By Mary Morin
The twentieth anniversary celebration of Good Shepherd’s twinning with El Buen Pastor took place through the effort and support of hundreds of parish and citywide individuals and groups. The visit began on November 8th and concluded on November 16th.
The eight-day visit by Serbando, Marlene and Hilda from El Salvador was a whirlwind of dinners, interviews, meetings, visits to schools, and gatherings.
The momentum began with the Saturday evening Mass, November 10th. Father Francis Hund, Father Tom Kerns, and Father George Seuferling concelebrated. The church was packed.
Following Mass, the third annual Fiesta provided an opportunity to enhance the parish goal of global and local involvement. Holy Name Parish in Kansas City, Kansas catered a Mexican dinner for 350 people. Wally Kisthardt, serving as master of ceremonies, kicked off the evening’s program by singing his original song, “We Celebrate”. Megan Wanccura accompanied him on the saxophone.
On behalf of the parish, Father Francis accepted Buen Pastor’s gift of a painting of the Last Supper. Fifth graders from Good Shepherd School sang several songs. The Fiesta concluded with excited children breaking the two piñatas.
On Sunday parishioners volunteered to serve as translators at each of the Masses. Marlene remarked that it was so meaningful for her to touch the shoulder of those initiated into the RCIA program at the 9:00 a.m. Mass.
A Sunday evening gathering served as an emotional conclusion to the day. Along with Marlene, Serbando and Hilda, Elly Jordan, from the SHARE office in Washington, D. C. and parishioners, Phyllis Zimmer, Rachael Flener, and Ann Suellentrop walked to the front platform barefoot. With the reading of a blessing for each traveler, another person came forward to anoint their feet. Several persons remarked that this reminded them of the story of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet.
Individuals seated in the audience passed around white crosses. Each person added one or two names to a cross from the list of 32 family members from Buen Pastor killed during the war. The seven travelers each took one cross to pack in a suitcase for their trip to the Vigil to Close the School of the Americas in Georgia the next weekend.
The visitors shared their thoughts with the gathering. “Buen Pastor is one of the best communities in El Salvador because we have a sistering relationship with Good Shepherd,” said Serbando.
“I have six children. “I don’t want my children to leave El Salvador and come to the United States,” said Hilda in her introduction. “The reason we’re able to do our work at UCRES is because of Good Shepherd.”
“The government of our country thinks there is no poverty because we have beans and rice and tortillas. I fear that my children do not get enough of the right foods,” Marlene responded, her voice tearful.
After a full weekend, Monday morning started with an opportunity for the visitors to meet with the editorial board at the Kansas City Star.
“I was so proud of our Salvadorans as they spoke eloquently about their community, political concerns, and the importance of the 20-year sistering relationship,” remarked their driver, Eileen Thoni.
To the attentive group of journalists, Serbando said, “I teach two sessions at a rural school. I work for twelve hours and make $16 a day. I had to work and go to school in order to get my education. I went without food and sleep many times.”
One of the journalists asked what would happen if the United States completely closed its border.
“Immigration would slow decline. We would survive but be poor,” said Marlene
“Currently most people in El Salvador eat meat only once a month. At Buen Pastor we are able to eat meat once a week,” Marlene continued.
The Salvadorans mentioned that in their country only people with power get their voices heard. As they listened to the editors discuss articles for the paper on various community concerns, they learned that our countries have similar problems.
Tuesday night Father Francis provided a typical Thanksgiving feast in his home. Invited guests responded to the question, “What outstanding memory do you have of this week?”
Both Jesse Olivarez and Jeff Flener agreed that the opportunities to get to know Hilda and Marlene and Serbando first-hand topped their list. Their wives, both Rachel and Rachael, were former travelers.
Wednesday was a full day beginning with the all-school Mass. The guests provided principal Ann McGuff with a rosary made by the woman’s group at Buen Pastor. Hilda and Serbando made presentations to all grade levels in the school library and all ate lunch with the 8th grade students.
Marlene met with a group of Familia mothers. (See separate article.)
Later in the afternoon Teresa Aley and Sarah Stephens showed Marlene and Serbando the DVD of the twenty-year twinning. All cried as the pictures from Buen Pastor’s struggle flowed across the screen.
“If we don’t have God in our hearts, we will fail,” concluded Serbando.
The long day was not over. Serbando and Marlene spoke to two sessions of Kids Creed/RAFT. They shared the story of water at Buen Pastor. Through translators, Maria Tagle at the first session, and Esmeralda Peterson at the second,
“Much of the water in El Salvador is polluted. At Buen Pastor, it is clean. Thanks to Good Shepherd we have a pump, which provides water to each house. A new irrigation system carries the used water away from the houses,” said Serbando.
Thursday evening provided the opportunity for an evaluation of the tour.
“I never thought the opportunity to visit the United States was possible,” started Hilda. “Buen Pastor and you gave me this chance.”
“I hope you will forgive us if we made mistakes or didn’t express ourselves well enough,” said Marlene. When told that hundreds of people had made this opportunity possible, she put her hands to her face in surprise. “I have so much to share with my community when I get home. You love me too much.”
And so, tired travelers left their Shawnee family the next morning. Tired host parishioners remembered Serbando’s words from earlier in the visit, “If God wills it, it will go well.”
And it did.
