Before delving into my experiences and observations of life in San Lucas Tolimán, I would like to paint a picture of just what is La Parroquia San Lucas. Only in knowing the full context of where I have spent these past nine months will what I share and offer make sense.

     This Catholic parish has been associated with the Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota since 1962. Pope John XXIII recommended that Latin American and North American parishes form relationships both to build awareness of Latin American situations and to provide a means for enhancing a view of one church, one Body of Christ. As a result, this rural Guatemalan parish became a partner of the also-rural Diocese of New Ulm.

     The current pastor of the Parroquia (parroquia means parish – I will be using the word parroquia throughout this book), Father Gregory Schaffer, was teaching in Marshall, Minnesota when his Bishop, Alphonse Schladweiler, asked him to serve in the new diocesan mission. He accepted the assignment and visited San Lucas for the first time on October 4, 1963. After attending language school, he settled into the community in January of 1964. Since then, Father Greg has faithfully served the people of this community with all his heart, mind, body, and soul.

     Father John Goggin was associate pastor in Hutchinson, Minnesota when he accepted the opportunity to serve with Father Greg. That was in 1967, and he remains at the Parroquia today, pouring his being into seeking ways to uplift the lives of the people.

     These two men have been a strong component, if not the strongest, of a wide bridge connecting the people of San Lucas with many North American brothers and sisters. Throughout the past thirty-five years, a staggering number of visitors and volunteers – groups and individuals, skilled servants and wide-eyed hearts – have experienced, affected, and been affected by their association with the parish.

     Father Greg is pastor, and most of the parish’s service has come into being through a combination of his vision and his openness. His vision sees far beyond the paradigm of the church is the building or even the church is the local assembly; his openness accepts the ideas, suggestions, and recommendations of many people both within and outside of the community. He and Father John have had hearts aware enough to hear the cry of the poor and courageous enough to answer through people-based, not program-based, responses. Together, with the valuable assistance of Father John Francis Brandes of Minneapolis and Father David Roney of New Ulm, they have served the people through practical replies that have made the Parroquia both unique and successful.

     The parish has a philosophy of total human development. This church is involved in not only the spiritual life of the community; it places a high priority on land reform, housing, nutrition, heath care, education, employment, and global awareness. It is interested in every aspect of the human person, believing that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was and is healing and redeeming for the whole being of every person, not simply one’s spirituality and morality.

     This socio-economic service has visibly improved the lives of the people of San Lucas Tolimán and the twenty-two small outlying communities which comprise the Parroquia. Nevertheless, the main function of the parish continually asserts itself over and throughout all of the projects: the celebration of the goodness and dignity of each person as an infinitely and eternally loved child of God. It is through the love of God, as expressed by Jesus and lived by his people, that all of the work occurs.

     This is the context of my writing. This is the frame and canvas of my reflections. In my nine months in San Lucas, I was not involved in every area of the parish’s service, but I was able to develop relationships with many people and experience the deep goodness of the life of the community and of the Parroquia. It is a glimpse of this goodness, as well as an appreciation of the parish’s style of human, Christian service, that I share through this writing.

     Together, may we see and celebrate the goodness of God in the people of San Lucas Tolimán.