My Missionary Adventure

Latest Update

2009-11-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

Here is another update. I want to thank my parents & Don Gutmann for letting me stay at their places for the past few months. I am working at Salem's Catholic Community Services as the Community Initiatives Director. I am starting projects under the direction of the most creative Executive Director, Jim Seymour. I just signed a six month lease on a house in Newberg, Oregon. Here is Don, Bill Holtzinger, & Mike Walker visiting me at my cubicle!

An Ending & A New Beginning

2009-01-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I haven’t updated this blog in awhile. I am doing pretty well.
I wanted to let you know about what’s been going on, but wanted to meet with my Archbishop first. I’ve asked for a leave of absence. I am not quitting at this point, but taking time out from active ministry to more earnestly discern what I need to do.
This does not involve scandal, nor was was I asked to leave, and am not doing this under any pressure, but under my own volition.
I’ve been thinking about this & discussing this with those close to me for some time.
I’m thankful for 13 years of priestly ministry, there have been many joys mixed with sorrows. I’ve been struggling in priestly ministry, and want to discern whether I want to continue or not, and if I want to continue, in what fashion that might be.
About going to South America with the St. James Society, I was struggling with my issues even before I went down there, and I realized I wouldn’t be able to work through my issues so far away from my support structure.
I am working with a counselor that I highly respect.
Part of my discernment might include backing away from Church related activities.
My faith is still a vital part of my life, and will continue going to Mass regularly.
I’m living with my parents and friends for the time being, and as this is stressful for them, the best way to contact me is by my email. Don’t be surprised by a slow response time.
At this point, this may be my last posting on this blog.
I ask for your prayers as I discern on my next steps. Thank you for prayerful support, and for following my adventures.

Christ the King Weekend, in belly of the king!

2008-11-24T19:18:00.000-08:00

On Christ the King weekend, I got to visit the Eastern most outpost of the Inca Empire with 8 others from the Institute, at an Inca fortress named Incallajta (below). It is Bolivia's largest Inca ruins. The top picture is "Cristo de la Concordia." It is Cochabamba's central figure, standing on a hill that can be seen from all parts of town. It is the "Largest Image in the world." He stands at 46 meters tall (the Statue of Liberty is only 40 meters tall). He is taller than his likeness in Rio de Janiero. I went there with my Bolivian brother, Oscar on the Feast of Christ the King. It was nice, I went to Mass, received Communion, and had Jesus in my belly, then I entered, and climbed the stairs within the statue, and found myself in the belly of Christ!

New Coordinator Visits?

2008-11-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

Here, Fr. Colin McGinnis, St. James Society priest from Guayaquil, Ecuador is visiting Fr. Tom Henehan, MM & I in Cochabamba. He is treating us to La Contada Italian Restaurant. He is visiting because the St. James Society is training 6 lay missionaries in the Maryknoll Mission Leadership Program at the Institute. Fr. Tom is head of this program. Fr. Colis is one of three priests in Ecuador who is eligible to be the new St. James Ecuador Coordinator. Elections will be held at the retreat in Ayangue next week.

The Jesuit Missions (Chiquitania)

2008-11-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

Four of us from the Language Institute went to visit the Jesuit Missions that they opened up in the 17th Century outside of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. They were famous for enculturating the native people, using a mixture of their customs, and the Catholic religion. They were very successful. However, due to European politics, the Jesuits were suppressed, and the Franciscans took over the missions. Here we are in front of the Mission San Ana (in the jungle . . . we saw a lot of wildlife).

We were blessed to visit these missions during the very important feast days of All Saints & Dia de los Difuntos! They really clean up, repair and decorate the cemeteries these days!

Here is an example of some of the wildlife we encountered. Besides the tarantula & rattlesnake pictured below, we saw thousands of parrots, toucans, turkey like things, wild ostriches (piyos), caymans (alligators), bats, sloth and more.

