes one truly rich. Having the chance to preach on this reading while visiting your beautiful parish, you have taught me to see riches in a new way. Your community has been greatly blessed, and you are a blessing to me and to all who visit. During this week and a half, I witnessed true riches in the what I used to think of as the poorest of situations. People who live day to day off the land have shared generously with me. People who have none of the conveniences that I as an American take for granted each day, have shown me a joy. Too often when we have more, we want more. Too often when we are lucky, we want more luck. Too often when we take things for granted, we feel entitled. You have taught me that true riches come from being blessed. Your community is blessed and is a blessing for others. I give thanks to God and to you for the time I have spent with you for it has changed me.
I am now proud to be rich, but not in things. I am proud to be rich in the blessings God has showered upon me – in all of you. You have taught me that the heart of true riches is when you recognize that you have been blessed. Material wealth has nothing to do with it. It is simply that joy of life, knowing God is with you, that makes us all truly rich. For this insight I thank you. I thank you also for your hospitality, warmth and generosity. I thank you for your patience with my Spanish in conversations and for the warm greetings as I have passed you in the streets.
Contrary to the great divide that separates Lazarus and the rich man, I get to cross the great divide between Sabana Yegua and Milwaukee. I am allowed to return and tell my brothers and sisters at St. John Paul II parish that I have discovered how beautiful and blessed our brothers and sisters in La Sagrada Familia are.
This pilgrimage has served me to visit friends and make new ones, to meet you and to learn about your wonderful country and the strength of your faith. These riches can never be counted in a bank account, but they worth far more than any gold. In this sense, you have helped this poor man to be richly blessed by you.
From November 20 to 27, most of the members of the Community of Saint Paul travelled to the USA to participate in our annual retreat. This year we met at the Benedictine house of spirituality located in Benet Lake, Wisconsin.
Those in charge of directing the retreat were Fr. Curt Frederick, priest of the archdiocese of Milwaukee, and Barbara Anne Cusack, chancellor of the same archdiocese. For a week, guided by the reflections and questions of the two of them, the participants in the retreat were able to take a break from our usual activities (which we develop in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Bolivia, Ethiopia and in the U.S. ) and—in a great atmosphere of prayer and fraternity—rediscover the presence of God among us and in our lives. These have been, for everyone, beautiful and fruitful days.
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Being in a mission trip is like being in a pilgrimage of faith, but instead of visiting shrines, monuments, churches, monasteries and other sites from the past, we visit people of faith in the here and now. Recently, a group formed by parishioners from three parishes of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee flew to Bolivia with Fr. Juan Manuel Camacho, from the Community of Saint Paul.
Bolivia is the poorest country in South America. Its socio-economic reality is precarious, and there are many needs at all levels. The purpose for the “pilgrims” in Bolivia was to get to know the reality of the people that the CSP serves there. The group was able to help with the street children center in Cochabamba (Casa San José). They spent two days on educational activities with the children, who at the same time had the opportunity to interact with people from a different culture. The group also worked on the rural areas in a reforestation program planting trees on the barren mountains of Los Andes. The reforestation program that the CSP has in the mountains of Cochabamba is located in the municipality of Independencia. There, on the top of the Andean mountains, the visitors from the USA worked shoulder to shoulder with the local farmers planting trees that will make a difference in their lives. But all the work that we did was minimal if we compare it with the great work the Holy Spirit did in each one of us pilgrims. The transformation that happens when we come out of our comfort zones and open our hearts to a different reality is just amazing. We celebrated Mass in a rural community, a place where the local priest can only get to once every three months. It was a great expression of the diversity of the Church, since during the Eucharist three languages were spoken: Spanish, Quechua and English.
This mission trip was one of many efforts from the CSP to bring people of different parishes and walks of life from the archdiocese of Milwaukee to connect with the missionary life of the Church. We look at these trips as pilgrimage of faith: pilgrimages that help us understand the Church, its vitality, its critical role in so many places of the world, and its diversity.
The parish of St. John Paul II, located in the Southside of Milwaukee, is the product of three parishes traditionally of Polish origin. Nowadays, a growing Hispanic community is added to the Polish community, and it is a beautiful experience to see how both groups, separated by different languages and cultures, try, nevertheless, to feel like a single parish. It is not a challenge easily overcome, but prejudices are broken from one side and the other every time a personal relationship of friendship is established, each time an English speaker enjoys a “taco al pastor” or prays to Our Lady of Guadalupe (and he has no qualms about trying to pronounce her name); when those born in the country know immigrant families, go to their homes, celebrate together, and appreciate and are moved when they hear the situations that many families have gone through and admire the capacity and work ethic that has led these newcomers not to falter.
