By 1967, Father John Goggin had served for three years as assistant pastor at the church of Saint Anastasia in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and it was time for him to move to a different parish. Bishop Schladweiler sent a letter to the priests of the diocese asking for applicants to serve at the mission, since Father Ken Wendinger would be returning shortly. John sent a one paragraph response saying that the mission was a good thing and that he would be interested in going; he received a letter in return saying he had been appointed. After five months in Puerto Rico receiving an education in language and culture with PAVLA (Papal Volunteers for Latin America), he arrived in San Lucas on December 9, 1967.

     John received an exciting welcome in the streets; from his first moments in the community, he experienced the people as very cordial, very positive. He was uncomfortable with his Spanish, not wanting to insult or offend anyone by saying something wrong, but he found the people to be accepting and patient.

     Since those early days, John has lost much of his hesitance to be open with the people. He spends most of his time with them, helping them find solutions to their difficult situations. He receives many of his ideas from the people, always appreciating their input. They are now more willing to express themselves with him. As their confidence in John has grown, and as their dependence on landowners has lessened, they have become more free and open with their opinions. There is still the old Sí Padre in response to his ideas, but there is more they want to say with it, and, most importantly, they know they can say it.

     There is a local saying, "Every head is a world full of ideas." With John’s and the people’s heads coming together, many ideas have flourished into realities.

     Much of his work is with a child sponsorship program that is run with the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. His program handles over four thousand children in thirty communities. He has a staff of six to coordinate the work. John’s task is to oversee the program and empower the staff to eventually take it over. He will then be present for affirmation, help, and new ideas; the technical aspects would be out of his hands.

     After a 6:30 a.m. rise to spend some personal, quiet time, John spends his mornings with the sponsorship program. Tuesdays and Fridays, he helps the project coordinators; they come to the office from their communities to receive money, supplies, and support. He spends his afternoons in the rural areas for various church activities, usually Masses and sacraments. He holds a catechist formation gathering each Friday afternoon, working with the people who are called to bring the teachings of Jesus into their communities.

     Since most of John’s focus has been on people in the rural areas, he has seen a lot of changes in their lives through the years. Many people have moved from plantation, finca life to living as independent communities. This has been the most dramatic change he has seen, and the access to land has taken place largely through the parish’s efforts. People have gone from being dependent on bosses to assuming responsibility for themselves, their families, and their neighbors. Housing is much better than it was, therefore incidents of tuberculosis have decreased markedly. Children are healthier and are growing bigger, taller, and stronger. Interest in education has grown – there are schools in nearly all of the communities that make up the municipality of San Lucas, where there was only one in San Lucas itself when John arrived. There are now many fellowship groups associated with the parish, with people coming together for learning, sharing, and praying.

     Although many people are on their own land now, living more independent lives, John does note that they are not much better off now in terms of wages and buying power than they were when he came. Their freedom is only partial; national and international politics and economics still hold them in poverty. Therefore, he takes a strong interest in helping people find economic solutions to their problems.

     "There is a wealth of talent that just needs to be given the opportunity to be unlocked." John believes in the creation of opportunity, in the sharing of resources and ideas and the truths of Jesus’ teachings. These teachings, truly understood and applied, take away fear by giving people a clear picture of their own worth. As a whole, the world does not live this truth. Markets drive opportunities, often denying them to those who need the most support. Advertising and social pressures snare people into believing that they must follow certain consumer trends, and much of the labor that sustains these consumer trends is done by the hands of the world’s oppressed, including those in Guatemala.

     He would like people in the United States to have the opportunity to be exposed to situations such as those in and around San Lucas. He would like them to step outside their own culture and judge it, appreciating the good and criticizing the bad. He wants them to realize that they can survive on minimal things and live happy lives without being taken in by commercial and social expectations.

     He wants people in the United States to know the residents of San Lucas as people with names, talents, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. He wants them to understand and appreciate the situation and to help give the people of San Lucas the incentives and the tools needed for them to realize those hopes and dreams, those expressed felt needs spoken of in the parish’s mission statement. The incentives and tools are found in education, affirmation, health, and the economic basics needed to be able to put to use all of the talents they have. Given the opportunity, they can have what they desire from life: economic security, family health and safety, and normal children who will grow into normal young adults and possibly start their own secure families.

     John’s main hope for the people is that they continue to understand themselves better in relationship to Jesus, knowing their dignity, their goodness, their abilities, their personal freedom, their self-respect, and their responsibilities. The more they appreciate the teachings of Jesus, the more they can improve their own lives, their relationships with others, and their relationship with God. The more they understand and accept the love of God, the more they can love one another without having to protect themselves.

     Protecting self, one cannot reach out to others. Poverty keeps people self-focused; people in poverty cannot afford to make mistakes, therefore they cannot risk. If they cannot risk, they cannot grow. Freedom from oppression therefore leads to greater spiritual freedom. John hopes that these parallel freedoms continue to grow in the lives of these people. The parish, including John’s work, has had a large role in developing these freedoms on a local level. It has given them both opportunity and voice, bringing together resources from around the world.

     Serving with the parish for over thirty years, John has seen much and done much. Among the highlights of his time here is the situation in which the people of Santa Teresita have found themselves. John has worked with these people and has walked with them throughout this trying time.

     In addition, being banished from several plantations for a year and a half had a large impact on him. Not being able to be with the people he is here to serve was difficult.

     Also difficult were the years of violence the nation experienced. He was involved in constant efforts to save people’s lives. Father Stanley Rother’s execution in neighboring Santiago during that time was painful.

     Happier highlights are the ordinations into the priesthood of two San Lucas residents, Adan Garcia and Victor Ordóñez. Also memorable in his own mind and in the minds of the people is Father Greg’s becoming Monseñor Greg in 1982.

     Looking at the future, John hopes the people can continue to form themselves into Christian communities that will be able to sustain themselves in a church without many ordained clergy.

     "A refreshing part of being here so long is to hear what the people feel would make them happy." These things are usually tied to basics: owning and working the land, making a living, and living their culture. Through his and Father Greg’s work, the people have had many opportunities to make their hopes and dreams a reality.

     John considers it a privilege to work here. The real privilege, however, belongs to the people of San Lucas and the other staff and volunteers of the parish. It is an honor to serve alongside and be inspired by a man who is absolutely dedicated to the spiritual, economic, and social well being of people with whom he was once hesitant to fully interact for fear of offending them. Now, there is no consideration of offense or insult. Now, Father John Goggin cannot be pulled away from interacting with the people of San Lucas Tolimán, the people whose success stories are a testament to his openness and love.