Twenty-Five Years of Memories: Interweaving the Strands of Life

Posted on August 16, 2013 by sisterparishinc

[Throughout the year, we’ll be posting periodic reflections from Sister Parish community members in honor of our 25th Anniversary. Today’s reflection is from Jackie Arreaza, who worked for Sister Parish in Guatemala with her husband, Walter, from 1991 to 2001. Jackie and Walter now live in Scotland, but are still strong supporters of the Sister Parish mission. You can read more 25th anniversary reflections from Sister Parish community members here.]

As I look back on the 25 years of Sister Parish, I remember celebrating the 10th Imageanniversary 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.” It then went on to say:

becoming a thread in the fabric of a Sister Parish hermanamiento weaves one into the dynamic spiritual web of life, seeking to achieve for oneself and for all others human dignity, freedom from oppression, personal and global peace and a just, equitable and sustainable lifestyle.

15 years later, I think this is more important than ever as our societies have become more individualistic and less community oriented and as we still seek the same dignity, peace and justice for all. How valuable is the Sister Parish experience for connecting people who would not usually meet! I was privileged enough to be a “weaver” of these threads for 9 years (between 1992 and 2001) and am so glad to see that these relationships are still going strong and still changing lives!

Posted in 25th Anniversary, General | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Center for Mission delegation experiences Sister Parish

Posted on August 8, 2013 by sisterparishinc

[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 on that experience.]

Courtesy of Center for Mission. www.centerformission.org

Courtesy of Center for Mission. http://www.centerformission.org

In organizing a trip for educators to Guatemala, I wanted to include a time in Guatemala City to learn and understand more about the time of the violence in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, and about other current issues of injustice.   I contacted Sister Parish, and when I explained what I was seeking, they graciously offered to receive our group and to take us to various sites to bring those realities more to the fore of our consciousness.

We met with the Archdiocesan Office of Human Rights, which in 1998 was headed by Bishop Juan Gerardi and had published the report “Nunca Mas!” which had found that 93% of the deaths in the 1980’s were by the military. We went to Mass at St. Sebastian Parish which was also the memorial site of Bishop Gerardi’s, who was murdered just two days after the publication of the report.  On the pillars outside of the Cathedral we saw inscribed thousands of names of the victims of the massacres.  We met with the Network in Solidarity with Guatemala (NISGUA), which accompanied those who gave testimony in the genocide trial of General Rios Montt, and who is now working with indigenous communities whose land is being threatened by potentially devastating pollution by mining companies from North America.

Courtesy of Center for Mission. www.centerformission.org

Courtesy of Center for Mission. http://www.centerformission.org

Finally we had an opportunity to witness the amazing work and pride of the local community organization UPAVIM (Unidas Para una Vida Mejor -United for a Better Life),  a group of women who have organized themselves to provide health, education and means of income for many families in their economically poor barrio of Guatemala City. The experience with UPAVIM was a tremendous sign of hope for our group.

My hope is that all of these up-close experiences with people working for human dignity and truth in Guatemala will enhance the possibility for solidarity-oriented education for North American students towards a world where all people are valued and honored, no matter their ethnicity, economic or social status.

Courtesy of Center for Mission. www.centerformission.org

Courtesy of Center for Mission. http://www.centerformission.org

Posted in Delegations, General, Guatemala | Tagged | Leave a comment

Twenty-Five Years of Memories: Working for Justice by Standing in Solidarity

Posted on July 23, 2013 by sisterparishinc

En español

[Throughout the year, we’ll be posting periodic reflections from Sister Parish community members in honor of our 25th Anniversary. Today’s reflection is an interview with Bob Heberle, done by Nancy Wiens. Nancy is a current Sister Parish board member, and Bob is a former board member and longtime supporter of Sister Parish. They are both members of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community in Minneapolis, MN which is linked with Tierra Nueva II in Guatemala City, Guatemala. You can read more 25th anniversary reflections from Sister Parish community members here.]

Nancy: Could you talk about what inspired you to become involved with Sister Parish?  

Image

A photo from St. Joan of Arc’s 1996 delegation to Tierra Nueva II. Bob Heberle is the man knealing in the plaid shirt.

Bob: In the 80’s, I had been very involved in Central American issues and trying to educate the American public about the atrocious crimes we had been committing in Central America, supporting the massacres in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. I participated in different protests in various places and I was arrested several times. I became very frustrated because I couldn’t get my fellow American citizens aware or concerned or agitated. The crimes of our country were so egregious. You know, that was during the Oscar Romero days (in El Salvador) with so many massacres going on down there. Continue reading →

Posted in 25th Anniversary, General, Guatemala | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Veinticinco años de Memorias: creciendo juntas-os en la fe

Posted on July 12, 2013 by sisterparishinc
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 anciano de la comunidad Las Margaritas II, región del Ixcán, Quiché, Guatemala.  Este año las Margaritas II celebra 20 años de estar hermanada con la parroquia San Francisco de Asís, en Raleigh, Carolina del Norte.  Ustedes pueden leer más reflexiones en relación con el 25 aniversario de Iglesias hermanas aquí.]

