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By Marie Mulvenna, Special To The Bulletin
PEACHTREE CITY—A small band of residents are readying their
travel gear as they prepare to leave Peachtree City for the mountains of
Guatemala.
They will serve the people of the tiny village of San Mateo
bringing medical assistance, supplies and the ongoing love and support of the
parishioners of Holy Trinity Church.
This is the third mission trip from the parish community to the
Catholics of the Diocese of Huehuetenango, adopted by Holy Trinity as a special
project for the Jubilee Year 2000, which called for involvement in acts of
social justice. Through a random drawing, parishioners chose Guatemala as the
focal point of their efforts and very shortly Holy Trinity was connected to the
Diocese of Huehuetenango. That was the start of the deep bond between the
Peachtree City parish and the impoverished citizens of San Mateo, a bond that
grows stronger as the months pass.
Father Fernando Molina-Restrepo, parochial vicar at Holy Trinity,
described the trips as “an opportunity for us to stretch out our hands to
our brothers and sisters in Central America and to share with the less
fortunate. We also are nourished in return by their faith and their
faithfulness to the church.”
“We go to serve and we receive so much more,” he added.
“We go with the Gospel message and are greatly enriched by their prayers
and appreciation.”
The first mission trip was one of investigation, when eight
members of the parish accompanied Father Molina-Restrepo on the fact-finding
trip that took them to remote regions, visiting eight towns to determine the
many needs of the people. It soon become apparent that medical needs were
primary and so a second mission trip was planned—this one with a decided
medical dimension.
Four nurses and an interpreter joined Father Molina-Restrepo for
the September trip. Their destination was San Mateo, a tiny village in the
mountains of Guatemala. Suitcases were filled with medical supplies that might
meet some of the needs of the people. A small clinic was set up in the town and
soon residents began to line up in the rain, waiting to be seen by the medical
team. The line was long, the wait longer. But the people were patient and happy
to receive this rare medical attention.
Awilda Guadalupe served as interpreter for the Holy Trinity
mission and described the experience as “very emotional.”
“The people are a very shy culture and they were genuinely
moved by our presence,” she said. “When we touched them, they smiled
in return, reaching out to us.”
Guadalupe said she thought many of those on line came “just
to see who we were.” Apparently they liked what they saw.
The team of nurses administered medical help for wounds,
backaches, infections, skin conditions, parasites, malnutrition and
gastrointestinal problems. They reported a great need for basic hygiene,
nutritional counseling, infant care, first aid treatment and prevention of
injuries. A pledge was made to return with more medical help.
Members of Holy Trinity committed $4,000 a month during the year
2000 to help several parishes in Huehuetenango provide a much needed breakfast
program for their children, most of whom arrive at school not having had any
nourishment. There is none in their homes. Since the September visit, letters
from the local bishop to Father Molina-Restrepo and Holy Trinity have expressed
great gratitude for this program which provides such basic nutritional
assistance for the young children.
What began as a special Jubilee Year project will continue into
2001 with a commitment of $1,000 a month for the breakfast project. Holy
Trinity has also been asked to consider helping with the construction of a
parish hall-type facility that would cost an additional $15,000.
Parishioners have become so dedicated to the Guatemala effort,
that they formed a special group, the Guatemala Action Project, to develop and
implement programs in the parish that would continue Holy Trinity’s role
of support.
“We have struck a special chord in the hearts of our
parishioners,” Father Molina-Restrepo said. “Their generosity and
commitment in the name of Christ is unbelievable.”
In mid-May, several nurses, and possibly a physician and a
dentist, will join Father Molina-Restrepo and a few Holy Trinity parishioners
for this second medical mission. Some donations of medical supplies have
already been given for the mission, but more are desperately needed. In
addition, the mission group hopes to take along small items for the children
such as hair barrettes, toiletries and small games. Plans include shipping many
of the donated medical items by air so they would be there when the mission
group arrives.
The mission group will leave Hartsfield Airport on Mother’s
Day, May 13.
“That seems appropriate, since we consider them as our
children,” Guadalupe said. “Our parish has taken them into their
hearts and we go to be with them bringing great affection and prayer.”
Father Molina-Restrepo readies for his next trip to Guatemala,
praying for additional donations of items as well as funding that could assist
in meeting the many needs of the people of San Mateo.
“We go as Christ would go, to these children, these
needy,” he said. “We hope we will be able to bring them significant
help as we join them in their sufferings.”
Donations may be made to Holy Trinity Church at 101 Walt Banks
Road, Peachtree City 30269. For more information call Father Molina-Restrepo at
(770) 487-7672. |
