I was fortunate to participate in the 2009 Lenten pilgrimage to the Archdiocese’s sister parish in the Dominican Republic, La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family parish). The parish is located in an agricultural area of the country which is very poor economically. While there we experienced our triune God.

We attended Mass seven times. Each time we were overwhelmed by the love shown to us during the Sign of Peace. Everyone leaves their seat to greet their neighbors. Strangers would come up to me and give me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. The abuelitas (little old grandmothers) would give the strongest hugs and the wettest kisses. The entire parish felt God’s love for them and they shared that love with each other. What an experience!

Malnutrition of children is a serious problem within the parish‘s villages. Two young women, age 16 and 18, saw this problem in their village of Ganadero. Motivated by the Holy Spirit, they were determined to do something about it. They fixed up an old building to use as a nutritional center. They went door to door in their village asking for food donations. Starting at one day a week, about 50 children spent the morning at the center where they played games, got some pre-school learning, and ate a sound meal. Later the center expanded to five mornings a week with donations to buy food from a parish in Kenosha. Four other teenage girls are helping. It is a wonderful place for the kids!

Finally, we experienced Christ. It was the tomato harvest season and we saw men bent over on their knees picking tomatoes under the sun in 80+ degree heat. They were earning 12 cents for each burlap bag they filled. On a good day, they would earn $6.00 (50 bags). In their faces we saw the bent over, beaten Christ walking toward Golgotha. Unfortunately, we did not see any Simon of Cyrene to assist with their burden. These men were alone with their bags and the heat. I felt shame and anger that anyone should have to earn such a meager living in such a difficult manner.

Overall, there is no way to put into a few words all that we saw or the emotions we experienced. I pray that I will never forget the love shown to me or the suffering I saw. I am hopeful the Holy Spirit will motivate me, as those two teenagers, to do something about it: to be a Simon of Cyrene.

Story contributed by Tom Roeder