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Deacon Ray Van Pelt participates with Mayan parishioners at Santiago Atitlan during his Maryknoll pilgrimage (Courtesy Deacon Ray Van Pelt)

Maryknoll pilgrimage to Central America offers glimpse of ‘sacrifice’


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Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Commentary, Missions

Did you ever leaf through a “Maryknoll” magazine on your grandparent’s coffee table?  Ever wonder what it takes to be a missionary or if you had the “right stuff?” to be one. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage with Maryknoll in Central America.  I saw firsthand the tremendous work that missionaries do, and witnessed their lasting legacy and sacrifice.    

Maryknoll is the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America and was founded by the United State Bishops in 1911.  Comprised of priests, brothers, sisters and lay missionaries, Maryknoll serves in more than 20 countries.  They act as heralds of God’s love and hope by providing pastoral ministries, including healthcare, education, agricultural training, HIV/AIDS ministry and disaster relief.

Deacon Ray Van Pelt, left, during his Maryknoll pilgrimage (Courtesy Deacon Ray Van Pelt)

This past January, I joined a Maryknoll leadership team with 22 Catholic priests and deacons from the United States as we journeyed on a 12-day pilgrimage, retreat and immersion experience to El Salvador and Guatemala.  It was a pilgrimage because we studied and visited the holy sites of Church martyrs.  It was a retreat as our itinerary was grounded in daily prayer, Mass, individual reflection and group discussions.  And it was an immersion into the “work and fields” of past and current Maryknoll missionaries proclaiming the good news and caring for God’s people in some of the world’s most difficult circumstances.

Throughout the 1970s and 1990s, the countries of El Salvador and Guatemala struggled with the rule of law, government stability, security and human rights.  Opposing political and government forces used violence to gain and maintain political and economic power.  Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in political violence and civil wars. 

During these years, Catholic leaders were proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ while caring for the people.  They advocated for basic human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, voting rights, adequate housing, healthcare, education and employment.  Many of these Church leaders were viewed as a threat by violent extremists, and as a result were placed on “kill lists” and targeted. In both countries, numerous clergy and lay church men and women were killed or “disappeared.”

During our visit, we studied and visited the shrines and martyr sites of Catholic men and women resulting from this political violence. In El Salvador, we visited the assassination and grave sites of St. Archbishop Oscar Romero, the four American Maryknoll Missionary churchwomen (Dorothy Kazel, Maura Clarke, Jean Donovan and Ita Ford) and six Jesuit priests and two women who were killed at the University of Central America.  In Guatemala City, we visited the martyr site and grave of Bishop Gerardi, and traveled to the remote parish of Santiago Atitlan where Blessed Father Stanley Rother was martyred.  At Santiago Atitlan, we celebrated a beautiful Mass with its pastor while wearing stoles presented to us by local Mayan parishioners.  Hopefully, when Father Stanley Rother is canonized, he will be the first American born martyr. His shrine in Oklahoma City was recently dedicated in February 2023. 

Unlike many of the Saints from centuries ago, on our pilgrimage we encountered saints and martyrs of the modern era, not “ancient history.”  We met and listened to survivors who gave testimony of their personal experiences and had “first-person” accounts of martyrs.  We also recognized that the oppressive conditions of the recent Central American past are not much different from the current state for Catholics and people of faith in places such as Nicaragua and Nigeria. 

During our visit, we encountered Maryknoll priests, sisters and lay missionaries working as pastoral coordinators, catechists, teachers, healthcare providers and agricultural and clean-water advisors.  Amazing people doing amazing things.

These modern martyrs and active missionaries approach their ministries with courage, tenacity and love.  Their witness challenged me in my own life and diaconal ministry.  On this trip, I encountered true “Missionary Disciples,” who follow Jesus’ path of discipleship:  “deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me.”  I was humbled by these Catholic missionaries.         

How might you get involved with Maryknoll? Maryknoll assists parish leaders in developing missionary disciples through weekend visits, parish missions and retreats.  Maryknoll also offers short-term volunteer opportunities and immersion trips. These are available to lay people, priests and religious.  And everyone can support Maryknoll by becoming a contributing and supporting partner.  Each contributing member receives the monthly Maryknoll magazine – a magazine that just might spur someone to become a Missionary.

For information on Maryknoll immersion trips and mission opportunities contact Kevin McCarthy at kmccarthy@maryknoll.org or for further information on his pilgrimage, contact Deacon Ray at  rvanpelt@sjaparish.org.

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