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We are pleased to announce the next delegation from the San Marcos Diocese in Guatemala, arriving on April 22 for an 8-day visit to the Wilmington Diocese. There will be two delegates, Fr. Silverio Chun and Sr. Bernarda de Jesus Rojas Rodriguez. Fr. Silverio is 48 years old and has been a priest for 19 years. He is a native of the San Marcos Diocese and is pastor at San Jose parish. His parish has 40 small communities, including some communities we will be working with in the near future. Sr. Bernarda works closely with Bishop Ramazzini on matters affecting social ministry. The parish Annunciation of La Blanca has a parish school that will be involved in a partnership with St. John the Beloved. The pastor of the school in La Blanca is Fr. Gabriel Hoflacker, who is 75 years old and will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination this May. Fr. Gabriel is originally from Belgium but has served in Guatemala for his entire priesthood. The school was started 20 years ago, about 5 years after he came to San Marcos. This parish has 25 small communities in the coastal area of San Marcos. The teachers at the school are religious sisters as well as lay people. Although they won’t be able to visit Wilmington themselves, they will be forwarding letters, cards, and photos from the schoolchildren. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities to talk with our guests.

Delegation arrives from San Marcos April 22

If you have a particular question, please email Pat.Sormani@gmail.com or contact Fr. John Hynes at St. Catherine of Siena (302-633-4900).

Schedule of Events (subject to change) • Saturday, April 24:

Fiesta at St. Ann’s Parish, Wilmington, 10 AM 5:30 PM Mass at Resurrection Parish, Wilmington evening Mass at St. Andrew Parish

• Sunday, April 25: morning Masses at St. Andrew Parish, Ocen City, and at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Bear (9:15am, 11 am) Gathering and Spanish Mass at Immaculate Conception Parish in Marydel, 3-9 pm

• Monday, April 26: Visits to St. Mark’s High School, Bishop Malooly’s office, and Ursuline Academy.

• Tuesday, April 27: Visit to Padua Academy, and Georgetown. St. Mary of the Assumption, Hockessin, presentation, 7 pm

• Thursday, April 29: Visit to St. John the Beloved School, Wilmington, with Mass at 10 am with Bishop Malooly

See www.cdow.org/solidarity.html for more information. If you have a comment or question, please email Pat.Sormani@gmail.com

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SPRING 2010 GLOBAL SOLIDARITY PARTNERSHIP

At a Solidarity Gathering at St. Michael the Archangel in Georgetown on March 20:

! Fathers Bob Burke and Cesar Gómez extended

a warm welcome to all participants--both new immigrants and mainstreamers--and led opening prayer.

! Pat Sormani of Resurrection Parish,

Wilmington, presented a photo show and

testimony of last year’s delegation to San Marcos.

! Professor April Veness of the University of

Delaware explained her projects in San Marcos

with American students including the construction of a bridge.

! Bonifacio Roblero of St. Michael,

Georgetown shared stories of his faith, his

family, and his service as a health promoter in San Marcos. Bonifacio and his wife, Ariceli, prepared thirteen couples to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony last February 14 at St. Michael the Archangel.

! Father John Hynes of St. Catherine of Siena

Parish presented a brief history of the Solidarity

Partnership.

! Br. Chris Posch, ofm, of the Diocesan

Hispanic Ministry Team announced the great

news that Padre Silverio Chun, pastor of San

José en El Rodeo, San Marcos and Sister

Bernarda Rojas, directress de Caritas y assistant

to Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini, will be visiting the Wilmington Diocese from April 22 thru 30.

! Everyone brainstormed of ways that we can grow closer together in mutual friendships with Guatemalans in San Marcos and Guatemalans right here in the Delmarva Peninsula. There were some good ideas including home visits, English classes, Spanish classes, and gatherings with prayer, food, music, and sports.

! Twelve Guatemalan girls dressed in colorful indigenous attire presented a lovely folkloric dance.

! Fr. Bob, the parish administrator, joyfully stated that all are welcome to return in order to share in friendship, brotherhood, and sisterhood.

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SPRING 2010 GLOBAL SOLIDARITY PARTNERSHIP

! Padres Bob Burke y Cesar Gómez extendieron un caloroso bienvenido a todos los

inmigrantes y americanos que asistieron en la parroquia en Georgetown. ! Pat Sormani de la parroquia de Resureción en Wilmington presentó fotos y un

testimonio de su viaje a San Marcos con 5 americanos de Wilmington el verano pasado.

