By Paula Graham
Catholic Herald correspondent

Parishioners share experiences of Puerto Rico at cluster gathering

On Aug. 15, the group presented trip photos and memories to a cluster-wide gathering at St. Anthony Church in Tony. With each story and anecdote, it became clear that what participants "got" included an appreciation for the universality of the church, lessons in hospitality and opportunities to work through language and cultural differences to establish trust.

Roberta Sieg noticed how easily people on both sides negotiated the language barrier. "We worked, prayed and partied together," she said. "Why is it so hard for people in the world to get along?"

Puerto Rico 2000 was the brainstorm of OLS, St. Anthony and St. Mary pastor Fr. John Anderson. "Fr. Angelo Sanchez and I were classmates in seminary. This was an exchange we would talk about every time I visited him in Puerto Rico," said Anderson. "I told everyone we'd just have to let the days evolve, since, as Fr. Angelo explained, planning and scheduling are not high on their priority list in Puerto Rico."

According to Anderson, some of the group studied Spanish in preparation for the trip. Many anticipated an action-packed agenda of hands-on parish projects. All were enriched by the experience.

The group was met at the San Juan airport by Sanchez and taken by school bus to the Schoenstatt Retreat Center in Cabo Rojo. Their first full day on the island included a survey of the Schoenstatt Sisters' grounds, an afternoon on the beach in Boqueron and a trip to a local grocery to purchase provisions. Day two evolved into a work day at the Immaculate Conception School (grades seven through 12) in Mayaquez. "We worked on landscaping, weeding, mowing and general yard work. The ground is very hard and infested with fire ants, which leave a welt when they bite," Bette Bartig noted in her diary.

According to Sharon Voldberg's travel journal, her efforts paralleled chores on her Rusk County dairy farm. "Got to play with a water hose and wheelbarrow, two things on my job description at home. Craig trimmed flowers, raked and got a lawn mower going."

In the afternoon, the group visited Sanchez's' church (Our Lady of Mount Carmel). "The church will be 100 years old next year and is in need of repair," wrote Voldberg. "A new roof will cost them $250,000. The school, which is closed, was badly hit by Hurricane George and the money wasn't there to repair it."

By the end of their stay, the group had toured San Juan, including the Bacardi Rum Distillery, the city's historic district, the Capitol Building and Parroquia Church. They trekked through El Yunque, the rain forest where they swam in a waterfall, and visited the Camuy caves. Back at Schoenstatt they weeded flower beds, pruned shrubs, mowed grass, fixed fence and picked rock.

In between, the group was feted and fed by the Knights of Columbus and the Schoenstatt Sisters. Voldberg's journal is filled with the tastes of Puerto Rico: fruit salad of plantain, mango, star fruit, green coconut milk and papaya, and native dishes like rice and beans, patista (plantain stuffed with olives and meat, baked in banana leaf), corn pudding and flan. Many of these dishes were replicated for a Puerto Rico 2000 reunion and photo swap at the home of John and Roberta Sieg in late July.

During the 14 months of Spanish lessons and breakfast, fish fry and chili-feed fund-raisers, the group always assumed they would be sleeping on the concrete floor of a Mayaquez school. Last minute arrangements sheltered them under the care of the Schoenstatt Sisters. "We didn't know how we would be welcomed, where our food would come from, where we would stay. The generosity of the people was overwhelming," said Marge Charipar. Julie Verdegan agreed. "I was humbled by the Sisters and their attention to our comfort level."

From the natural beauty of the landscape to the lively music at Mass, many were awed by expressions of faith: statues, devotions, processions, the public carrying of rosaries and the crosses hanging from automobile mirrors.

"It was good to come here -- so much faith here at Schoenstatt and Puerto Rico in general," wrote Voldberg. "Seeing the churches . . . I am more aware of the great devotion to the Blessed Mother."

Larry Pias, who rose early for daily morning walks said, "I could feel God's presence on the grounds at Schoenstatt and in the sunrise."

Upbeat music played on guitars, maracas and bongo drums touched everyone. "They really celebrate Mass. Everyone participates," said Charipar. People visit before and after church, right in the street, often causing traffic jams. Experiencing Mass in Spanish helped Charipar appreciate a different culture. "I saw church as a universal church. We all make the sign of the cross. Even if the language was different, we still knew what was going on," she said.

Everyone came back to northern Wisconsin carrying canisters of used film as well as personal insights and highlights. Physician Ron Charipar was struck by the hospitality of the KC's and thankful nobody came down with a major illness. John Sieg, who drove one of the tour vans, will always remember his driving jitters. Ann Buslee found the spirit and faith of the Schoenstatt Sisters "exhilarating."

At the July reunion, the group allocated $3,000, unused monies which remained from fund-raisers and fees paid by the participants, to Fr. Angelo Sanchez's youth work, the Schoenstatt Sisters and to the Knights of Columbus. They also discussed the hope of extending northwoods hospitality to their new Puerto Rican friends. "I offered an exchange," said Anderson. "Now we see what happens."

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2000