Miracles Happen in Prayer and in Guatemala
By Susan Gallagher, Outreach Ministry Director, June 2010
Just six years ago the parish-based Mission to Guatemala was an idea. Prince of Peace was introduced to a sound approach for traveling to a war-ravaged third world country, Guatemala.
We understood the philosophy of sharing the faith with the indigenous Mayan people living in the hills of Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala, and wanted to further cultivate a relationship with our Sister Parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus there; but could we do this on our own? And what would we encounter? Would the entire parish come along with us in Eucharistic Adoration?
I am very pleased to report that we did accomplish our goal and are now in the fourth year of mission work on our own; but, not really.
One is never on his or her own with God. And, to our delight, hundreds of people from POP have joined us on every mission by praying for us 24-hours each day from home during our seven-day journey.
One might wonder why we would encourage such a large undertaking
of coordinating volunteers and clergy, and the important task of
handling the Blessed Sacrament with dignity and respect.
Why?
Because of MIRACLES! Many miracles can be sighted as a direct result of the POP parishioners’ prayers while in Eucharistic adoration in the POP Reservation Chapel.
There have been practical miracles: Vans badly stuck in the mud that miraculously came loose in time to make it to the school; protection from danger (many times we learned of random acts of minor violence in places that we had just exited); and on one of our trips, physical healing among many people who were sick with intestinal problems.
On this particular trip, one of our missionaries woke in the middle of the night with a high fever. She remembers thinking about the Reservation Chapel at POP, and suddenly her fever broke. After getting back to the states, it was discovered that several POP Knights of Columbus members had been in prayerful adoration at that same time. Is this coincidence or a miracle?
On a personal note, my own daughter returned to the U.S. with a new appreciation for the life she has here in the states. She experienced healing and spiritual growth, and discovered her vocation of working with children. She also learned humility and modesty. That’s a miracle every parent should experience!
The prayers uniting our parish with the missionaries thousands of miles away also has supported people as they healed from personal hurts: One teenage missionary had not completely healed from the death of his father; another missionary healed the hurt from a physical assault of a friend; another faced the heartache of disapproval from a parent; and finally, the healing of a relationship between two parishioners on the same mission.
But probably the most amazing result of the prayers is missionaries’ discovery of personal callings to Christ.
One man has already entered into the seminary after experiencing a mystical event in Mass while in Guatemala. A second man is very close to entering the seminary after experiencing the suffering Christ for the first time in his life (you can read more about this miracle in the story, An Experience of a Lifetime). A woman, who heard her name called seven times while in Guatemala, is now considering religious life. Another woman has become a regular missionary in other countries, serving God in a different way.
There is no denying it. The mission in Guatemala, coupled with
the 24-hour Adoration at POP, is a very special event in the
life of our faith community.
“Your heavenly Father knows all that you need. Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6:32-3)