Arrived in Cochabamba

2008-10-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Cochabamba, Bolivia at the Maryknoll Instituto de Idiomas (language school) on Wed. morning. Here Kitty and Alejandro are welcoming me, and designing my program to suit my needs. I am being tutored by four teachers in grammar, reading and writing, conversation and vocabulary.

Fr. Jim Coleman in Bolivia

2008-10-22T13:20:00.001-07:00

On my way to language school in Cochabamba, Bolivia (6 week course starting Oct 20th, but due to technical difficulties ATM trouble, airline trouble, and other trouble, I started Oct. 22nd) I passed through Santa Cruz, where Fr. Jim Coleman of our Archdiocese resides and works. Here we are with Fr. Roger Clarke of the St. James Society.

Here is Fr. Roger in front of the major parish where they work in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

In Peru, Off to Bolivia

2008-10-17T15:20:00.001-07:00

I came to Lima, Peru, en route to Cochabamba, Bolivia where I'll study Spanish for six weeks. I stayed at the St. James Motherhouse in Lima for two days. I got to visit one of the St. James Lima parishes with Fr. Derek (top picture). In the 1980s it was the heaviest concentration of the members of the terrorist group, the Shining Path. Members still live there, and cause some minor trouble. Today, Friday, I got to visit Old Town Lima with Fr. Geoffrey. Here we are in the Santuary at the site where St. Rose of Lima, and St. Martin de Porres were born and raised (they grew up across the street from each other . . . holy neighborhood!) I fly to Santa Cruz tonight, where I'll meet up with Fr. Jim Coleman of our Archdiocese, until I fly to Cochabamba on Sunday.

Puerto Quito Highlights

2008-10-13T06:43:00.001-07:00

Fr. Martin Kelly has been in Puerto Quito for 16 years. He has a newly ordained priest with him every year. Together they cover 50 "recintos" or villages each month. They have 98 to cover if they could.

Fr. Martin has also begun an excellent Family Catechesis program, requiring parents to truly be the catechist for their children. Here before their monthly Mass at this recinto, "10 de Agosto" he is testing the children's knowledge in front of their parents.

Fr. Martin also started schools, and trains the locals in how to more effectively farm chickens, cows, pigs, silk worms and grow cacau (chocolate beans). This picture below shows the chocolate beans drying in the . . . cloudy weather (they will have to be moved inside into the heater for further drying).

Puerto Quito

2008-10-09T16:37:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, Oct. 9th, I was picked up in Quito by Fr. Martin Kelly, and we crossed the equator, and descended the Andes Mountains, through a cloud forest to the coastal plains (but still cloud forest) of Puerto Quito (where I'll stay until Monday). Fr. Martin has 50 recintas (villages) that he tends to at least monthly! I can take off my jacket and sweater again! I still won't get my tan back here, though!

Quito

2008-10-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

I flew to Quito, the nation's capital, on Monday, Oct. 6th, where I visited with Fr. Patrick McIntyre in his parish. I also got to know Fr. Bob Thomas, former St. James Director, and another priest (pictured here), Fr. Don Kenny. Quito is suprisingly beautiful, at an altitude of 8,000 ft., surrounded by snow covered volcanic mountains, and filled with historic churches and missions. Here we are in the still active gardens of the Franciscan Monastery (with 395 friars). I was surprised at the cold weather! It was 40 degrees at night, and got to 60 degrees during the day!

Here, Fr. Bob Thomas took me on a tour of his former parish (he's semi-retired), and we reached an altitude of 11,000 ft.! Here's looking down on Quito.

Quito Friend

2008-10-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

In Quito, I got to visit with Rodrigo Caicedo, who was an exchange student in my previous parish of St. John's, Port Orford.

This Feels Like Missionary Work

2008-10-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

While substituting for Fr. Frank (see blog below), I said Mass in one of his 15 chapels, in a rural area called Ocho Rios. They celebrated four First Communions. Horses galloped by (why they weren't in Church, I don't know . . . the riders that is). I was invited to a reception at the home of Stephanie, this house of cana is on stilts. I didn't get ill from the local food, but I did get salmonella last week from one of the priest's cook's raw chicken I didn't catch on time!