! Doctora April Veness de la Universidad de Delaware explicó sus projectos con

alumnos Americanos en San Marcos que incluye la construción de un Puente. ! Bonifacio Roblero de San Miguel en Georgetown compartió un testimonio de su fe,

su familia, sus obras como promotador de salud en San Marcos, y su ministerios laicos en Georgetown.

! Padre Juan Hynes de Santa Catalina presentó la historia de solidaridad entre las dos

diocesises. ! Facilador Hermano Cristóbal anunció que el Padre Silverio Chun, párrocho de San

José en El Rodeo, San Marcos y la Hermana Bernarda Rojas, directora de Caritas y

ayudante del Obispo Alvaro Ramazzini, van a visitar la diócesis de Wilmington el 22

hasta 30 de abril. ! Todos hicieron una lluvia de ideas sobre como podemos crecer un mutual

conocimiento y amisdades. ! Algunas niñas de San Miguel hicieron una danza folklorica.

! El Admininistrador Padre Bob dijo que todos son bienvenidos para volver para compartir en estas amisdades de fe y hermanidad.

Durante un Encuentro de Solidaridad de las Diócesises de San Marcos y Wilmington:

We reprint the report by Fr. John Hynes of an April 29, 2006 visit to the Caseria of Yalu. It is a good reminder of what can be done, especially as we prepare to welcome the latest delegation from San Marcos.

May 06, 2006 After visit April 29 to the Caseria Yalu * (*Caseria = “hamlet”) Long journey, due to mountain switchbacks and lengthy wait at Mexican border. Climate changed markedly, became tropical. Our team and eight Caritas workers, including engineer who had directed the project, plus Fr. Toribio, Luis Alonzo, and Lencho our driver. I found myself thinking ‘Is this a good use of so many people’s time? Going to a hamlet so remote it has to be entered from a different country? For forty-four families who have no influence on anything?’ All that changed as we hiked up the hill that gave us our first view of Yalu. Across a wide gorge the church was a gleaming white amid the houses. Little figures were clustered in front of it. Whole community awaited us. Along our trail coffee trees. In marshy ground near stream calla lilies (azucena). The whole village greeted us (44 families, 280 people). Most already assembled in Church. I

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SPRING 2010 GLOBAL SOLIDARITY PARTNERSHIP

This newsletter is published quarterly, with input from members of the Solidarity Committee in Wilmington, members of previous delegations, or other interested parties. If you would like to contribute, please email

Pat.Sormani@gmail.com or Brother Chris Posch at chrisposch2@aol.com. Photos by Br. Chris Posch, Darlene Arena.

concelebrated with Fr. Toribio. Faces of the people were alive, healthy, focused. I didn’t see signs of disease or malnutrition. Very alive. On other side of sanctuary one woman was nursing a baby. During the Consecration, a dog was wandering up the main aisle; no one paid him attention. All focused on altar. The sound system was a single microphone powered by a car battery. Four or five guitarists and a couple of singers led. Many communions. After Mass 30 or more approached me for a blessing then crowd assembled at ball field behind school for speeches by different officials of Yalu, the municipality of Siminal, and Caritas, then awards. I read a few letters from the people at St. Benedicts. Afterwards we got individuals and groups to dictate messages in reply to the parishes who had helped. A very good meal was served = tender chicken with a tasty molé (i.e. sauce). Then a blessing of the new potable water system. Each family has its own “pilares” out back which is a water source and septic toilet. A handsome tablet marks the spot of the dedication dated 29 April 06 and names of key villagers and our diocese. Caritas told me that the actual cost was about $23,000 but that normal contracting would have cost $55,000. Money was raised in its entirety by our parishes of St. Benedict’s and St. Elizabeth’s of Ridgely-Denton, St. Mary Magdalen, and Good Shepherd, Perryville. A lot of the savings were the labor and materials of the people of Yalu. Some had hauled sand from the riverbed (about 1,000 feet below). Others did masonry, plumbing (plomberos, fontineros). Caritas coordinator said, “This is our approach: that it’s their project, their ownership.” The people seemed robust in spirit, “can do.” It is evident that this was the people’s project and the parishes in our diocese have a right to feel good. Other important parts of the project include education on sanitation practices, maintenance of the systems, and conservation of the water supply. (This is done by a committee formed by the village and is made up of members of the village.) In our report to the San Marcos Solidarity Commission, we noted this completion, that all the money ($25,000) has been collected for a second project and that a third one will be selected somewhere in Sibinal.