Connect with Sister Parish
Join us in building community across borders.
Our Work
Sister Parish, Inc. promotes intercultural and ecumenical understanding by establishing linkages between churches in the United States and faith-based communities in Central America. Our members tell you more in the brief video Introduction to Sister Parish.
Author Archives: sisterparishinc
Twenty-Five Years of Memories: Interweaving the Strands of Life
[By Jackie Arreaza, former staff member] As I look back on the 25 years of Sister Parish, I remember celebrating the 10th anniversary in 1998. We made bookmarks as a joint effort between North and the South, using pieces of fabric woven in Guatemala, which we glued on to cards created in the USA which said “INTERWEAVING the strands of life; to build community, to change lives.” Continue reading
Center for Mission delegation experiences Sister Parish
[This summer, Sister Parish hosted a delegation from the Center for Mission, which coordinates the global mission work of the Catholic Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis. Michael Haasl, the Global Solidarity Coordinator for the Center for Mission wrote this reflection … Continue reading
Twenty-Five Years of Memories: Working for Justice by Standing in Solidarity
[By Bob Heberle and Nancy Wiens of St Joan of Arc, Minneapolis, MN] When I toured Central America in 1983 and visited the civil and human rights groups working there, all seemed to have the same message. The message was, “Come down here to see what’s going on, and go back to your country, the U.S., and tell them what’s going on and get them to do something. You are after all a citizen of the U.S. and therefore have some input.” Continue reading
Posted in 25th Anniversary, General, Guatemala
Tagged 25th anniversary, board member reflections, st joan of arc
4 Comments
Veinticinco años de Memorias: creciendo juntas-os en la fe
In English [A lo largo del año, estaremos publicando reflexiones de las y los miembros de las comunidades de Iglesias Hermanas, en honor a los 25 años de existencia de la organización. Hoy la reflexión es de Jose Choc, un líder y … Continue reading
Posted in 25 aniversario, Español, Guatemala
Tagged las margaritas ii, st francis of assisi
1 Comment
Hermanamientos de Estados Unidos comparten el pan y construyen solidaridad juntos
In English Hacer nuevos amigos y amigas fue fácil en nuestro encuentro regional de Iglesias Hermanas realizado en San Pablo, Minnesota La vista a su familia y amistades, de la directora ejecutiva de Iglesias Hermanas, Carrie Stengel, fue aprovechada por … Continue reading
Posted in Español, General
Tagged decorah, Dejar un comentario, duluth, Faith Lutheran, incarnation, Junta Directiva, NAC, reflexiones, st joan of arc
3 Comments
[By Jose Choc of Las Margaritas II, Guatemala] In 1993, the relationship with [St Francis of Assisi] and Las Margaritas began. They came to search for and to get to know another church and the life here in the community, to share experiences and exchange experiences. It was also during the times of war and the people suffered a lot in Ixcan. Continue reading
US Sister Parishes Break Bread and Build Solidarity Together
En español Making new friends was easy at a Sister Parish regional potluck held at the Saint Paul home of Nancy Wiens and Rick Nelson on Saturday June 1st. Executive Director Carrie Stengel was in the Midwest visiting family and friends, so … Continue reading
Posted in General
Tagged board member reflections, decorah, duluth, Faith Lutheran, incarnation, NAC, st joan of arc
1 Comment
It’s a Grandma Thing.
[By Sister Parish founder Vicki Schmidt] There’s no end to possibilities for how I live out my life, but right now what I want to do most is to be a grandma to my four beautiful grandchildren. So when I was challenged during my recent visit to El Salvador and Guatemala to find the best way to work for a justice-filled world, I wrestled within myself how to balance social justice work with being a grandma. Hearing once again the heart-twisting stories about systemic abuse and inept and oppressive governments, and about the long term effects of past civil wars and current gang violence on the daily lives of people, the nagging considerations kept surfacing: “What do I do with all this? I just want to be a grandma.” Continue reading
Watching the fields we tend to grow fruit
[By Walter Arreaza, former SP Staff] I have been away from Sister Parish for a number of years (most of which I have spent living in Scotland) and so to come back and re-enter the experience has made a big impact on me again… Continue reading
Visions from Guarjila
[By Greg Huang-Dale, Sister Parish President] As Vicki Schmidt described, Sister Parish is a space where God intervenes in our lives creating kairos moments of revelation. This delegation had kairos moments galore. God intervened so frequently that we began to expect the unexpected. And my revelation was that kairos moments happen whenever we allow God to lead. But these moments are not only connections to God, they are also the core of solidarity, allowing ourselves to be led by each other in the Spirit of God. Continue reading
sisterparishinc 