First Baptism in Ecuador

2008-10-06T07:28:00.000-07:00

While substituting for Fr. Frank Jones, who is in the United States for surgery, and to take care of his sister who also had surgery, I did my first baptism. Here on October 5, I baptized Jorge Justin at the Capilla de Belen in the barrio of San Francisco at the 8:00am Mass. Of course, I had no prior warning!

2 Parishes in One Shot

2008-10-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

I got to watch Fr. Colm Hogan buy 7 solares (15m x 8 m each, equals one solare size piece of land) for $12,000. He plans on building a chapel here soon. In the background, you can see Fr. Tom Oates (another St. James priest) parish.

New Mass at School-Convent Site

2008-10-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Oct. 3rd, Fr. Colm Hogan celebrated a new Mass he is beginning at a school and convent being built here. You can see workers building the convent in the background. Fr. Colm's new parish and chapels are in the barrio called Monte Sinai.

We were driving around advertising that a new Mass was about to begin at the new school under construction (and convent too) (on other side of the fence) and came across this group, we thought was an evangelical gathering, but it was only bingo!

Youth love to evangelize for us. I think one of them is a little too young. Jose is announcing that a new mass is about to begin.

2008-10-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

On Oct. 1st, Fr. Cornelius Keilly, a priest from the Diocese of Baker, Oregon picked me up from Fr. Martin's parish, and treated me to a tour of his parish. Here we are toasting the Baker Diocesan priests of Oregon!

2008-10-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

On Oct. 2nd, Fr. Colm & I visited Fr. Edward Veasey in Guasmo, Guayaquil, where he not only built a church, but a hospital for the poor! He lives on the top floor, in an apartment.

2008-10-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

I visited Liam Reilly's parish on Oct. 3rd, in El Recreo, Durán, where our own Fr. Jim Coleman once served. Fr. Jim built the ceiling, and others have finished the Church.

Fr. Martin Chambers Parish

2008-10-01T08:42:00.000-07:00

I am staying a few nights with Fr. Martin Chambers in the barrio of Preciosisima Sangre de Cristo in Guayaquil. He has a total of seven chapels as well as his main parish pictured here. He began this parish about 3-4 years ago.

Inside Preciosisima Sangre de Cristo

2008-10-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here is the inside of Fr. Martin's main parish. It is beautiful, and he thanks the blessings of the falling US dollar. He says his donations mainly come from his home country, Scotland, and the value of the pound to the dollar is almost 2 to 1. The buying power of a pound in Scotland and a dollar in Ecuador (they use US dollars in Ecuad0r) is almost the same, which makes a pound go almost twice as far here.

Fr. Martin Chambers Chapel

2008-10-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest chapel built by Fr. Martin. It will be blessed on Oct. 5th. He has a total of 7 chapels in the barrio called Nuevo Prosperino in Guayaquil.

Mass at Pan de Vida Sept. 28, 08

2008-10-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

I got to substitute for Fr. Frank Jones at the barrio San Francisco. Here we are celebrating the Mass at the main Church, that isn't fully built yet. It is still in the cana (sugar cane bamboo) style. I remembered the Filippino Community in Portland, as they celebrate their feast day of San Lorenzo Ruiz and the blessing of their Dambana at the Grotto in Portland. I also remembered the Contitution that passed in Ecuador this day, that justice may prevail.

Interesting Current Events in Ecuador Sept-Oct.

2008-09-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a huge event, that I believe the American newpapers will barely mention, is that Ecuador voted on and overwhelmingly passed a new Constitution on Sunday, September 28! Here is President Rafael Correa, who has been seen a lot on TV lately. He is very happy! It has a lot of written rights for the poor, the indigineous, the handicapped, the environment, and more great things. It also has the possibility of opening the door to abortion, and attacking Catholic schools.

St. Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran, a girl from a town about 2o miles outside of Guayaquil, Ecuador (140 years ago) will be canonized a Saint by Pope Benedict VI. Here are Miquel and I in the sanctuary of her Church, where her incorruptable body is displayed under the altar.