We also experience the reality of integration when a Mexican celebrates the 4th of July and proudly displays the US flag at home, because despite hardships and difficulties, he knows that he has had a new opportunity here. Or when she is excited to be a member of a new parish group because she feels comfortable and knows that she will be heard. These are small signs, steps that aim at integration and mutual solidarity, which will not appear in statistics, nor in laws, nor in migratory policies. But the truth is that, not only in Milwaukee but throughout the United States, parishes become, by their very nature and mission, a privileged space for integration.
Hopefully this opportunity—this reality that we live here at the parish level—will be lived in other churches, in other centers and institutions, so that more and more groups learn how to transcend the world of prejudices and myths, to embrace the real world of people.
The Community of Saint Paul serving in La Sagrada Familia in Sabana Yegua (Azua, Dominican Republic) was visited recently by Frs. Curt Frederick and James Lobacz, general vicars of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, who traveled with Fr. Tim Kitzke, member of the Placement Board of the archdiocese and pastor of several parishes in the city of Milwaukee.
They came as part of Archbishop Jerome Listecki’s plan to ensure that the leadership of the Archdiocese is familiar with the reality of its sister parish in the Dominican Republic. The visitors were able to see several of the parish rural communities and their chapels, they concelebrated in Sunday Mass, and also saw some of the social programs that the Community of Saint Paul develops in the area (the Health Center, the three Educational Children’s Centers, water projects and the project to establish latrines, amongst others). They also had a chance to enjoy a future project of the Community of Saint Paul, the Eco-hotel “Altos de La Caobita”. We are grateful for their visit and for the support that La Sagrada Familia Parish has received for many years from so many people in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Benefactors of the CSP gather in Milwaukee to support Casa San José
On Sunday, November 18, Fr. Leonard Barbian, a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, hosted a dinner to raise friends and funds for "Casa San José", an apostolate of the Community of Saint Paul in Cochabamba, Bolivia. "Casa San José" works to identify boys living on the streets of the city (a recent study says there are 1,800 such children, mostly boys), and bring them into the safety of the center. They receive medical care, counseling and education, while the Casa strives to find their families and works with them so that the boys can return their families and a safe home. Montserrat Madrid and Gemma Regales, members of the CSP who live and work in Cochabamba, were present at the event.
This was the third such dinner, and the largest with over 90 people attending. From here, we would like to express our gratitude for the hospitality of Carl’s Catering in Greendale and to all those who took the time to attend and hear about this important work of the Church. And a very special thank you to Fr. Leonard, who generously sponsored and hosted this event. Thanks!
Last year, the Archbishop of Milwaukee, Jerome Listecki, visited the Dominican Republic to celebrate thirty-five years of the partnership between the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and La Sagrada Familia Parish in Sabana Yegua (Azua). This beautiful thirty-five year relationship of faith and friendship has undoubtedly produced many fruits, both in Milwaukee and the Dominican Republic.
During these thirty-five years, for instance, vocations have flourished. Today we have three ordained priests, originally from La Sagrada Familia, who work in parishes in the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana; there are also three seminarians in formation in the local diocesan seminary; and five members of the Community of St. Paul are also from La Sagrada Familia Parish. In addition to that, five priests from the Community of St. Paul lived in the parish during their formation, before entering the seminary. They now enrich Milwaukee with their experience as missionaries.
In order to continue to strengthen this relationship of Sister Churches, the Auxiliary Bishops of Milwaukee James Schuerman and Jeffrey Haines, as well as the Vicar Generals David Reith, Jerry Herda and Javier Bustos, visited Sabana Yegua during the first months of 2018. They were all able to celebrate the Eucharist with the local community and see various areas of the parish, where they were received with much love and affection. Bishop Schuerman, especially, had a moving meeting with parishioners from the parish, since he worked there as a missionary priest from 1992 to 1996; they were able to share many memories.
Thirty-five years of faith and shared friendship is a great accomplishment, surely a work of God!
The CSP was honored with the Vatican II Award for Service to the Missions, given by the Archbishop of Milwaukee
On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, the Community of Saint Paul was honored by Archbishop Jerome Listecki of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee with the Vatican II Award for Service to the Missions. The Vatican II awards were established in 1991 to honor men, women and young adults who exemplify the Catholic Church’s vision set forth in the Second Vatican Council.
The criteria named for receiving the award are that the recipients have promoted Jesus’ mission and witnessed to God’s presence among the diverse people and cultures of the world; have a desire to share the Gospel; and show mutuality in mission (giving and receiving) and a spirit of justice, prayer and joy.
Traditionally, the Vatican II Awards are given to individuals. This is the first time that the award is presented to a collective. There were 14 other individuals and couples who this year also received the Archbishop’s Vatican II Award in different areas for distinguished service and contributions to the Church and society. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is the Community’s canonical seat, and the CSP has its headquarters there. We are grateful for this honor from Archbishop Listecki and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Two groups from Milwaukee visit La Sagrada Familia parish in Sabana Yegua
Recently, the Community of Saint Paul, working at La Sagrada Familia parish in Sabana Yegua (Azua, Dominican Republic) received the visit of a number of friends and volunteers from Milwaukee.