Comité de hermanamiento de Las Margaritas II

Comité de hermanamiento de Las Margaritas II

La relación con San Francisco de Asís y Las Margaritas se inició en 1993. Ellos-as vinieron en búsqueda y para conocer otra iglesia, y la vida aquí en la comunidad, para compartir e intercambiar experiencias. Esto sucedió también durante el tiempo de guerra, cuando la gente sufrió muchísimo aquí en el Ixcán. Continue reading →

Posted in 25 aniversario, Español, Guatemala | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Hermanamientos de Estados Unidos comparten el pan y construyen solidaridad juntos

Posted on July 12, 2013 by sisterparishinc
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 Nancy Wiens y Sarah Jerde, miembros de la Junta directiva, para organizar un “potluck” (una cena en la que cada persona lleva algo para compartir) al estilo tradicional para motivar la reunión de amigas y amigos de Iglesias hermanas en la región del oeste medio de Estados Unidos. Continue reading →

Posted in Español, General | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments
En español

IMG_0938[1]

The Sister Parish Committee of Las Margaritas II.

[Throughout the year, we’ll be posting periodic reflections from Sister Parish community members in honor of our 25th Anniversary. Today’s reflection is from Jose Choc, a community leader and elder of Las Margaritas II in Guatemala. This year, Las Margaritas II celebrates their 20th year of being linked to their sister parish, St Francis of Assisi Catholic Community in Raleigh, NC. You can read more 25th anniversary reflections from Sister Parish community members here.]

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 and exchange experiences. It was also during the times of war and the people suffered a lot in the Ixcan. Continue reading →

Posted on June 7, 2013 by sisterparishinc | 2 Comments

US Sister Parishes Break Bread and Build Solidarity Together

Posted on June 7, 2013 by sisterparishinc
En español

Making new friends was easy at a Sister Parish regional potluck held at the Saint Paul Imagehome of Nancy Wiens and Rick Nelson on Saturday June 1st.  Executive Director Carrie Stengel was in the Midwest visiting family and friends, so board members Nancy Wiens and Sarah Jerde decided a good old fashioned potluck was the ticket for gathering SP friends from the region. Continue reading →

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It’s a Grandma Thing.

Posted on May 10, 2013 by sisterparishinc

[In April, Sister Parish board members and founders traveled to Central America for a special 25th Anniversary Delegation. This month, we’re posting reflections from delegates about that experience. This reflection is from Sister Parish’s founder, Vicki Schmidt. You can read other reflections from the 25th Anniversary Delegation here.]

Vickie (in red) traveling on the delegation.

Vicki (in red) traveling on the delegation.

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 →

Posted in 25th Anniversary Delegation, Delegations, El Salvador, General, Guatemala | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Watching the fields we tend to grow fruit

Posted on May 9, 2013 by sisterparishinc

[In April, Sister Parish board members and founders traveled to Central America for a special 25th Anniversary Delegation. This month, we’re posting reflections from delegates about that experience. This reflection is from Walter Arreaza, who worked for Sister Parish in Guatemala with his wife Jackie from 1991 to 2001. Walter and Jackie now live in Scotland, but are still strong supporters of the Sister Parish mission. You can read other reflections from the 25th Anniversary Delegation here.]

Sister Parish has been promoting and nurturing hermanamientos (linkages) for IMG_2170over 25 years now. Hermanamiento is a very powerful word when referring to a sister parish relationship because it describes a connection that focuses on becoming true sisters and brothers in Christ– across barriers such as borders, culture and language. 

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– just like in the beginning but with even more force– as I come with new expectations and to a field that has produced so many more fruits since I left. I finished this delegation inspired by the people in the hermanamientos-– their enthusiasm, their perseverance and commitment are really inspiring and deserve recognition, as they work to build the Kingdom of God in their communities. 

It is so refreshing to see the organization maturing and continuously re-working its way to be Witness in a world ever-changing and in so much need of justice, peace, fraternity and equality, which are directly created in each one of the relationships Sister Parish fosters. 

Thank you everyone for your commitment and dedication.

En la buena lucha,

Walter

Posted in 25th Anniversary, 25th Anniversary Delegation, Delegations, El Salvador, Guatemala, North to South | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Visions from Guarjila

Posted on May 9, 2013 by sisterparishinc

En español

[In April, Sister Parish board members and founders traveled to Central America for a special 25th Anniversary Delegation. This month, we’re posting reflections from delegates about that experience. This reflection is from Sister Parish President, Greg Huang-Dale, who is a member of First United Methodist Church of Decorah, Iowa. You can read other reflections from the 25th Anniversary Delegation here.]

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 →

Posted in 25th Anniversary Delegation, Delegations, El Salvador, General, Guatemala | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment