All Are One

Fr. Dan Ohmann, M.M., from Greenwald, Minnesota, is a life-long missioner. His stint as a Maryknoll priest in Tanzania includes 27 years among the Sukuma people in Ndoleleji and 3 years with Rwandan and Burundi refugees in a camp on the Tanzanian border. For the past three years he has been located 50 miles from the Ndoleleji mission, living in a tent with the Wataturu people along the Rift Valley. This new location presents perhaps the biggest challenges - and rewards - he has yet encountered.

The Wataturu are reputed to be a tough and fearless people. They are pastoralists - nomadic herders - who have resisted development and kept their children from attending school in their resolve to preserve their culture and way of life. That has had its benefits. For example, until now the AIDS epidemic, so devastating in many parts of Africa, has not appeared among the Wataturu. However, a number of men are now acquiring bicycles, and the elders are beginning to lose their strict control. Some elders are beginning to question the isolationist practices.

When Fr. Dan received permission from the Bishop to serve among the Wataturu, an elder advised him to select a few young men to live and work with him. Fr. Dan invited five to join him in forming a small faith community of shared study, work and prayer. The men, one of whom is married, live in reed huts near Fr. Dan’s tent. On Sundays they go out in twos to visit with people and invite them to gatherings. The Wataturu men do most of the preaching.

When one of the men, Gilinyashi, died of tuberculosis, Fr. Dan thought that might mean the end of his ministry among the Wataturu because of their strong superstitions. However, just before his trip to Minnesota in August, Gilinyashi’s mother and sister came to him and asked him to pray with them. That was a real breakthrough in his relationship and standing with the people - the first real sign that he was gaining acceptance.

Mission takes place where people interact with people, seeking to overcome all that separates people from one another and from God. - CANACOM (Caribbean & North American Council for Mission Because of the Wataturu’s great respect and fear of the spirit world, Catholic beliefs, in some ways, blend with and even complete their traditional beliefs. Gilimunyi, one of the young men who form part of Fr. Dan’s small faith community, upon learning of our Savior’s crucifixion stated, “Of course Jesus had to die because that is our greatest fear. He had to face that fear or his credibility would be gone.” Knowing Jesus has helped Gilimunyi face his own fears. Fr. Dan feels that as different as our cultures and lifestyles are, a common thread runs through our customs and beliefs. For example, the Wataturu tradition of wearing an ancestral memento around the neck for protection expresses the same respect and connection with those who have gone before us as the wedding ring of his deceased mother that is soldered onto Fr. Dan’s chalice. Though varied, we are truly one. Pray for Fr. Dan and his people. Return to Top Blessed are the Poor in Spirit . . . Fr. Ted Niehaus, OFM, Ca, from Sauk Centre, Minnesota, has worked in the Central Zelaya province of Nicaragua for 33 years as a Capuchin priest. Lynette Gessell, parishioner at Sacred Heart in Flensburg, and Jannuary 1999 reverse mission trip participant, reflects on Fr. Ted's ministry and how the trip has impacted her life: I first met Fr. Ted when I went to Nicaragua on a reverse mission trip in January 1999. It was a journey that has etched itself in my reality to such an extent that I cannot forget it. My world has been forever changed. Changed by the first hand experience of the dignity amid difficulty and deep faith in the midst of great challenge demonstrated by my brothers and sisters in Nicaragua. I experienced the gracious hospitality of a one room home, and the spirit and vitality of the liturgies where most come with only what is in their hearts, for their lives, economically, are so hard. I can never again enjoy the mall in the same fashion after seeing the marketplace where piles of used clothing (such as a Minnesota Vikings T-shirt hanging out of a damaged plastic bag) are set out for sale. The stories of women who lost their sons in the war, the images of people who go without the very basic necessities of medical care and education, and of good and decent people striving to merely exist, infiltrate my consciousness as I carry on in my world of comfort. They force me to re-think my consuming habits and prompt me toward a more simplified lifestyle. In his ministry in Nicaragua, Fr. Ted Niehaus works at drawing out the gifts and talents of the people in San Pedro and the surrounding areas. He hopes to improve their confidence in assuming leadership and ministry within the Church and bring forth their spirit to serve the Church. He continues to work very hard serving the many rural parishes in his area. In his ministry he stresses respect for our three mothers: the Blessed Virgin Mother, our parental mother, and mother Earth. He is concerned about the environmental challenges in Nicaragua and the consuming habits of industrialized nations. Fr. Ted epitomizes the missionary spirit of the apostles. He is a living example of Christ’s great love for the poor. He works with joy to face the challenge of broadening the vision of Church for the mountain people of Nicaragua and the many people of the United States whose comfortable lifestyles and drive-to-succeed often lead to attitudes of indifference and entitlement. It is with true sincerity and concern for the well being of all people that Fr. Ted leads us to think about the message of Christ and how it touches all of us, whether we live in Central Minnesota or the East Coast of Nicaragua. The people of Nicaragua love life -- love their children and families in the same way we all do, and yet they live with so much less. Somehow they press on with a resiliency that is humbling when I find myself too frequently whining about some minor inconvenience. They, like us, want a future for their children in a world free of hunger, war and disease. From his rugged life in San Pedro del Norte, Fr. Ted invites us to reflect on the story of the Good Samaritan. A couple passerby’s did not stop to assist, but perhaps they took a moment to look, to become aware, to contemplate the reason the man was lying in the ditch. Perhaps in the looking, in acknowledging the pain, the seeds of conversion were planted. I can no longer accept the status quo. I have come to acknowledge the existence of other human beings with whom we share this planet. We are interdependent. We must see and come to understand that we are all truly members of the Mystical Body of Christ. Lynette Gessell with her Nicaraguan hostess NOTE: A group from our Diocese is to visit Fr. Ted in January 2001. Return to Top Crosiers Meet the Challenge of Mission in Indonesia By Rosanne Fisher, with information from recent issues of CROSSVIEW, the Crosier publication. “Prudently and lovingly, through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of another religion, and in witness of Christian faith and life, acknowledge, preserve, and promote the spiritual and moral goods found among these people, as well as the values of their society and culture.” (Vatican II, The Church Today and The Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions) During a visit to St. Cloud this fall, Fr. Virgil Petermeier, OSC, of Melrose, Minnesota, shared some of the challenges and joys of his 25-year ministry among the Asmat people in Papua,Indonesia. Under the direction of Bishop Alphonse Sowada, OSC, pastoral work among the Asmat people has operated according to the spirit and documents of the Second Vatican Council. The missionary work has included close dialogue between the Gospel and the local culture. Traditional stories and myths, as told by Asmat elders, were written down by the missioners in order to discover the deeper religious values of the Asmat people. Liturgies were adapted to incorporate important aspects of the Asmat culture. Pastoral workers in the Diocese of Agats-Asmat study Anthropology as an integral part of their formation, along with Theology and Philosophy. The Crosiers continue to promote respect for the Asmat culture, and dialogue between the social sciences and pastoral theology. Although traditionally food gatherers and hunters operate with little sense of planning, it is essential that the Asmat gain leadership and organizational skills in order to deal with outside influences currently threatening their environmental and cultural survival. Hopeful signs of the result of education and formation efforts include Asmat participation in the Diocesan Pastoral Council, women’s gatherings, and the formation of the Asmat Traditional Deliberative Institution, a network of sub-groups of Asmat who gather to mediate inter-community conflicts and solve social and environmental problems. The Institution recently successfully ousted an illegal fish cannery that was in its initial phase of construction. A current threat to village and church life is the harvesting of “gaharu” or eagle-wood. This aromatic wood is in demand from foreigners for use in making perfumes and incense. It has, however, always been taboo for the Asmat to cut or harvest eagle-wood. For the past 3 years foreign merchants based out of Jakarta have been enticing Asmat people to harvest the wood for them in exchange for such things as rice and boom boxes. The merchants then sell the wood for $1000/kilo. Soaring rates of prostitution and AIDS have accompanied these merchant middlemen to Papua. In addition to the challenges presented by the eagle-wood industry, the secession movement in is high gear. Since the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, and the events in East Timor leading to independence, the Papuan people have been actively promoting self-determination. The hope is that progress can be made through dialogue and other peaceful means. However, Papua is much richer than Timor in resources, such as gold, copper, zinc, oil and wood, so the struggle for independence may come at even greater cost. Currently there are 22 Crosiers in the Indonesian community, 17 are Indonesians (including 5 preparing for final vows and ordination). Twenty-eight others are in various stages of formation for Crosier life. The Minnesota Crosiers plan to continue to walk with the Asmat people as ministers of justice, peace and truth for another 5 - 10 years. They have developed a Mission Fund that will assure support for the native Crosier community in the years ahead. For further information, or to donate to this fund, call Fr. Ed Greiwe, OSC, at (651) 486-7456 or the Mission Office (320) 251-1100. In order to consolidate and expand upon the efforts of the Crosiers to retain and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Asmat people, the American Museum of Asmat Art was opened in St. Paul in 1995. Please visit the museum! Click Here for Museum Information. Return to Top Venezuela Connections It was a wonderful month for our connection with Venezuela. Fr. Alexis Torrealba, Belinda Mavarez and Isnoelia Roman came to visit their sister parish, St. Ann’s in Brandon. Bishop Reinaldo Del Prette came to discuss new directions in our relationship with the Maracay Diocese. We are moving forward!   Bishop Reinaldo Del Pratte Isnoelia and Belinda   Fr. Tony Kroll, Sr. Loretta Denfield, OSF, and Fr. Alexis December 16 was the Sending Ceremony for the Spanier Family as Maryknoll lay missioners to Barquismeto, Venezuela. See August-September 2000 issue for more about the Spaniers! Return to Top What You Can Do EL SALVADOR A group just returned from El Salvador – they are eager to speak in your school or parish!!! Join a PAB delegation or help fund a project MEXICO BORDER Organize a group from your parish, school or community to: Participate in a mission trip to the border with BorderLinks Contribute to the work of Border Links or Casa Misericordia Reach out to people of other cultures in your community OTHER GLOBAL MISSION OUTREACHES Contact the St. Cloud Mission Office! For more information, call Rosanne at (320) 251-1100 EMail Your Questions or Ideas Now to: mission@cloudnet.com Return to Top Mission Connections MISSION CONNECTIONS is published bimonthly by St. Cloud Mission Office, Director, Fr. William A. Vos St. Cloud Mission Office 11 South 8th Avenue St. Cloud, MN 56301 (320) 251-1100 Email Mission Office: mission@cloudnet.com The printed/mailed is distributed to the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of St. Cloud and to others concerned with the mission of Jesus Christ and global solidarity and justice. There is no charge for Mission Connections, but donations for our educational work are tax deductible and are gratefully accepted. Please make checks payable to "Mission Education Fund." Donations for any of the mission or missioners mentioned here may be made in care of the Mission Office. We welcome comments, suggestions and articles. Please direct communications to Rosanne Fischer, Mission Education Coordinator. We also welcome links to this resource from parish and diocesan websites. If you are visiting this online edition from outside the diocese of St. Cloud and wish to share this material in your own mission education work, please send an email to Rosanne with a brief description of your plans. (We are VERY easy to get along with!) Return to Top Mission Office Welcome Page St. Cloud Diocese Parish Without Borders