First, we welcomed a group of 16 young adults who came on a mission trip to experience the life of the parish and the diverse ministries that take place here. This is the second time that we have young adults from Milwaukee visiting us. Their visit is the result of a shared effort between the World Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Catholic Financial Life and the Community of Saint Paul, to organize these trips and make available to young men and women from Milwaukee the opportunity to experience different realities of the Church and the world.
While in the DR, the young adults took on different projects, working along with youth from La Sagrada Familia. They played games with children, organized a show case for the people of Proyecto 4 (a community within the parish), built latrines with the local beneficiaries and celebrated faith with the different communities around the Eucharist. They were able to share their gifts with the people of the parish; at the same time they received the warmth and love from their brothers and sisters in the Dominican Republic.
Just after this visit, a group of seven friends from Wisconsin, from “Proyecto Agua” (a small initiative that arose from a previous trip to the DR) came to work building latrines and to offer speech therapy sessions, as well as to share with the community.
Both groups had an enriching visit, and returned to the U.S. with many cherished moments in their hearts. To all, we say, thanks for visiting!
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.
La Sagrada Familia Parish in the Dominican Republic receives visitors from Milwaukee
This year Catholics in Southeastern Wisconsin commemorate the 35th anniversary of the twinning relationship between the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and La Sagrada Familia parish in Sabana Yegua, Azua, in the Dominican Republic. During all of these years, priests from Milwaukee have run the parish, sharing their faith and love with the people of Sabana Yegua and its surrounding rural communities. Since 2003, members of the Community of Saint Paul, lay and ordained, have been in charge of the parish on behalf of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
In order to commemorate these 35 years of partnership, different activities have been organized, so that people can participate and experience this partnership of faith. In late June and early July we have had two groups of pilgrims from Milwaukee visiting the parish.
The first was a group of 25 young adults, plus 7 seminarians from the archdiocese, who spent a week in the parish and were immersed in different activities with children, youth and the community at large. It was a great experience for the young adults coming from Milwaukee and the youth from the parish who came together to interact and share their talents and faith. The group was a coordinated effort put in place by the World Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Catholic Financial Life Insurance company and, also, the archdiocesan office for Young Adult ministries. These three organizations came together and worked hard to make a wonderful pilgrimage of faith for the young adults participating on the trip. The seven seminarians held reflections and activities while sharing with the 25 young adults, who expressed that they were going back home transformed by this pilgrimage.
The second was a group of six men, five of whom are in training to be ordained permanent deacons in the archdiocese of Milwaukee. They visited La Sagrada Familia parish as part of their formation plan. They stayed with families in their Sabana Yegua homes, got to know the different ministries and then in the evenings reflected theologically about what they were seeing. It was a wonderful combination of theological reflection, prayer and sharing faith and love with the local community.
In June, Fr. Javier Guativa, from the CSP, became the new Administrator of two parishes in Racine, Wisconsin
After five years of pastoral work on the Southside of Milwaukee, Javier Guativa, a priest of the Community of St. Paul, was appointed by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki as the Parish Administrator of Saint Lucy and Saint Sebastian parishes in Racine and nearby Sturtevant.
The parish of Saint Lucy, located in southeastern Racine, is the largest parish in Racine with 5,550 members and a school of 282 students. It has a variety of ministries for youth and adults as well women’s groups and a men’s Bible group that meets every Saturday to discuss the Sunday readings. Saint Sebastian parish is located to the west of Saint Lucy. It is a rural parish with 1,254 members, many of whom are local farmers.
The two parishes have been operating together as a cluster for the past two years, sharing the priest and the various ministries, which helps make the two communities grow together in faith.
We are pleased that Javier will now work pastorally in Racine, where Ricardo Martín and Antony Thomas, also priests of the CSP, are already pastors, and where our Community has its international headquarters.
On May 19th, just two days before the priestly ordination of Michael Wolfe—a member of the Community of Saint Paul, whose ordination we celebrated in this blog a few days ago—the “Catholic Herald” published a story on his path to the priesthood.
The “Catholic Herald” is Milwaukee’s weekly archdiocesan newspaper. Here is the link to the article:
http://catholicherald.org/news/local/deacon-wolfes-indirect-path-led-priesthood/
This past 21st of May, Michael Wolfe was ordained a priest by Archbishop Jerome Listecki for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee together with his two classmates, Patrick Behling and Andrew Linn.
Michael has been a member of the Community of Saint Paul for almost 10 years, living in the Dominican Republic, and now the last four years in Wisconsin studying in the seminary in Milwaukee. In mid-June, he will begin in pastoral work as associate pastor in St. John Paul II, a bi-lingual parish on the south-side of Milwaukee. Congratulations to Michael and his classmates!
