Affiliate Dreams – Trip to El Paso
Bob Short, Santa Orlando, and Patty Hinton – Affiliate New Mission Initiative Committee
Focusing on the Affiliate Pillars of Community and Action on our trip to El Paso, we asked, how might we respond to the significant needs on the border from within a collaborative mission community of Maryknollers? The bolded text reflects a potentially new model for all of us.
“Let us dream together, pray together,
and work together, to build one world of peace and justice for all.”
—Prayer shared by Sr. Lil Mattingly, MM,
during our El Paso gathering
On November 1st, Affiliates Patty Hinton, Santa Orlando, and Bob Short traveled to El Paso to get a sense of the needs, topography, culture, work possibilities, and the Maryknollers—priests, sisters and lay missioners—presently living and working there. From the beginning, we were struck by the tremendous welcome from the Maryknollers in El Paso. The sisters arranged for a gathering (prayer, discussion, and a meal) of all Maryknollers. Maryknoll Lay Missioner Coralis Salvador gave us a brief tour of the environs and set up a meeting with Fr. Rafael Garcia, SJ, pastor of Sacred Heart parish and deeply committed to immigration reform. Former Maryknoll Lay Missioner Carol Zuccarino (Honerkamp) gave us a tour of Casa Vides where she coordinates a shelter and other layers of outreach to refugees in transition. Finally, Fr. Ray Finch, MM, offered us his home for our entire stay and could not have been more welcoming.
Ray Finch, MM, celebrating Mass at Cristo Rey
What became clear immediately is that there are many varieties of ministries (Actions) in the area that Affiliates could become involved in for a week or month, or for a longer term. This could begin tomorrow. Affiliates have already been doing short-term ministries in the US and overseas since our inception. Immigration and refugee work is a primary focus on the border, but other opportunities exist as well. The Mexican/Mexican-American culture is an especially rich and beautiful one. Spanish fluency for anyone volunteering would help but is not necessary.
El Paso and Juarez
Our primary focus was to explore the possibility of establishing a Maryknoll intentional community inviting all of the four expressions that would, by design, work, pray, and gather (if possible, live) together as a Maryknoll family.
We clearly realize that this is an aspirational leap with many, many challenges to consider—housing, personnel and financial resources, orientation, vetting, varying life styles, etc. However, as the saying goes, “If not now, when? If not us, who?” The challenges are significant, but the rewards could be momentous, perhaps transformative. At this juncture in history, we feel that this kind of community would be supportive of and strengthen our respective vocational commitments and be a witness to those who come to know us.
The El Paso trip was energizing, encouraging, and expectant for us. While we can’t know what all this will eventually look like, we are convinced that we ‘must begin’ and trust in the Spirit that something new and sustainable will emerge.