Here is a pilgrimage poster for the Canonization Mass at the Vatican scheduled for Sunday, October 12, 2008.

One more goodbye party!

2008-09-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Good Bye Tributes

2008-09-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

On June 5th, the Director of the St. James Society flew out from Boston to the Priest Retreat in Mt. Angel, Oregon for my sending Mass with the Archbishop, family and friends!

My former parishes, family and friends said their goodbyes. Here is a gift I received from St. John Mission, Port Orford, Oregon (an army helmet for the missions)!

Holy Trinity Parish, Bandon, Oregon gave me Missionary hat, complete with dangly things (that keep mosquitos out of faces)! I also got the two suitcases I'm living out of for the first 10 weeks.

2008-09-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

After Libertad, I headed up further along the Coast to San Pablo, where the coordinator for Ecuador, Fr. Desmond Dalton lives (right on the beach).

Another Door to Door Evangelizing Picture

2008-09-29T13:08:00.001-07:00

Here is another photo taken in Libertad, on the coast, when four of us were going door to door evangelizing. I SURE WISH more Catholics would do this!

2008-09-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

Here is Fr. Colm Hogan´s house and main Church near Guayaquil. I met Fr. Colm in Boston when we were both applying.

Here is Fr. Tom Bierney´s house, but at a neighboring parish, bordering his parish, in Libertad (West of Guayaquil by two hours).

2008-09-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

In Libertad, we began visiting door to door with Fr. Tom Bierney, who is one of the newest priests who just got his own parish named San Patricio. We are inviting people to attend a new Mass he´s starting at a new capilla. Here he is with two Legionnaire´s of Mary, with Jehovah Witnesses coming the other way!

Here is Fr. Tom helping a woman pay for a roof on her sugar cane house, built over a garbage dump.

First Communion & Visit Dying

2008-09-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

We had First Communion at two of the 15 chapels that belong to the San Francisco Parish. Here is a photo of the First Communion at Sacrada Familia Chapel.

Here we are visiting a woman, Bella, who is dying of complications due to diabetes. She already lost her legs in previous battles. Her 11 children and their families were all gathered.

Ecuador, then Bolivia, then Ecuador

2008-09-18T13:03:00.002-07:00

The plan for me is to visit the 15 priests, and the parishes they work at in Ecuador from Sept. 16-Oct. 15th. On October 15th, I travel to Cochabamba, Bolivia to take an intermediate Spanish course at the Instituto de Idiomas (that is if the civil unrest settles down in Bolivia by then). On December 2nd, I return to Ecuador to take my first assignment as an associate under a veteran pastor for probably six months.

The hardest part about going South was saying goodbye to my friends and family. Here is a photo of my family the morning before I left. God bless you all.

First Gathering Fellow Colleages

2008-09-18T13:03:00.001-07:00

Here are some of my fellow confreres at the September meeting in Ayanque.

Here are Fr. Colin, Fr. Patrick, Fr. Heiko (Enrique) & Fr. Frank. (to view more about them, and where they are from, visit the St. James Website at http://socstjames.com/).

Here are some of the others serving Ecuador, present at this gathering (clockwise): Fr. Colm, Dave, Fr. Desmond, Fr. Tom, Fr. John & Fr. Ed (on the three chairs).

Welcome & Introduction

2008-09-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

I have now officially joined the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle, serving in Ecuador. On Tuesday, September 16th, at 1:0am, I arrived in Guayaquil two hours late. After Fr. Colm Hogan picked me up, we drove two hours into the wilderness to the beautiful coastal retreat house in Ayanque owned by the St. James Society for their monthly meeting. On Wednesday, I began my parish visitations starting at Fr. Frank Jones' parish in San Francisco on the Northern part of Guayaquil, one of the newer squatter towns (invasion area). This top photo is the chapel at the retreat house.

This next photo is the beginning of a series of photos from Fr. Frank's parish, "Jesus, Pan de Vida" in the San Francisco squatter suburb.

The next photo is the neighborhood (suburb) where his parish is located.